Guardian Service Pressure Canner -- Advice Needed

[rp2813]

For whatever reason, today Savers seemed to have decent items priced to sell.  I picked up a Guardian Service pressure canner (perhaps 10 quart size -- it has no model number) for $6.99.  I thought for sure when I checked the price it would have been closer to $20, and I would have left it there.

 

It's missing the pressure relief petcock for the vent cap, and without an instruction book I don't know if there's any trick to testing it.  I found a short hex-head bolt with the same thread as the petcock, so decided to at least check to see if the thing would hold pressure.  I have a single gas burner on the patio for this sort of activity.

 

I was under the impression that the vent cap/weight should jiggle, but chickened out when the pressure gauge was at around 12 pounds and there was just a bunch of steam hissing out of the holes on the side of the vent cap/weight and no jiggling.

 

Can anyone advise me on how this thing is supposed to behave, and whether there's a source for parts?  I'd like to find  the petcock for sure, and hope I can find an owner's manual on line.  I'd like to use it for putting up preserves from a neighbor's ultra-prolific fig tree (as they all tend to be) this summer.

 

Here's a picture I lifted from ebay, although the pressure gauge on mine has a black background.

 

 

 

 

 

[combo52]

Cast Aluminum Pressure Canner

Isn't that a Presto pressure canner? or at least a Presto made canner.

 

[tomturbomatic]

This cooker/canner uses Presto parts so an old hardware store that stocks old Presto parts would have the petcock. The dead weight on the stem does not rock or jiggle, it just holds steam in the cooker. The petcock is used to exhaust air from the cooker before pressure is allowed to build.

 

[rp2813]

John, just in the searching I've done today I've discovered that a lot of such canner/cookers from this period look a lot alike.  Even (ooooh!) the Waaaaards!

 

Except for the weight/cap/petcock assembly, which seems to be a GS exclusive and rather scarce.  If I could see the petcock I might be able to figure out a substitute.  It has a common machine thread, but I don't know if there's any machining on its tip.  If there is, I doubt I could duplicate it exactly.

 

I've never worked with a guage/dial type pressure indicator, and the weight has only a single setting (unlike the 5/10/15 discs for Mirro Matics), so I'm wondering if it is even supposed to rattle.

 

Here's what's on the bottom of mine:

 

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Tom.

 

You were answering while I was typing.

 

[rp2813]

Looks like possibly Presto, National and All American parts could work.

 

I'd rather retrofit the current vent/petcock assembly with a multi-weighted one.  The gauge, if it even reads properly, can be there just for contraptional appeal.  I'm used to hearing a weight rattling and confirming that all's well. 

 

[combo52]

Cast Aluminum Pressure Canner

I have a couple of old cast aluminum PCs that I have taken the old air vent valve off of and I just screwed in a stem from newer Presto PCs and then use the Presto three piece weight so I can use the PC at 5-10 or 15 Lbs pressure. I leave the pressure gauge in place to keep an eye on things, in every case I have the old pressure gauge to be surprising accurate.

 

[norgeway]

I have one also,

You just watch the guage and adjust the heat to hold the pressure, if you let it get over 15 pounds it will hiss and giggle, if its letting off steam at 12 pounds the gauge is wrong, they are still available, I have never used any other kind of canner, I have a Wards and a Presto, all 3 are made by Presto.I grew up setting on a stool watching the needle while Grandmother canned, that was my job as a kid..LOL.." Now honey, if it goes over 10 you call me!!"

 

[rp2813]

I have an 8-quart aluminum Presto pressure cooker that's about ten years old.  It's supposed to double as a canner, but I've never used it that way.   It has a single 15# weight.

 

I have 4- and 6-quart Mirro cookers with the 3-position disc weight for 5, 10, and 15# of pressure.  The instructions for canning seem to be the only instance calling for 5# of pressure.  What happens if you only have a 15# weight?

