Wick'd Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 Hi all -- my husband and I are trying to gather together everything we need to mod a Presto pot. We're using the instructions here http://www.candletech.com/budgetmelter/index.htm but are having trouble finding a thread tap in the right size (the instructions are somewhat vague, and we're thinking 5/8", though we haven't been able to find it yet -- searched Lowe's, Home Depot and Sears. The 3/8" elbow also doesn't fit the 3/8" ball valve. Oh it's been a fun day). Does anyone who's made the pot know/remember what size tap you used, if you followed the above instructions, and where you found it? And did you find you needed to use a different size elbow?(Yes, I've done a search ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustpuuppy Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 THe elbow should fit. Either you've got a part that's the wrong size and was put in the wrong bin at the store, or you're trying to put either two male or two female ends together.The tap would be one that matches the pipe threads. It's an odd size and rather hard to find. Some people have said that they just screwed the fittings in, without tapping the hole, letting the pipe fitting tap it's own hole. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wick'd Posted January 30, 2006 Author Share Posted January 30, 2006 Thank you, Dustpuuppy. I think the elbow must have been in the wrong bag -- it says 3/8" on it but it's definitely not the same size as the other two pieces.Some people have said that they just screwed the fittings in, without tapping the hole, letting the pipe fitting tap it's own hole. I'd say we are at that point! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustpuuppy Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 I used to live out in the boonies. Had an old house with old plumbing. 20 miles to the hardware store. I learned reeeaaalll quick to always check the fixtures in the store, to make sure everything fit together right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wick'd Posted January 30, 2006 Author Share Posted January 30, 2006 Oh definitely -- we tried seeing if they'd fit through the little plastic bags but that's apparently not a reliable method :lipsrseal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveinPA Posted January 30, 2006 Share Posted January 30, 2006 A 3/8 NPT pipe tap will work with 3/8 NPT fittings. When you're looking for fittings to add a pour spout to your Presto, make sure they're all marked 3/8 NPT (National Pipe Taper). They will not interchange with SAE or any other threads. If you use a tap for regular bolt threads it won't work. A tap for pipe fittings makes tapered threads. Confused yet? It's possible your package was marked wrong. It's quite a pain trying to find stuff in the home improvement stores. The products are always mixed up. Some people look at things and don't care if they put them back where they found them. Hope you can find the right combination of fittings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wick'd Posted January 31, 2006 Author Share Posted January 31, 2006 A 3/8 NPT pipe tap will work with 3/8 NPT fittings. When you're looking for fittings to add a pour spout to your Presto, make sure they're all marked 3/8 NPT (National Pipe Taper). They will not interchange with SAE or any other threads. *Very* good to know -- thank you, Steve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristiC Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 My hubby (bless his heart for putting up w/ me) and I had a hard time with the parts, as well. I just found a local machinist in Nashville (GA) and he drilled mine for about $18. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinInOR Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 ... Some people have said that they just screwed the fittings in, without tapping the hole, letting the pipe fitting tap it's own hole.Yup, that's what we did. The metal's soft enough to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
candlesprite7 Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 My hubby (bless his heart for putting up w/ me) and I had a hard time with the parts, as well. I just found a local machinist in Nashville (GA) and he drilled mine for about $18.I wish I had thought about a local machinist...I spent $50 for all the things needed to mod a presto pot and then I never modified them.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaritamama Posted February 1, 2006 Share Posted February 1, 2006 We also struggled to find the parts at our local stores........ Eventually the hubby just "macgyver-ed" one out of all sorts of plumbing parts, and it works great. The other Presto I bought ready-made off Ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ollie ables Posted August 9, 2006 Share Posted August 9, 2006 i found a spicot on the internet for 7.95 and it was all attacheded with a spout for pouring instead of a 90 elbow and you just drill the hole and thightened on the other side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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