Drains on cleaning tanks

[Guy Charles]

So I'm new to this whole incredible world of cast iron and am loving every bit of info I can soak up. I'm in the process of designing my cleaning tanks.

 Question: Has anybody put drains on the bottom of their 55gal lye and electro tanks? If so, do you have pics? :-?

Just a thought. Thanks.

[Cheryl Watson]

No drains on mine.
I use a gravity siphon for lye baths (waterbed kit).
For electro, either a gravity siphon or a submersible pump.

[Guy Charles]

I thought about doing that.

Toying with the idea of flipping the plastic 55 gal drum over, using one of the bung holes as a connection to a PVC drain with a valve.  Only thing is I would have to build a small stand to hold them up off of the ground.

[Duke Gilleland]

Thought about the 55 gal barrel rig BUT I have emptied mine several time and there is always LOTS of crud in the bottom. Might clog up a valve. If I ever did try it I would use a ball valve. :-/  Could sit it on 4 haydite blocks
Guy, Welcome from down south a bit. Great to have you here with us at WAGS! [smiley=welcome.gif]

[Guy Charles]

 I thought about the crud thing....most definitely a ball valve and a 2" pipe.

Glad to see there are some Texans on this thing!

[Jeff Friend]

I use a siphon.  It is a piece of 1/2-inch pipe with a 4-foot long piece of tygon tubing attached to it.  I use it like a pool vac to pull out the sludge from both the lye tank and the electro tank.  The sludge goes into a 5 gallon bucket to dry out, and then the solids go out with the trash.  Never had a clog, even with small tubing and just gravity doing the work.

Guy, we had a great time in Plano a few years ago.  Look back at Casting Call Vol 6 No 4 for a few photos.

[Guy Charles]

Jeff, how do I look back at old issues of Casting Call.

[Cheryl Watson]

Guy, go to  Foundry list, PDFs, Pup List and Unusual items (WAGS members ONLY) Board.

The Very First "Important Topic" (sticky) is the Casting Call Issues.

I would also recommend the Kettles N Cookware Sticky.

There are many, many issues of those also. (I just finished printing those).   Lots of Reading ahead....... ;D

[Cheryl Watson]

I use a siphon.  It is a piece of 1/2-inch pipe with a 4-foot long piece of tygon tubing attached to it.  I use it like a pool vac to pull out the sludge from both the lye tank and the electro tank.  The sludge goes into a 5 gallon bucket to dry out, and then the solids go out with the trash.  Never had a clog, even with small tubing and just gravity doing the work..

Jeff, how do you get the 'siphon' started ?

[Jeff Friend]

Fill the piece of pipe and tygon tubing with water.  Put your thumbs over both ends to keep the water in.  Get in position next to the tank you are going to de-sludge and release your thumb from the pipe end.  Move your hand to the point where the pipe and tygon tubing connect and quickly get the open end of the pipe under the surface of the solution.  When you are ready to start, make sure the tubing end is lower than the surface of the cleaning solution and pointed into a bucket.  When you release your thumb, the siphon will start flowing.