Been seeing more and more people doing their own European mounts. So I though I would dig up a DIY to build you own Buck Boiler. Found this a few years ago (on another forum) and made one. Have done several mounts and it works great.
1) The Buck Boiler utilizes a heavy duty rubber bucket. I found the exact same 18 quart flat-backed bucket for $13.99 at Tractor Supply.
2) Water heater heating element. MUST be 120v (not 240v heavy duty) with 1" NPT threads - $6.99 Home Depot
3) Water Tight Hub conduit fitting with 1" NPT threads. It is basically used to terminate electrical connections through a wall & has built-in o-ring for sealing. I got mine from Home Depot a few years ago but does not look like they carry the 1" any more. But you can get the 1 1/2" $9.72 and get a galvanized reducer to 1" for $3.45.
5) Electrical cord / plug-in - free laying around house
Basically cut a hole in the bucket on the flat side towards the bottom (I'm going to go about an inch off the bottom) large enough to accommodate the Hub fitting. Use the gasket from hub to seal. Or, some sort of silicon if needed.
Push the water heater element through the Hub (had to take a Dremel and sand part of the inside of hub for element to fit through), threading it on so that the element is NOT touching any part of the bucket (floating). Use some Teflon tape on the threads as an additional seal too.
Cut the end off an old extension cord (i'm using an old computer power cable). Put some wire terminals on the wire ends & attach to the 2 screws on the heater element. Cover all exposed wiring with electrical tape as a safety precaution.
Fill the bucket with water, drop the skull in, plug the cord into a GFI outlet if available (more added safety). Water should start boiling in 10-15 minutes. Make sure to ALWAYS keep water in the bucket! As it boils / evaporates you will need to top it off. NEVER plug the cord in without water covering the element as the element could overheat & explode!
Hope someone finds this handy as I did.
1) The Buck Boiler utilizes a heavy duty rubber bucket. I found the exact same 18 quart flat-backed bucket for $13.99 at Tractor Supply.
2) Water heater heating element. MUST be 120v (not 240v heavy duty) with 1" NPT threads - $6.99 Home Depot
3) Water Tight Hub conduit fitting with 1" NPT threads. It is basically used to terminate electrical connections through a wall & has built-in o-ring for sealing. I got mine from Home Depot a few years ago but does not look like they carry the 1" any more. But you can get the 1 1/2" $9.72 and get a galvanized reducer to 1" for $3.45.
5) Electrical cord / plug-in - free laying around house
Basically cut a hole in the bucket on the flat side towards the bottom (I'm going to go about an inch off the bottom) large enough to accommodate the Hub fitting. Use the gasket from hub to seal. Or, some sort of silicon if needed.
Push the water heater element through the Hub (had to take a Dremel and sand part of the inside of hub for element to fit through), threading it on so that the element is NOT touching any part of the bucket (floating). Use some Teflon tape on the threads as an additional seal too.
Cut the end off an old extension cord (i'm using an old computer power cable). Put some wire terminals on the wire ends & attach to the 2 screws on the heater element. Cover all exposed wiring with electrical tape as a safety precaution.
Fill the bucket with water, drop the skull in, plug the cord into a GFI outlet if available (more added safety). Water should start boiling in 10-15 minutes. Make sure to ALWAYS keep water in the bucket! As it boils / evaporates you will need to top it off. NEVER plug the cord in without water covering the element as the element could overheat & explode!
Hope someone finds this handy as I did.
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