Need advice on keggle building

Ol' Grog · 02-28-2007, 02:34 PM

Well, I finally got that keg from the local microbrew store that I was promised last Friday, for free. It's a standard keg with a single hole on top. Was told there was a crack in the neck, but when I got it home, it was still under some pressure when I pushed in the big ball. Wondering if it's even cracked at all....I only, and for a long, long time, will be doing extracts with steeping, no time or room for AG setup.
What would be the best way to convert this thing to a keggle? My plan is to go with hop bags so I won't have to worry about using some sort of hopper stopper at the bottom of the keggle. I plan on cutting the lid, then smoothing it out. Which would be the best way to go as far as a weldless drain and temperature guage? I saw a temperature guage on here a while ago that had all the different ranges printed on the thermometer, but I be dogged if I can't find that thread. What would be the best way to put a siphon on it? I've seen some weldless drain valves that use the bulkhead type and then some that have threaded ends on the inside. Since I'm only going to do 5 gallons, how high do I need to put the temperature probe? Seems like 5 gallons won't be very far from the bottom.

**Lil' Sparky** · 02-28-2007, 03:46 PM

IMO, you don't need a temp guage for the kettle. You're just going to boil in it, right?

You could siphon after you chill if you use an immersion chiller, but really the valve is the way to go. You can go with a weldless fitting (http://www.northernbrewer.com/weldless.html). It's easy to add a compression fitting and build a pick-up tube out of copper. I've got that setup in my HLT - really easy. I could post a pic of the HW installed if it would help.

**Bobby_M** · 02-28-2007, 03:56 PM

I agree with the above. Just cut the top off for now and use it like you use your current pot. You just have a lot less boil over worries. Chill with the immersion, rack out of it with an autosiphon after whirlpooling. You can always add the bulkheads later. In the case of all grain, the thermo is nice so you can heat to mash/sparge temps. The drain bulkhead is really only an advantage in use of a plate or CFC, and if not, just a minor convenience over siphoning. For extracts, it's really a huge honkin pot for 6 gallon boils.

**Orfy** · 02-28-2007, 04:02 PM

Check out the wiki and look for keggle.

Ol' Grog · 02-28-2007, 04:11 PM

Orf, I came across an older thread where you had a picture of a weldless setup. Where did you get that?
Also, I plan to steep in it, hence, the temperature guage. Thanks. Does any one know where that tutorial on a keggle went? I saw it a couple of weeks ago and I just can't seem to find it.

**Bobby_M** · 02-28-2007, 04:31 PM

This: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Keggle

and then for the thermometer:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Thermometer

If you can find someone to weld the couplings in, it will make you feel like more of a man. Heh, J/K, but it does give you a secure feeling of no possible leaks.

Ol' Grog · 02-28-2007, 05:25 PM

What about if I just took the plunge and got this???
http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19807

Temperature probe isn't no big deal, I already got a digital thermometer.

**Orfy** · 02-28-2007, 05:27 PM

[quote=Ol' Grog]Orf, I came across an older thread where you had a picture of a weldless setup. Where did you get that?
Also, I plan to steep in it, hence, the temperature guage. Thanks. Does any one know where that tutorial on a keggle went? I

I made it from bits at the plumbers merchants. I have it next to me at the moment.

Check my link and you'll see it.

Ol' Grog · 02-28-2007, 05:47 PM

Well, give it a hug for me..................

**Orfy** · 02-28-2007, 06:14 PM

Splutter!!!!!

I miss read that.