I just posted a photo of the Weck Electric Canner I have on the Google Docs site.  I can fit 9 quart sized jars in it at once.

Comments

Fri, 06/10/2011 - 19:57

Karren K. Brito

I didn't see it on the page I set up.  If you made a new document then you have to share it with me before I can see it.  If I can see it I will share with the others.

Mon, 06/13/2011 - 16:06

dancingfish (not verified)

I added photos of my roaster setup to the document you had shared in Google Docs, Karren.

Linda

 

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 01:05

Hestia

Hi Karren,

Do you think the Weck electric canner would work better than the Nesco roaster for dyeing a yard or two of silk or cotton fabric, or larger quantities of yarn?  It seems to be deeper. I'm thinking of long term use, after the class is over.  Any thoughts?

Donna

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 02:56

Karren K. Brito

If the roasters have an insert that can be removed for cleaning that might be a big advantage.  Is the Weck canner all one piece and you have to keep the electrical part out of the water?  I use a constant temperature bath from lab supply.  I put in glass beakers or flasks for samples and a plastic container with a lid that I found that fits with a notch cut in the rim for larger amounts.  I'll get pics.

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 10:47

Mary Rios (not verified)

Karren, if the roaster has the insert, how is that a big advantage?

Thanks.

Mary

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 17:52

Anne Vincent

The Weck Canner does not have an insert so you have to wash it out.  You do have to keep the electrical cord out of the sink.  It has a spigot so you could drain almost all of the water out of it that way.  The inside dimensions are 12"H X 14" diameter.  It is on the expensive side, but I been able to achieve much more consistent dyeing.  Here is the link for their web site:  https://secure.concentric.com/weckjars.com/productsDetail.php?category=8  

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 18:10

Hestia

Anne,

Do you dye yardage of fabric in the Weck canner?  If so, about how many yards could you dye in it?  Do you use it with the Lanaset dyes?  I think I remember you saying you used that dye.  Do you think it would hold 2 or 3 gallons of water?  Thanks for the link.

Donna

Tue, 06/14/2011 - 18:43

dancingfish (not verified)

My 18 qt Rival roaster ($42.99 at Amazon) has a removable insert.  I think that would be handy for dumping and washing, especially if you are doing immersion dyeing right in the pan.  Sounds like the Weck has more capacity than the roasters do.  But I also like the shallowness of the roasters, for reaching in and stirring things (or moving a thermometer all around as I was doing yesterday in my testing) without worrying about getting burned.  I think it depends on what you need to do.  But this class is my first try at using such a device for dyeing, so I'm sure I'll have formed more opinions by the end!

Wed, 06/15/2011 - 01:56

Karren K. Brito

If you use the whole vessel for dyeing, as opposed to putting jars in it, the vessel must be cleaned throughly before the next dye bath.  Getting the vessel clean can be the critical step.  The Lanasets are exhaust dyes and easy to clean up after because there is very little dye left in the bath.  With fiber reactives the bath at the end will look like the bath at the start-- a lot to clean up.  Cleaning will be a big chore; scrubbing, soaking, washing again.  It needs to be easy.  Glass is also easy to clean; most other things are more difficult including stainless steel.

Another thing we will have to consider is how much the temp. fall when we take off the top to stir the jars.  Stir the jars we must for even meaningful dyeing.  So many things to test.

Wed, 06/15/2011 - 02:12

Karren K. Brito

I think I saw on one website that the volume of the Weck canner was 30L.  Liquor ratio is very important in fiber reactive dyes so must be kept constant.  Usually we work at 20:1 ratio, i.e. the volume of the dye bath is 20 times the WOF.  (If you don't know any of these terms, don't panic we will learn them.)  So 30L= 30000ml, divided by 20 gives 1500g or more than 3lbs of cloth. The roaster with a volume of 18qts, let's say 15L could only handle half of that or abound 750g, 1.5 lbs.

Again no expeience with either one.