ps
as well as needing
i need to know
1-the approximate outside diameter
2-the inside diameter
3-spacing between the plates (which includes the thickness of the plates themselves) .... in my kettle i used 2mm spacing, material was 0.25mm, so actual gap between the plates = 1.75mm
i of course need to know ...
4-how many plates you would use
the fewer the plates the longer they may become, but you can always wire them in parallel
you may find you can only get shim in shortish lengths, for example these guys
http://www.toolsandsupplies.com/stainlessshimstock1.asp sell only 1250mm-1500mm / 50"-60" lengths ... the wholesaler i got mine from had big 100metre rolls of the stuff, which they cut to length
if you are using one or two plates, you probably still want to mount them every 90degrees; think about how the assembly is to be mounted in its container, you might be best supporting it with at least 3 or four legs in those cases
if you use 6 plates, then mount every 60degrees
if you use 8 plates, then mount every 45degrees