NobleMetalWorks
Well-known member
Has anyone built a large AP tank?
I am running 6- 5 gallon buckets that are highly concentrated and I will have to expand the solution soon. I was using one double pump for each bucket, and continued after I attached air stones, however it's working so well I think I only need one air stone per bucket. So I am planning on expanding my solutions into new 5 gallon buckets so that I have a total of 12, 1 air pump for each two buckets.
I currently have them sitting on the cement floor, I am thinking of making a rack with a spill capture at the bottom out of polypropylene plastic sheet so that the buckets are held in place by a hole, and I can mount them 6 on the bottom, and 6 at table height in rows of three. The bottom ones on casters so that the entire bottom shelf can be rolled out and accessed.
On the inside of the bucket, to maximize the surface area affected by the AP, I used a 1/2 inch PVC pipe which is actually 1 inch around. I then took a slightly large PVC pipe that fits over it and moves freely. I put a plug on one end of the 1/2 pvc pipe, cut it so that it can fit under the lid of the 5 gallon bucket. Then I cut the large PVC that fits over the 1/2 pvc into 1/2 inch lengths to use as spacers. Then with a drill press that has a shop vac hooked up to it, I drill a 1 inch hole with a hole cutting saw. In this way I can string the boards on the piece of PVC pipe one on top of the other without them touching. It works awesome, but not all boards will fit in the tank.
Before I go through all the trouble, I am wondering if anyone has built large AP tanks, and how they did it. Having 5 gallon buckets works great for some types of material, but some things need a larger tank or must be cut in pieces which is something I want to avoid if possible. I am also using 4 polypropylene plating tanks that are 36x36x8 which work awesome for larger boards, but are expensive and I can only do so many boards at a time in them. I am looking for something that is safe, large enough to handle big boards, has a lid and some way of standing the boards or keeping them separate so that the solution can move freely around all parts of the board.
Also, has anyone found small submersible acid resistant pumps? I know, tall order, I am using a submersible fish tank water agitator, and so far it's holding up, but I think I need something made specifically for acid.
Scott
I am running 6- 5 gallon buckets that are highly concentrated and I will have to expand the solution soon. I was using one double pump for each bucket, and continued after I attached air stones, however it's working so well I think I only need one air stone per bucket. So I am planning on expanding my solutions into new 5 gallon buckets so that I have a total of 12, 1 air pump for each two buckets.
I currently have them sitting on the cement floor, I am thinking of making a rack with a spill capture at the bottom out of polypropylene plastic sheet so that the buckets are held in place by a hole, and I can mount them 6 on the bottom, and 6 at table height in rows of three. The bottom ones on casters so that the entire bottom shelf can be rolled out and accessed.
On the inside of the bucket, to maximize the surface area affected by the AP, I used a 1/2 inch PVC pipe which is actually 1 inch around. I then took a slightly large PVC pipe that fits over it and moves freely. I put a plug on one end of the 1/2 pvc pipe, cut it so that it can fit under the lid of the 5 gallon bucket. Then I cut the large PVC that fits over the 1/2 pvc into 1/2 inch lengths to use as spacers. Then with a drill press that has a shop vac hooked up to it, I drill a 1 inch hole with a hole cutting saw. In this way I can string the boards on the piece of PVC pipe one on top of the other without them touching. It works awesome, but not all boards will fit in the tank.
Before I go through all the trouble, I am wondering if anyone has built large AP tanks, and how they did it. Having 5 gallon buckets works great for some types of material, but some things need a larger tank or must be cut in pieces which is something I want to avoid if possible. I am also using 4 polypropylene plating tanks that are 36x36x8 which work awesome for larger boards, but are expensive and I can only do so many boards at a time in them. I am looking for something that is safe, large enough to handle big boards, has a lid and some way of standing the boards or keeping them separate so that the solution can move freely around all parts of the board.
Also, has anyone found small submersible acid resistant pumps? I know, tall order, I am using a submersible fish tank water agitator, and so far it's holding up, but I think I need something made specifically for acid.
Scott
of course the sides are 1/4" x 4" PVC sheet the rods are 1/4" just ran them into a die to thread them, cut some 1/4" x 1" and drilled and taped it for nuts.
