Hot Water donkey

forgot to add...become a member and you can download the pdf file from members page which depicts a simple donkey

Here ya go Nudie



Not something you could throw in the back of the ute though hahahahahaha

Thats it
fit ....depends on how big the ute is....but it certainly wont fit on/in my 4wd...might if swmbo aint with me...:))))

Aussie Disposals sell 20 litre galvanised ones for $50.00, not worth the trouble of making one.

Hi Shaker

I had a look on the Aussie Disposals site but couldnt find it, do you have a link?

Sorry, I don't. I think you will find that most of their stores will have them.

Just make sure the water in it never can get to boiling point and create steam pressure. I do remember a donkey boiler blowing up some years ago and seriously hurting a country town football team.
It may be simple but it also could be dangerous if you get steam in the keg or whatever tank is used.

Hi Blue

Thanks for the info sounds like a goer how heavey all up would it be ?? and how much water would it hold.
You should add a picture in your profile would be good to see ?? :)

Thx Barty

Hi Barty... I have it at our bush block, heading up there next week and will take a pic then... Can't remember how much it holds, I think it's about 30L. We have had it boiling and have never had issue with it (per V8 Troopie's comment), which isn't to say it can't happen... Wouldn't be hard to fit a pressure relief system if you're worried about that. If you're in the Melbourne area, I can get the extra stainless bits for you.

The chip heaters or donkeys you buy do have a pressure relief valve on them.
I used to make heaps of them.
Dont even consider making one without one!

Hairy, the ones I saw at Wandin, which prompted me to build mine certainly didn't have a pressure relief valve, I took a photo(long since deleted) to work off... They were a 10L paint tin with a well sealed press fit lid(like a 4L paint tin). Thinking of installing a 1" non-return valve to the top of mine anyhow, the weight of the valve would keep it sealed but in the event of pressure build up, would IMO be enough to bleed it off.

whats imo?

Hairy, In My Opinion(IMO)

It all comes down to weather its a pressure vessel or not.
If it can hold pressure you need a pressure relief because there is no way a paint drum will hold steam. Without going into too much detail the flash point of steam is an incredible amount of energy and if you try to contain it in something like that people will get seriously burnt when it goes up.
You can certainly use a paint drum but you have to let the steam escape.
Letting the steam escape will dramatically reduce the efficiency of the water heater.
You really need to look at what you want to make, what skills you have and materials available to you.
Their is a serious amount of difference between hot water and a steam pressure vessel!
Sorry to make such a long winded exercise out of this but a little wrong advice in what everyone is talking of could really result in in a big accident.
Cheers

The water level will always be below the bottom of the outlet so theoretically it can't hold pressure, steam or otherwise...

Yeh your right, but there is a lot of different ways of making them and if he tries combining different ideas he could get into a lot of trouble.