Kettle upgrade questions.

Thundercougarfalconbird · 04-22-2011, 08:51 PM

I'm gonna be drilling my kettle soon and am looking for a decent bit. Has anyone used the ones from bargain fittings?(http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/search&keyword=bit&category_id=0)
If I'm just drilling holes for a valve, sight glass, and thermometer which one should I buy?(I plan on eventually putting a heating element in my kettle, just not yet, so would the bigger bit work for my current needs?

Also which of the bulk heads from bargain fittings is preferred? Soldered or weldless?

I'm planning on using this kettle(http://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_33_463&products_id=1293 4) what kind of diptube would I need and how high up should I drill?

And finally with the collective cost of all this hardware and tools. Would it be cheaper to just buy a premade kettle?

BendBrewer · 04-22-2011, 09:13 PM

Yeah those bits will work for a couple of kegs. I think I got the pair for 14 bucks though.

I don't know about soldered but half go with welded the other half go with weldless. I went weldless. I would get a dip tube first and determine where to drill after. I just used an angled stub out from HD.

Thundercougarfalconbird · 04-23-2011, 05:56 AM

Could I get away with just buying the big one? Or where is a good place to find the bit I need for a decent price?
Gotcha, I was looking at the dip tubes on bargainfittings as well, there is a ton more selection than I expected. I'm considering the whirlpool/side pickup one with a 90degree coupling but I'm still kinda confused as to what I should get

**jkarp** · 04-23-2011, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thundercougarfalconbird

Could I get away with just buying the big one? Or where is a good place to find the bit I need for a decent price?

Got a Harbor Freight nearby? They sell 'em individually and in packs. Go slow, keep the bit wet with machine oil and they hold up really well cutting through kettles / kegs. I was surprised how well they worked, frankly.

**JohnnyO** · 04-23-2011, 01:21 PM

I got the smaller bit from bargain fittings, and it has worked great on my two keggles, one of which is a heavy gauge steel. I got the hole started with a regular bit, then changed over to the step bit. I didn't even need to get all the way through with the regular bit; changed about halfway through the wall.

Do make sure you go slow, add pressure, and use a lubricant. I used vegetable oil. It works fine.

Regarding welded v. weldless, it all boils down to this: can you weld? I can't, so I went with weldless.

Thundercougarfalconbird · 04-23-2011, 05:40 PM

I cannot =P I just thought weld v weldless was how the piece was made. Like either it was hard welded together or screwed together. I just think the concept of the welded bulkhead seems better with the bigger o-ring seal.
I guess I'll probably grab the smaller bit then and just get the bigger one when I get around to installing the element in my kettle.
No harbor freight around here just the lowes

Also has anyone used bargainfittings sight glass? They don't show the top of it so I'm wondering if it would look better on the side or front of my kettle.(difference between buying the sight glass thermometer combo or buying em separate.)

wncbrewer · 04-24-2011, 08:45 PM

Even if you can weld, aluminum and stainless are a whole different

wncbrewer · 04-24-2011, 08:48 PM

Sorry...different ballgame, and require special welding supplies. I've got the weldless bulkheads from midwest and I'm very happy with them, and they're very simple to install

o4_srt · 04-24-2011, 09:04 PM

I'd go with weldless. If you ever need to change/upgrade kettles, you will be able to reuse.