 

This is why I'm considering an All American vent tube and weight retrofit, since they have a similar 3- position disc weight to the Mirro.  I found a post in a blog that indicates the All American vent tube worked fine on a National lid, and also read that National parts can be used on Guardian.  What I don't know is whether a Mirro vent tube would have a compatible thread, or if all PC vent tube threads are standardized.   I have a spare Mirro vent, so will give that type a try first in case it will save me the $25 expense of ordering parts.

 

My vigilance threshold with PCs falls short of keeping an eye on a gauge.  The rattling of the weight is something I can keep track of while doing other things, and it also serves as a companion indicator in case the gauge isn't accurate anymore.

 

[rp2813]

The Results Are In!

My spare Mirro vent tube threaded into the Guardian lid nicely. 

 

I did a test run with the Mirro-Matic 5/10/15 disc weight set for 15#.  It worked perfectly, and the gauge needle held steady at precisely 15# as the weight rattled several times per minute.

 

The next step is to clean it up.  This will be the perfect device not only for canning, but also for the next time I do a kalua pork shoulder.

[this post was last edited: 4/10/2016-16:24]

 

[rp2813]

Now I have a couple of additional questions.

 

1)  What is the part number (or equivalent Presto/National cooker model number) for a replacement gasket?  It's very thin -- nothing like the thick grooved gaskets my other cookers use -- and it fits into a narrow slit in the lid.

 

2)  What is the best cleaning method for the interior?  Fill it to the top with a cream of tartar solution and let it simmer?  Can I make a paste of some kind and apply it like I would a metal cleaner/polish? 

 

[rp2813]

I think I'm zeroing in on the gasket/sealing ring.  It appears to be Presto #9907, which replaces Presto #1075.  The annoying thing is that on line retailers only provide dimensions for the box it comes in, not the ring itself.

 

I could drive about 20 miles to an ACE in Palo Alto that stocks this gasket, or take a chance and order it on line.

 

One site doesn't even provide the part number, but the zoom view of the picture provided is the closest match to what my gasket looks like (see link), since its not thick enough to have the groove usually found in the thicker gaskets. 

 

The gasket that's on the cooker now is 3/8" wide, 1/16" thick, and has an inside diameter of 11.5" when in place.  Am I on the right track with the 9907/1075 part number?

 

[this post was last edited: 4/11/2016-14:31]

http://https//jet.com/product/detai...g=kitchen_dining_cookware_bakeware_a3_other&p

 

[rp2813]

Batting 0.000 but what the hell . . .

Feeling fairly certain that the 09907 gasket will fit my cooker, I decided to order one from a site that  offers no-hassle returns.  Presto includes a replacement safety vent with the gasket.

 

The Guardian has what I assume is an old style safety in the center of the lid.  It looks like a flat rubber disc with some type of barely visible retaining ring to keep it in place.   Is there a trick to removing it?

 

[askolover]

I know my stainless Prestos just push out and back in (have to remove it to run it through the dishwasher).  My Mirro-matic is actually metal and screwed in.  I looked at a Guardian on ebay but I can't tell anything about the safety.  It doesn't look anything like the Presto safety.  I wouldn't remove it if I weren't sure I could find a replacement for it.

 

[norgeway]

It is

The old style Presto, just a flat disc of rubber, the new one that will come with your new gasket will fit perfectly.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks for the info.  I'm going under the assumption that if the gasket fits, the safety that comes with it should also fit.

 

Still, I don't want to wreck the old one that's on the cooker now just in case the new one doesn't fit.  The old one still has a little flexibility to it and would probably function as intended, but could prove difficult to remove by pushing it through the top. 

 

[rp2813]

Here's a picture of the flat rubber disc type of safety on my cooker.

