Installing a fitting to a stainless steel water tank

[Burge]

Hi I have recently installed a watermarker and need to add a hose fitting to the top of the stainless steel water tank.

Does anyone know how to do this specifically do you thread the hole, i'm guessing so as there is no way of getting bolt inside. Also how do you stop the metal filings from going in the tank?

It will be for 13mm hose.


Thanks

[JPA Cate]

Mmmm. Sorry for a silly question, but why don't you use an adapter on the existing input? and avoid drilling, etc.?

Ann

[RaymondR]

I have silver soldered a thick, threaded washer to a thin walled SS tank then used a hole saw without a pilot bit to thin the tank wall until I could penetrate and pry out the small circle of SS sheet metal then run a tap through before screwing a brass fitting in.


Worked OK but it is sometimes difficult to get even silver solder to take to SS.


I will be making a wall mounted coolant header tank out of the food tray from a bain-marie using this technique in the near future.

[dlymn]

if you have a filter on the outlet of the tank, it won't matter if you get swarf in the tank. I have considered drilling a hole and inserting a grommet. then use a right angled barbed fitting (the one they use for irrigation hoses). These form a good seal with the grommet, but I would be tempted to put some glue there too. you might screw a saddle clamp over the hose near the inlet. Use tec screws or even sharp pointed screws. Avoid using a standard twist bit as they rarely give a neat, round hole. Hole saw is better. smooth off edges

[JPA Cate]

If you're going to use glue, use epoxy. Works great.

Ann

[Sailmonkey]

Heres a whole selection of fittings specifically for the task at hand

http://www.mcmaster.com/#bulkheads/=130q3kc


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[Brewgyver]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Heres a whole selection of fittings specifically for the task at hand

McMaster-Carr

Bulkhead fittings can't be installed without access to both sides of the tank wall.
The OP wants to do a blind installation.
Tapping won't work either, tank walls are typically thinner than the thread pitch would be.

Teeing into the existing fill hose would be easiest.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Mmmm. Sorry for a silly question, but why don't you use an adapter on the existing input? and avoid drilling, etc.?

Ann

Yes... just tap into the vent hose. Never did it any other way.

[oleman]

That fitting needs to be TIG welded into the SS tank. Obviously needs to be removed and taken to a welding shop that does TIG process. There are weld on fitting that are designed to provide a coupling in normal pipe sizes to a thin walled tank, sort of a thick threaded washer to improve surface area. Also probably should be the same type of SS as the parent tank.
Do the job, do it correctly, do it once, and be happy with it for as long as you have the Vessel.

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by Burge

Hi I have recently installed a watermarker and need to add a hose fitting to the top of the stainless steel water tank.

Does anyone know how to do this specifically do you thread the hole, i'm guessing so as there is no way of getting bolt inside. Also how do you stop the metal filings from going in the tank?

It will be for 13mm hose.


Thanks

Also, if you have an access cover, you can install a thru hull type fitting after drilling a hole. Just push the mushroom fitting out thru the hole from the inside and put the nut on the outside. But there is really no reason not to just install a T in the vent hose.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

Mmmm. Sorry for a silly question, but why don't you use an adapter on the existing input? and avoid drilling, etc.?

Ann

Ann

[Panacea2183]

Originally Posted by Burge

Hi I have recently installed a watermarker and need to add a hose fitting to the top of the stainless steel water tank.

Does anyone know how to do this specifically do you thread the hole, i'm guessing so as there is no way of getting bolt inside. Also how do you stop the metal filings from going in the tank?

It will be for 13mm hose.


Thanks

Installed mine in the water outlet from than tank to the pump intake on 2 different boats, no issues no need to mess with the tank

[Nauticatarcher]

Originally Posted by Panacea2183

Installed mine in the water outlet from than tank to the pump intake on 2 different boats, no issues no need to mess with the tank

According to all the experts in my thread "Watermaker Product flow pressure" you have just commited a major booboo doing this and you will be punished by sinking your boat or ruining all sorts of expensive equipment not too mention invaliding all your warranties. but I'm with you on this one.

[knockabout]

t fitting in the existing line with tap on the wm side to isolate the wm if needed

[Panacea2183]

Originally Posted by Nauticatarcher

According to all the experts in my thread "Watermaker Product flow pressure" you have just commited a major booboo doing this and you will be punished by sinking your boat or ruining all sorts of expensive equipment not too mention invaliding all your warranties. but I'm with you on this one.

My second install already had fitting provided at the pump intake for this purpose along with breaker and wiring, just had to install.