Originally posted by TBone
Charles,
What do you mean by "hanging" fittings?
Thanks
Hanging fittings are fittings that have no other support than the threads of the fittings they are attached to. Sometimes they look like antlers of piping or as I have once or twice referred to them as Christmas trees.
We (that gestalt thing) tend to look at the pressure/vacuum pot as everything needs to be attached to it, placed on it. It is supposed to be portable, so it must be completely contained. Fah! I say. The only fittings you need on the pot lid for simplicity sake are the overpressure safety valve, pressure/vacuum guage, a shutoff valve and a female coupler, an elbow or 90deg fitting inside the lid, is useful, and will not effect safety. Everything else, ALL the other funky fittings, regulator, t-splitters, venturi assembly... should be secured on a manifold that can be bolted or attached to your casting station, use a coil or whip hose from it to your pressure pot. That way your fittings are supported and secure, your pressure pot isn't top heavy and you are safe.
I'm sorry if this came off as a rant. I had planned to write up and photograph an alternative pressure pot tutorial, but work, holidays and the city inspectors for my old house have been breathing down my neck. I will try to uncover my casting station this week, and photograph it and put it in this thread if anyone is interrested.