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mechjag
It might need a new safety plug (if it has one). Is that an old All American canner? You might also need a new weight. Both should be available.
marstec
I think that’s an autoclave/sterilizer…you would need to buy the pressure gauge that’s used on the canner.
Puzzled_Tinkerer
I’m thinking there should be 3 things on the top besides the handle. The pressure gauge (on the left), an overpressure fitting that looks like a little button in the center of a small aluminum plug (I think it’s hidden behind the handle in your photo), and a manual pressure release (on the right).
If so, your older All American is set up like my vintage All American. As it is, you will have to manually control the pressure by watching the pressure gauge and adjusting the burner to keep the pressure at the setting you want. If you are willing to get the gauge regularly checked for accuracy and don’t mind carefully watching the gauge and adjusting the burner to control the pressure, this works fine.
I don’t have an easy way to get my pressure gauge tested regularly, however, so I removed the manual pressure release and replaced it with a “jiggler” weight. All American sells them on their website and their customer service reps have been kind and helpful when I’ve contacted them. THe pressure gauge is then just for information only — the jiggler weight does the controlling of the pressure.
Don’t remove the overpressure fitting — it needs to stay on the canner as an emergency pressure release. Far better to have the overpressure fitting pop open and release excessive pressure rather than have the canner fail.
GarthDonovan
Nice!Just put some water in it and try it out slow. Test it with just water first, no cans. No pressure, let it vent , then get it to 5lb, 30 min,then 10lbs hold it at 10 for 30 minutes. Make sure the arrows on the lid and the base are lined up, it’s not lined up in the photo. Clean the entire unit really well, especially the mating surface of the lid and base. I use cooking oil on the lid before I use it to make a good seal. I think some people use wax.
If steam comes out, the lid and base just let the pressure drop and re seat the lid. I do 2 knobs in opposite side at the same time and then opposite sides, just a few threads at a time. You’ll visit each knob about 4 times or more until it’s tight, that’ll be even. Check it to make sure it’s even.
If any part is broken, you’ll know at a very low pressure, maybe with the weight not even attached or within minutes of putting the weight on. Steam should only come out of the vent hole where the weight goes. Parts are on the website.
If you have an issue, just turn the heat off. Don’t move the canner. You can use tongs to take the weight off.
5 Comments
Hi u/unicorn_fire_princes,
For accessibility, please reply to this comment with a transcription of the screenshot or alt text describing the image you’ve posted. We thank you for ensuring that the visually impaired can fully participate in our discussions!
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It might need a new safety plug (if it has one). Is that an old All American canner? You might also need a new weight. Both should be available.
I think that’s an autoclave/sterilizer…you would need to buy the pressure gauge that’s used on the canner.
I’m thinking there should be 3 things on the top besides the handle. The pressure gauge (on the left), an overpressure fitting that looks like a little button in the center of a small aluminum plug (I think it’s hidden behind the handle in your photo), and a manual pressure release (on the right).
If so, your older All American is set up like my vintage All American. As it is, you will have to manually control the pressure by watching the pressure gauge and adjusting the burner to keep the pressure at the setting you want. If you are willing to get the gauge regularly checked for accuracy and don’t mind carefully watching the gauge and adjusting the burner to control the pressure, this works fine.
I don’t have an easy way to get my pressure gauge tested regularly, however, so I removed the manual pressure release and replaced it with a “jiggler” weight. All American sells them on their website and their customer service reps have been kind and helpful when I’ve contacted them. THe pressure gauge is then just for information only — the jiggler weight does the controlling of the pressure.
Don’t remove the overpressure fitting — it needs to stay on the canner as an emergency pressure release. Far better to have the overpressure fitting pop open and release excessive pressure rather than have the canner fail.
Nice!Just put some water in it and try it out slow. Test it with just water first, no cans. No pressure, let it vent , then get it to 5lb, 30 min,then 10lbs hold it at 10 for 30 minutes. Make sure the arrows on the lid and the base are lined up, it’s not lined up in the photo. Clean the entire unit really well, especially the mating surface of the lid and base. I use cooking oil on the lid before I use it to make a good seal. I think some people use wax.
If steam comes out, the lid and base just let the pressure drop and re seat the lid. I do 2 knobs in opposite side at the same time and then opposite sides, just a few threads at a time. You’ll visit each knob about 4 times or more until it’s tight, that’ll be even. Check it to make sure it’s even.
If any part is broken, you’ll know at a very low pressure, maybe with the weight not even attached or within minutes of putting the weight on. Steam should only come out of the vent hole where the weight goes. Parts are on the website.
If you have an issue, just turn the heat off. Don’t move the canner. You can use tongs to take the weight off.