I have wanted a bigger ashpan for a long time. I have been using 1 Bushel pans. A bushel is 9.4 gallons. I have been contomplating buying the square 16.5 gallon pans. The square 16.5 gallon pans are a bit expensive though. So I did a little online window shopping today for Behrens galvinized tubs and found a 17 gallon tub model 3GS. This tub won't fit under my boiler, mainly because it's round. I figured I can fix that!
The 3GS is almost twice as big as the bushel tub.
The 3GS is 24" wide.
One big advantage for me is the 3GS is only 11" tall. The bushel tub is 11.5" tall. That 1/2" keeps the bushel tub from getting underneath the stoker, meaning when I pull the fines cleanout ring, the fines don't hit the ashpan.
I put some bends in it to make it more square.
Then I worked it over with an old heavy bumper bending tool. The kind of thing used on bumpers that were made of steel and chrome.
And there it is, in it's new home.
It's not the prettiest thing in the world but, hay, it's an ashpan!
The Losch ashpan door opening is 15" H x 21" W so it can handle a big ashpan. The square 16.5 gallon Behrens tubs are $36 to $45. The Behrens 3GS is $20.98 at home depot.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Behrens-17-gal-Galvani ... 186673-_-N
This ashpan will easily get me to three day tending cycles and beyond!!!
Lazy Street, here I come!
-Don
