The Price is UP on Stainless steel I see...

[Bob]

Last week I went to Onlinemetals.com and priced some 12"x12"x1/16" thick stainless steel plates...
to my Horror the cost was well over $1000. bucks for 60 plates ! even using their cheepest grade!
Last time I priced it it wasn't all that bad but it really sky rocketed in cost now!
so it don't look like I'll be building my Big cell any time soon !
 I also priced smaller plates but the "special order/cutting  charge" made the cost almost identical
....I really think wall switch plate covers are the only way to go.... that or large washers!
... buying the plate meterial is so high now that it has gone out of REACH to me !
....
 thats progress for ya ! LOL
...
Bob........

[hydrotinkerer]

I made a 6x6 out of some 304ss shim stock from fastenal. It only cost about 36 bucks and you get 8 plates out of the 50" roll. It comes in 50 or 100" rolls.


http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=303855-131152&ucst=t
http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=303841-131152&ucst=t

It also comes 12" wide also.

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/detail.ex?sku=0302314&ucst=t

[Bob]

COOL thanks for the info !
....
Bob...

[randy]

Shim stock is hard to keep the spacing even, the other day I was in the dollar store oggleing stainless spatulas, hmmmmmm, even eyeballed pizza cutters.
went to Lowes and bought one of those drill doctor thingies for sharpening bits quickly, probably do a better job than eyeballing the way I have been. hahahaha, gonna stick with my last plan, 60 fender washers stacked and feed it the amps it wants. when I wired multiple 11 washer cells parallel I had no problem getting high amps with k-aid.

[Bob]

Randy !
 Yes but that is separate units using 20 or 30 amps each.... adding up to say 80 to 120 amps total...
if you try to get 80 to 120 amps out of ONE cell you'll run up upon a WALL that the Koolaid cannot get any higher in amp draw... been there done that ! changing to KOH will only get you about 10 amps more at Saturation is all....
  that's what stopped me from making a bigger cell already... my test cell that has 25 plates but much area  couldn't get to the amps needed to make it work with the electrolyte...even at Max concentration
... I have no doubt you will be able to reach a good 40amps maybe even 50 amps because the closeness of the plates.... but is that going to be enough ?
it will be very interesting to see your findings ! PLEASE keep us informed!
...
Bob......

[hydrotinkerer]

I didn't have any problems with the spacing using the .020 or 25-26 gauge ss. I would think anything lighter would be a problem though.

[Bob]

thanks Hydrotinkierer !
I was wondering if 20guage would be thick enough or not !
 I suppose it depends on the size of each plate being used !
 I was thinking of 12"x12" x 60 plates and make a Large Bob Boyce cell
 ( almost double his original size)
plates that big will probably warp allot with the change in tempatures but its really is hard to say
...I discovered that the inverter I have in the shed is only a 1000watt inverter,(1750 watt peek) so that means I can't put in the amps I was planning in the first place unless I buy another inverter!
...I learned years ago that you cannot run inverters near their Max capasity or they will burn out real fast.
...
any way.... that project is going to have to wait a bit as I have my Bandsaw Sawmill in the works at the moment.... which is taking shape real good now.... ! I need to start working on the trolly system and then mount a gas engine on it and I can cut lumber!
...
Bob.......

[hydrotinkerer]

I made a 6x6 without problems. I think a 12x12 would need a spacer in the center to hold the gap throughout all the plates of such a light gauge ss.