Subject: Where to find SS screen

From: [email-masked] (Michael Wood)
Date: Wed, 24 Apr 1996 04:17:57 GMT

I'm currently trying to fabricate a false bottom for a stainless steel
kettle and am having problems finding the material. I need light
(18ga) stainless sheet with small holes in it like 3/32". I've seen
this material in already fabricated projects. Does anyone know of a
supplier who might carry this and sell it in small qty's?

Mike

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From: [email-masked](Jay Conner)
Date: 24 Apr 1996 21:39:43 GMT

We're getting some questions in rec.crafts.brewing about the
possibilities of repairing chipped enamelled steel pots.
These are mild steel, blue enamel, the old canners used to put up 
fruit & vegetables, and one of the cheapest brewing kettles.
Problem is, they get even a tiny chip, and then rust out.
Is it possible to clean the chipped area, and then melt on some
sort of jewelry-enamel with a propane or mapp-gas torch ?
And where would one get such enamel ?

Thanks for any help.

[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked](Wm. Congreve (Sr.) )
Date: 25 Apr 1996 04:06:33 GMT

In <[email-masked]> [email-masked] (Michael Wood)
>supplier who might carry this and sell it in small qty's?

Small Parts, Inc. in Miami FL (ph 1 800 220 4242) has stainless steel
mesh ranging from 6 per inch to 200 per inch, wire size from 35 thou on
the coarse to 2.1 thou on the finest.  It runs from $30 for the coarse
stuff to $43 for the very fine, in pieces 12 x 24; and they also sell
pieces as small as 3" by 6".  Great catalog! They've recently started
taking credit cards, so you might be able to do it in one call. This is
all on p.54 of the catalog.

                    Alan Heldman

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From: Steve Wellcome <[email-masked]>
Date: 25 Apr 1996 12:09:00 GMT

Try Small Parts Inc. in Florida.  I don't have their
address available at the moment, but I'm pretty sure
it's in the FAQ for this newsgroup.

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From: Paul Encoyand <[email-masked]>
Date: 26 Apr 1996 14:22:44 GMT

McMaster-Carr (310-692-5911 L.A area / 708-833-0300 Chicago) has Type 304,  
094 dia,18ga, 36 X 40in sheet Pn 9358T311 for $145.40. They also have the same in a 
36 X 120 in size Pn 9358T31 for $342.27. (ref catalog #100 pg 2490). 
     It surprised me to see how expensive this is! Maybe someone has a cheaper 
source, but be sure to get 304 for food use. (Are you building a mashtun?) They also 
have a good assortment of stainless wire mesh. E-mail me your fax # and I'll send 
you the catalog pages for it if you like.

                                                   Paul

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From: [email-masked] (Peter Brooks)
Date: 26 Apr 1996 22:16:08 GMT

This might do the job:  go to a silk-screening supply house and take a look
at their stainless screens.  A long time ago, I got a smallish chuck for
free from a printers.  I don't know which stainless it is, but it's 
decent stuff.

Pete Brooks

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From: [email-masked] (Jonathan M. Elson)
Date: 26 Apr 1996 05:00:14 GMT

Michael Wood ([email-masked]) wrote:
: I'm currently trying to fabricate a false bottom for a stainless steel
: kettle and am having problems finding the material. I need light
: (18ga) stainless sheet with small holes in it like 3/32". I've seen
: this material in already fabricated projects. Does anyone know of a
: supplier who might carry this and sell it in small qty's?

Whenever you need something really odd, look to Small Parts, Inc.
They have perforated Stainless sheet, as well as real SS wire screen.
The SS perf comes with .045" .062" .125" and .187" holes.  The smallest
hole size is on .0187" thick sheet, the other sizes are on .0312"
thick sheet.  A 12 x 12" piece goes for $25-30 each, a 12 x 24" piece
is $42 - 50.

They also have SS wire cloth (screen) in 11 sizes, form 6 to 200 mesh
(.1317 to .0029" openings, respectively).  This is sold in 3 x 6",
6 x 12" and 12 x 24" pieces.  The 12 x 24" pieces go for $30 - 43, a
little cheaper than the perf sheet, but the 3 x 6" pieces are $2.36 - 3.18.
These are all type 304 SS.  they also carry this material in twilled
square weave and twilled dutch weave.

Small Parts is in Miami Lakes FL, (800) 220-4242.

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From: [email-masked] (Peter Katz )
Date: 28 Apr 1996 17:57:35 GMT

Mike,
One of the best places to find the screen you want is Small Parts, Inc.
 They are located in Miami Florida  area code is 305, I don't have
their phone number but I am sure you can get it from information.
Hope this helps
Beth Katz

theIn <[email-masked]> [email-masked] (Michael Wood)

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From: [email-masked] (Randy Mshr)
Date: 1 May 1996 21:48:12 -0400

Regarding lauter plate material/ss screen. What you are looking for is
perforated sheet, rather than screen, so be sure to ask for it this way. 

It would be worth your while to check around the surplus and salvage shops
in your area, if there are any. Perf is not too common, but not too rare,
either. You could save yourself ten bucks a pound or more.

I managed to find some thin ss sheets that were intended to be used as
side panels for some electrical device, There was a 4" x 18" area of
narrow louver slots cut into each sheet. I just cut out the good bits and
riveted them together. It's been making great beer for six years now.

As far as material, it doesn't matter too much. If it's non-magnetic
stainless it will work just fine for a lauter screen. Probably the least
thermally and chemically stressed ss in the process!

Happy brewing,

--Randy Mosher

If you are in the Chicago are, send me a note and I'll tell you where to
look.