DIY 108 tower

[radical.richard]

Hi there

Anyone out there got experience of converting an M81 to a M108, I have loads of spares and as far as I can see it should be just a case of extending the central rod using a connecting nut and possibly knocking out the centre of the ring that goes over it.

Any suggestions from anyone who has already done it would be great.

Thanks

R

[Quinch]

Why do you need to knock out the centre of the ring? I've never done that type of conversion but I've converted some M42s to M63s by adding 3 segments. What you need to consider is you would be making the tower very top heavy by extending to 12 segments and the threaded rod on Clenport M81s only goes into the union nut on the body about 10mm, that's a lot of weight being held up by 10mm of threaded rod. It's easier to get away with on Pringles machines as although the pots are bigger they only weigh 40g.

A genuine M108 is only marginally taller than an M81 because the segments are wider and hold 12 pots instead of 9, I would suggest maybe trying to pick up some second hand ones. In theory you could do it, and in the right type of site it may work but if it's the sort of site where the tower may get knocked around a bit or kids messing with it then I wouldn't risk it.

[radical.richard]

Thank you for that I didn't realise the 108 has more lines I thought it was just higher, and I had considered it being top heavy. Guess I need to get hold of a 108 to see what the difference is.

Although I do have a couple of safe sites where it would be ok to make the tower taller, how do you extend the Pringles towers rods.?

[Quinch]

The easiest way to do it is use a spare rod from a tubz vending tower as they go all the way through the machine to the base (whereas the Clenports use 2 sections of rod) or buy some from tubz vending, DIY places sell threaded rod but you won't get the tapered down bit at the top where the upper locking socket and top nut go.

In my opinion the rod needs to be 779mm long to hold 9 levels but you need to judge for yourself a little depending on how tight you want it, hacksaw it off to the right length and if it's not tight enough just add washers at the top.

Any more questions just ask

[radical.richard]

Many thanks, that what I thought would be the way to do it, but always better to ask first.

R

[PGBrew]

Yes the M81 has an M42 pringle style base with 9 x 12 rings. Alternatively you can take the centre rod from a Chinese made machine, cut it to size and fit onto a clenport machine, you will then have 12 x 9, 108 capacity machine. To compensate for the extra height use a Clenport plastic stand and cut it dowm 6 to 8 ins. The machine will then be at a resonable height and stable. You can do the same thing with a chinese machine but will need to split the rod in two pieces first.

Pete

[radical.richard]

Thanks Pete thats useful, what do you use to join the split rods, is it a clenport bottom nut?

[PGBrew]

Hi RR,

M108 not M81! Yes, use the bottom nut (same in chinese & Clenport). First secure the bottom part of the rod to the base unit. Then screw the top rod in, Then holding the bottom nut in place with a spanner, tighten the top rod firmly with a mole grip. This is the only way to prevent the top rod coming loose during operation.

Pete