fhhobbies

Recipes 

Is there a weldless option to add a 2" ferrule to a keg for an element without having to weld one on?

OMJ

Recipes 

you could silver solder them. Im sure you could make a tool to dimple the hole but I have yet to see anyone post a specific parts list for it. Check out the soldering stainless steel sticky in the DIY forum

BadNewsBrewery

Recipes 

What's your thought on having a ferrule vs just threading the element directly into the keggle and using a nut with a washer to seal?

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Building a Bad News Brewery - eHERMS

2013 Brew Count:
10gal Southern Pecan Ale (Blind Squirrel)
5gal Ed Wort's Apfelwein
5gal Saison w/ Italian Honey (Resurrection)
15gal Irish Red (Bloody Knuckles)

fhhobbies

Recipes 

http://www.stilldragon.com/element-guard-kit-and-adapters.html
Covers up the connections nicely, looks good, at removes easy for cleaning. But a nut like you say would be easier and cheaper.

slakwhere

Recipes 

http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=36_38&product_id=95

this would get your element in the keg. alternatively, you can get the 1" half coupling and solder it in (but that wouldn't let you use your TC setup).

personally i went weldless on all my stuff, then converted them all to silver solder because they are WAY more solid. i am now converting new kegs to bottom drain instead of using dip tubes and they will all be soldered with boxes on them like Kal does at the electric brewery.

mateomtb

Recipes 

I would just suck it up and find a welder, it is so worth it IMO. I wish those dragon parts were available when I did mine. I used the hillbillystills plate and had to further fabricate covers x4 which sucked but it's great being able to pop the elements out to clean or replace if you have to. WIth a TC cover you can plug the hole up easily too if you wanted to use the vessel for something else.

slakwhere

Recipes 

i've seen a ton of horror stories of guys who just 'found a welder' and ended up with garbage welds. get references of SANITARY WELDS if you go this route.

fhhobbies

Recipes 

Ya I think TC is what I want but nervous on getting a welder. I have silver soldered stainless to copper before so maybe I'll go that route, just need to figure out how to do a perfect hole for it with a nice little flare to it.

slakwhere

Recipes 

there is a fantastic silver soldering thread. it reviews everything you need to make the hole and make the dimple. the only issue is your TC will need to go in from the outside, not the inside, so you'll need to dimple INTO the vessel not out like most do. i love my half coupling for my heating element. i had to make my element wiring cover but it wasn't a big deal.

Maxkling

Recipes 

Why, hes not welding a fermenter. If its a boil kettle or hlt or mashtun there is no reason for sanitary welding. Plus the only real difference is using a backpurge and slight different technique. If you can't weld you can't weld... If you can just weld it, the heat from boiling will kill anything that might be hiding in the trashy weld.

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