 

I'm wondering if the new type will work even with the raised edge all around the opening.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Yes, it will. Millions of older Presto cooker lids have had the safety plug replaced with the newer combination safety release and air vent. When cooking with the older plug, you had to wait to put the pressure gauge or regulator on the pipe until AFTER a steady stream of steam escaped to indicate that the air had been exhausted from the cooker. When canning, you still have to go through the exhaust period without the regulator in place to make sure the air is out of the jars. With the new style safety release and air vent, you can start cooking, but not canning, with the regulator in place. Air streams out from the new style plug until it is all gone and then the building steam pressure forces the little metal plunger up to seal the plug. It is also helpful in letting the user know when the pressure has dropped since the little metal pin is more visible in the up and down positions than the old button.

By the way; the new ring is probably going to look like it is too large in circumference to fit. The secret to installing it is to push it into the groove and PUSH IT BACKWARD AGAINST ITSELF. Do that every inch of the way and you will have a newly installed ring without a little loop of gasket popped up and left over outside of the groove. If the old ring is still working, I would save the new ring for when you need it. Canners saw such infrequent use that gaskets would last almost for the lifetime of the cooker since they were not exposed to the oils and grease from regular cooking which is what got the older, non-Neoprene gaskets. Nothing horrible will happen when the gasket is due to be replaced. You will just notice steam escaping from under the cover or water running down the side of the cooker. Then that happens, it is time to replace the gasket.

 

[rp2813]

Tom, thanks for the detailed information.  I'll for sure change out the safety.

 

When I got a replacement gasket for my old Mirro-Matic (396M, I think) it seemed like it was too big, but I did exactly what you described above and it fit perfectly.

 

The trouble with the existing gasket on the Guardian isn't that it doesn't seal, but that after a couple of test runs, it has become difficult to close the cover and nearly impossible to remove it.  I tried a thin application of vegetable oil and it didn't help.

 

The aforementioned Mirro-Matic had the same problem, and it's smooth as silk now and the lid moves effortlessly with the replacement gasket, so I'm hoping for the same results with the Guardian.

 

[tomturbomatic]

As you can see, the seals are completely different in Mirro Matics and older Presto cookers. One thing that can help the lids close is to use a Brillo or SOS pad on the sealing surface at the rim of the body of the cooker. It helps make the aluminum smooth.

 

[rp2813]

I'll give that a shot Tom.  If I can keep the old gasket viable, that is my preference.

 

The interesting thing about this seal is that it's a true gasket.  Just a thin flat ring as opposed to the thick grooved ones on my smaller Mirro and Presto PCs, and it needs to be shoved into a small slit below the rim of the lid.  I'm surprised that this type of gasket doesn't have to be replaced more often, but like you said, canners of this size tend not to be used as often as a standard PC.

 

[rp2813]

The gasket arrived and it's waaaaaay too big.   Around 4" to spare.  Working all of that to fit into a tiny slit is physically impossible.

 

I think the only way I'm going to find the right gasket is to get the model number of the Presto equivalent to my Guardian.  I'm thinking the Guardian is a 12-quart, since there seems to be no such animal as a 10-quart.

 

On the bright side, the safety valve went into place nicely.

 

Tom, the Brillo treatment didn't change anything.   I think a new gasket may be the only solution.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Before abandoning the old gasket, look for food quality silicone oil. It is in an aerosol can and is used to coat icemakers to ensure good release of cubes or whatever shape they make, crescents, drums, etc. It is more than just oil since the oil is the vehicle for the silicone. I bought it at an appliance parts store, but I am sure it should be available online. You might also find dry silicone in a spray can which is safe to use around food, indeed ice trays and cooking utensils can be sprayed with it, but you need to be very careful using it. Take it outside over an area covered with vegetation where you won't walk because the overspray and drifting particles make anything on which they land slicker than snot on a doorknob and underfoot that is very dangerous.

As to the gasket size, how many quart mason jars fit into your cooker? I realize it is probably not tall enough, but just to get an idea of the capacity. If it will not hold 7, it is of a smaller diameter than the Presto canners. I think that the 12 qt. Presto canners were stamped aluminum instead of cast so those gaskets would not work in your cover. There are Guardian Service groups online. I would Google that and ask about the gasket. You might find dealers who have them. If the cooker is indeed a 10 quart, I would Google ten quart Presto (or National or Guardian Service) pressure cooker gasket. You might find it that way.

