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mattyb85 · 06-22-2012, 11:35 AM

Yeah I've got my sight glass, thermometer & weld less bulkhead with dip tube waiting at home for me to cut the holes and install which I might have to do tonight! I even bought greenlee chassis punch kits to make sure all the holes are clean and neat!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002NQWZWU

**SpikeBrewing** · 06-22-2012, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

Just a note about something I found when I used a similar pot. The thickness claimed was around the top. You can see a step a couple inches down the side. Below that the wall is much thinner, as is the base. The pot never gave me any problems and worked great. It's just that I was surprised to find the discrepancy.

The average consumer who doesn't drill holes in their cookware would never know.

Found this out as well when we welded on them

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattyb85

Yeah I've got my sight glass, thermometer & weld less bulkhead with dip tube waiting at home for me to cut the holes and install which I might have to do tonight! I even bought greenlee chassis punch kits to make sure all the holes are clean and neat!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B002NQWZWU

A cheap step drill would have worked fine on Al (for others that may view this thread in the future) but the knockout punch will make some really pretty holes!

**jclucca** · 06-22-2012, 10:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnOldUR

Just a note about something I found when I used a similar pot. The thickness claimed was around the top. You can see a step a couple inches down the side. Below that the wall is much thinner, as is the base.

I have one of these and have used it for a couple years - originally as a boil kettle and now as my HLT. "Much thinner" would be an exaggeration. It's a great pot - much thicker than most budget aluminum pot out there.

I've got mine all outfitted with Bobby M gear - sight glass, thermometer, ball valve. A step bit goes through the aluminum like a hot knife through butter, so it's easy to add on components.

mattyb85 · 06-22-2012, 11:48 PM

Just finished putting it together!!! The chassis punch worked even better than I imagined!!!

Starter hole drilled

Chassis punch attached

Thank you to whoever invented adjustable wrenches!

Look how clean that is!

Ball Valve & thermometer attached

Dip tube installed

Sight glass attached

mattyb85 · 06-22-2012, 11:51 PM

Here's my all grain DIY trio!

taulpepper · 08-03-2012, 05:08 AM

How much did this whole project cost? Kettle + all the hardware (thermometer, sight gauge, valve, punch, etc.)

mattyb85 · 08-03-2012, 12:36 PM

The kettle was $40 on amazon
http://amzn.com/B001CHKL68

The lid was $16
http://amzn.com/B003HEUYFW

The sight glass/thermometer/valve/bulkhead was roughly $115
http://www.brewhardware.com/

The two punches were $45 each
http://amzn.com/B002NQWZWU
http://amzn.com/B002NQZ0D6

taulpepper · 08-03-2012, 04:49 PM

Thanks! Very nice project.

$171 total for the brewing stuff seems like a pretty good deal. Those punches are expensive though - if I do this I might have to try to borrow those from somewhere or use step drill bits.

**SpikeBrewing** · 08-03-2012, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by taulpepper

Thanks! Very nice project.

$171 total for the brewing stuff seems like a pretty good deal. Those punches are expensive though - if I do this I might have to try to borrow those from somewhere or use step drill bits.

If you use aluminum a knockout punch is over kill. A cheap step drill will cut through it like a hot knife through butter.

mattyb85 · 08-03-2012, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpikeBrewing

If you use aluminum a knockout punch is over kill. A cheap step drill will cut through it like a hot knife through butter.

I agree however I plan on buying blichmann pots down the road and converting them to an electric setup so these will get future use. That was my justification in spending $90 on the two punches