Drilling a hole in my 40 QT aluminum brew pot

Dave46382 · Mar 31, 2010

Yes, there were a few 'oh ****' moments....

The instructions said use a friend, so I used a wit and a chardonay

1/8 inch pilot hole ... oh no.

$18 step bit (work perfect)

Lubricated hole (that sounds dirty)

finished hole

bulkhead installed

outside done

inside with pickup/dip tube

I guess I can brew this weekend.

:rockin:

Bopper · Mar 31, 2010

Projects like this always make me nervous but its a great feeling when they're done. You only get one shot to get it right. Nice work!!

Dave46382 · Mar 31, 2010

Bopper said:
Projects like this always make me nervous but its a great feeling when there done. You only get one shot to get it right. Nice work!!

Yeah, I am not too mechanically inclined and I have a crappy drill, too.

This was going to make or break me for brewing this weekend as this is/was really my only decent brew pot.... a 40 qt Sam's Club special...

Mischief_Brewing · Mar 31, 2010

I'm finishing up my CPVC manifold in my MLT tonight and if time permits, drilling two holes in an aluminum pot for the HLT.

Any tips for getting that pilot hole started?

What did you use for lubricant? KY?

Bobby_M · Mar 31, 2010

Aluminum drills like it was paper. You likely won't even need lube.

bovineblitz · Mar 31, 2010

How much harder is it to do on SS?

Mischief_Brewing · Mar 31, 2010

Bobby_M said:
Aluminum drills like it was paper. You likely won't even need lube.

Sweet, thanks!

BendBrewer · Mar 31, 2010

Those step drill bits aren't cheap.

IrregularPulse · Mar 31, 2010

Those ones he used are. Get a Harbor Freight deal for $18 bucks. Great idea for those of us who wouldn't normally use one other than 3-5 hols for brewing.

rca · Mar 31, 2010

I'm about to do this on my brew pot and wanted to confirm something on your setup. I understood that the locknut should be on the inside of the pot, with the washers on the outside. At least that's the way I read the install instructions from Bargain Fittings. Did I have that backwards?

It certainly looks like the way you have it setup is working.

Thanks for the help and pictures, nice thread.

Ron

MikeRLynch · Mar 31, 2010

rca said:
I'm about to do this on my brew pot and wanted to confirm something on your setup. I understood that the locknut should be on the inside of the pot, with the washers on the outside. At least that's the way I read the install instructions from Bargain Fittings. Did I have that backwards?

It certainly looks like the way you have it setup is working.

Thanks for the help and pictures, nice thread.

Ron

Same here, just installed mine with the locknut inside, washer out. Had to tighten it way down (really thinwalled pot) but so far no leaks. Haven't done a boil in it yet. Should I switch it around?

Dave46382 · Mar 31, 2010

drat said:
I'm finishing up my CPVC manifold in my MLT tonight and if time permits, drilling two holes in an aluminum pot for the HLT.

Any tips for getting that pilot hole started?

What did you use for lubricant? KY?

I just laid the bits on a piece of paper towel and gave them a few drops of 3 in 1 Oil:

Dave46382 · Mar 31, 2010

rca said:
I'm about to do this on my brew pot and wanted to confirm something on your setup. I understood that the locknut should be on the inside of the pot, with the washers on the outside. At least that's the way I read the install instructions from Bargain Fittings. Did I have that backwards?

It certainly looks like the way you have it setup is working.

Thanks for the help and pictures, nice thread.

Ron

I see now that I screwed that up. Yes, I believe the washer (and you only get one) goes on the outside.

Mine leaks a little. I would estimate 3 tablespoons over a 8 hour period. Will it get better or worse? I don't know.

JollyToper · Apr 2, 2010

Can anyone post a picture or a link to a starter bit? I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I found the step bit. Great post and timing! Thanks.

BierMachen · Apr 3, 2010

I used the green dish soap for my three kegs, stainless, finished in thirty minutes! Important to use a cobalt bit for SS. Say Dave your pickup tube inside seems backwards, why is your setup that way?

Dave46382 · Apr 3, 2010

JollyToper said:
Can anyone post a picture or a link to a starter bit? I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I found the step bit. Great post and timing! Thanks.

I just used a 1/8 inch bit.

Dave46382 · Apr 3, 2010

BierMachen said:
Say Dave your pickup tube inside seems backwards, why is your setup that way?

My thought was this and you can tell me if it's wrong .... that is my brew kettle... I thought after I chilled I would whirlpool the trub/hops to the center of the pot and then use the pick up tube from the side to drain the wort.

Drilling a hole in my 40 QT aluminum brew pot

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

Dave46382

Well-Known Member

Bopper

Well-Known Member

Dave46382

Well-Known Member

Mischief_Brewing

Well-Known Member

Bobby_M

Vendor and Brewer

bovineblitz

Well-Known Member

Mischief_Brewing

Well-Known Member

BendBrewer

Well-Known Member

IrregularPulse

Hobby Collector

rca

Well-Known Member

MikeRLynch

Well-Known Member

Dave46382

Well-Known Member

Dave46382

Well-Known Member

JollyToper

Well-Known Member

BierMachen

Member

Dave46382

Well-Known Member

Dave46382

Well-Known Member

Similar threads

Latest posts

Drilling a hole in my 40 QT aluminum brew pot

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Vendor and Brewer

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Hobby Collector

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!