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Tom.  I'll check around for the silicone oil spray.

 

The cooker will hold four quart jars.  Sitting on the rack, they come up to the top of the cooker, but the lid will clear them.

 

I've googled so many brands and terms and ended up on a lot of sites, but none have specific dimensions of the gaskets.  I'll see if I can track down a Guardian Service fan club.

[this post was last edited: 4/15/2016-11:58]

 

[rp2813]

Just to confirm, isn't the capacity of a cooker based on liquid measurement as opposed to how many jars of a specific size it can hold? 

 

My 4-quart Mirro is too short to hold a quart jar, and even without the lid on, I doubt I could fit two quart jars into it.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Your 4 quart cooker will only hold pint jars. You are right that the capacity is determined in liquid quarts, but a standard 16 qt canner will hold 7 quart jars and I was trying to get an idea of its dimensions.

 

[tomturbomatic]

Do a Google search for Guardian Service Pressure Cooker Parts and you will come up with the name of a man in Owings Mills, MD who has been selling Guardian parts for decades. Ivan Bernstein or something like that is his name.

 

[rp2813]

I'll try that Tom, but I also have some good news.

 

I went back and gave the lid a good scrubbing with a Brillo pad, in every groove and wherever it was discolored even if it had nothing to do with the locking mechanism, and then gave the same treatment to the top of the pot so everything shined and there was no trace of residue.   I paid extra attention to the groove for the gasket, and hit it with a toothbrush.

 

I washed the gasket in hot suds, and dried everything completely.  Then I got a Q-tip soaked with vegetable oil and ran it under the tabs on the pot.  With barely any oil left on the swab, I ran it over the exposed portion of the gasket.

 

The lid locked and opened without too much effort -- at least no worse than it was when I first got the cooker home. 

 

I tested it out with half a dozen artichokes I had snipped yesterday from a friend's plant.  The safety popped up, the gauge hit 15# and at the same time, the weight began to rattle.  After ten minutes, I cooled the cooker down and removed the lid without any major effort.  Perfectly done artichokes.

 

I'm calling it good for now, but will still be on the hunt for a replacement gasket just in case.

 

Also, I checked the capacity with pint jars and I can fit five wide mouth type.  It would be a dangerously tight squeeze to get a sixth one in the middle.  I don't have enough regular pint jars to check if it would hold six of that type.

[this post was last edited: 4/17/2016-00:37]

 

[norgeway]

Oh yes!

I forgot, the one you have holds only 5 quart jars, the 16 qt holds 7, the gasket is obsolete, I did find one for mine in a old hardware store, I may have an extra , I will look..

 

[rp2813]

Thanks Hans.  I've found gaskets that are too large or too small.  The Goldilocks gasket has not presented itself.  It seems one that measures 11.5" inside diameter is an oddball size. 

 

If anybody needs the #09907 gasket (replaces #1075) for their National/Presto cooker, I have one for you.  I effectively got it for free.  I contacted jet.com where I purchased it and they told me to keep the gasket and they immediately processed a refund.   I like their responsiveness and personalized customer service way better than Amazon's.

 

Maybe the quart jars I have are an odd shape, although they're not antiques or anything and are recognizable brands like Ball and Kerr.  The Guardian will only fit four of them.

 

I also found a link to the guy in Owings Mills, but his site comes up with nothing to click on -- like a dead end, but it's not an error message like 404 or whatever.  I found a phone number for him, so will try that during the week.

 

I also think I'm going to get a Presto vent tube and 3-piece weight for this thing.  If I'm going to do a big pork shoulder in it, I'd rather have the gentle rocking effect of a Presto weight than the Turrets-like bursts of the Mirro's system for the couple of hours it will take.