welding a locknut onto a kettle

paledragon · 06-05-2009, 05:01 AM

so i bought an NPT coupling off mcmaster and planned to have it welded onto my kettle. however, whether or not the elements screw in enough seems to be hit or miss. i just got some of the stainless locknuts from bargain fittings, and all the elements i have screw in nicely. is there any downside to having one of the locknuts welded on instead of the coupling?

thanks,
p.d.

**Poobah58** · 06-05-2009, 12:09 PM

If you are going to weld, weld on a coupling!

**drez77** · 06-05-2009, 12:25 PM

I have what looks like the same nut as listed on Barging Fittings and plan to weld it to the outside of the keg. Right now I am using it weldless to hold my element on. I plan to have the gasket groove facing the element. I do not see why it will not work. I originally wanted to use a coupling but that will require me to make some other changes to my setup.

paledragon · 06-05-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poobah58

If you are going to weld, weld on a coupling!

the problem is the NPT coupling and the straight threaded heater elements. sometimes they play well together, sometimes not. the locknut is almost the size of a half-coupling on it's own.

have you had luck screwing elements into the couplings?

**Jaybird** · 06-05-2009, 01:27 PM

Both of my elements on my HLT are screwed into a 1/2 coupler that I welded into place. They don't really feel like they work well together, but they do. Also I have since burned up one of my elements and had to remove and reinstall one, and it worked out just fine. I would go w/ the coupling myself.

**Poobah58** · 06-05-2009, 01:50 PM

I have 2 pots with 1" couplings and have no problems getting the elements in and out. Is there enough thread on a locknut to prevent leaking?

**Bobby_M** · 06-05-2009, 02:18 PM

I assume you have to be liberal with the thread sealant or teflon tape. NPT and NPS sorta sometimes mesh, but I doubt it would be leak free with no sealant.

If I were doing it, I'd be silver soldering the locknut to the kettle.

**Yuri_Rage** · 06-05-2009, 02:20 PM

Bobby, the threads don't make the seal. There's a gasket that does.

**drez77** · 06-05-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poobah58

I have 2 pots with 1" couplings and have no problems getting the elements in and out. Is there enough thread on a locknut to prevent leaking?

The nut has a groove on it for a o-ring. I think it will work. Time will tell ..LOL

**Bobby_M** · 06-05-2009, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yuri_Rage

Bobby, the threads don't make the seal. There's a gasket that does.

You actually get enough turns to the point where the gasket makes contact? That's surprising to me though I've never threaded 1" NPS into NPT either. At 1/2", you get maybe 1 full turn before it binds.