Okay, done.I think it's wise to open a new topic for auto claves.
We've had some discussion on the forum in the past regarding autoclaves, but it doesn't hurt to update the earlier thoughts.
I live in a rural area where we don't have an infrastructure that supplies our water, so we have individual water wells (great taste, no chemicals ). The system that moves the water out of the ground and into the faucets in the house is pretty simple and includes a 'pressure tank' that stores and pressurizes the water that is pumped from the ground. Most pressure tanks are 24 inches in diameter and vary in height (length) depending on their storage size rating. Mine is about 56 inches tall. The tanks have a rubber bladder inside that is intended to keep the water and the pressurized air separated. Over time, the bladders develop leaks. The bladders are replaceable, but most people just buy a new tank and take the old ones to the dump. I've replaced a number of bladders over the years and have noted that the tanks themselves are usually in very good shape if the leaky bladder was replaced fairly soon after the leak developed (because an intact bladder isolates the water from the steel tank... so, no rust).
Anyway (I'm getting to my point now), The tanks are rated for well over 100 psi. Two of them welded together would make a really nice looking auto clave. Or, weld a mating flange to the open ends of two tanks and use a boatload of grade 8 bolts to bolt the two halves together after the mold has been placed inside. Plumbing businesses in rural areas often have a few discarded tanks out back that they'd gladly give away so they don't have to go to the trouble of getting rid of them. Our local dump also has a pile of them, so that could be a source if you live near a rural dump.
Okay, thread started.
G-man