Metal trash can as kettle?

stanzela · 12-02-2011, 02:29 PM

Hey folks,

I'm am already anticipating a hefty wave of 'no', but I wonder if one could use a clean (new) metal/galvanized trash can as a boil kettle.

I've heard a little bit about the risk of zinc, but I believe that you'd need to get the temps pretty high to start having issues, and I think the levels of zinc would even be within reason (maybe even good for you, as with the trace amounts of iodine for iodophore users).

I've seen people do the turkey boil, and I've heard of people using them as smokers, but I am really curious about their effectiveness and safety as boil kettles.

**Revvy** · 12-02-2011, 02:37 PM

I'm not going to touch the zinc issue, I'm sure others will, but I don't think it will work for another issue, construction. Most metal trash cans are not constructed in such a way to hold water. They're usually just rivited or crudely welded together not too solidly.

Thee was an episode of "Dinner Impossible" where Robert Irvine and company were trying to cook on the NY Docks, and were short of soup kettles, but had scrounged some brand new metal trash cans. They tried to do what you're thinking, boil water in them and it leaked through countless seams, so much that it put out the propane burner they were heating it on.

**jaycount** · 12-02-2011, 02:38 PM

I would be concerned not just about the heat but also the acidity of the wort and how that would affect the zinc.

It just doesn't sound like a good idea to me...

kegtapper · 12-02-2011, 02:38 PM

Let me start off by saying no, don't do it. There are plenty of other options out there for kettles

**the_bird** · 12-02-2011, 02:39 PM

Why on earth would you risk heavy metal poisoning to what, save $20 versus buying an aluminium stockpot?

I mean, it's one thing to be frugal, but this is something else.

If I offered you $20 to do a shot of mercury, would you do it?

And yeah, the acidity's the issue. Wort isn't water.

EDIT: I was looking for a picture I saw a long time ago, of someone who had used a galvanized trash can to hold either wort or beer (can't remember which, both are acidic). The galvinization had been stripped off completely, as I remember the inside of the can was black.

stanzela · 12-02-2011, 03:42 PM

Wow. Well, as predicted, a resounding 'no'. For what it's worth, it's not just about frugality (although I'll admit to being a major penny pincher) - I also love re-purposing, reusing, recycling and the like.

I figured the seam issue might be the real worry, but the lobster boil stuff got me thinking "well maybe...". I hadn't considered the differences the chemical makeup of the wort would have.

Thanks, all, for your advice and for taking it (relatively) easy on me despite my asking a rather batty question.

**wilserbrewer** · 12-02-2011, 05:05 PM

If I were looking for a huge cheap kettle, I would source a free HDPE Drum and put a 5500w electric element in it.

**MyNameIsPaul** · 12-02-2011, 05:18 PM

The only stupid question is the one that is unasked (after searching the forum)

**TopherM** · 12-02-2011, 05:42 PM

Stanzela,

What is it you are trying to accomplish in the end? Do you want a cheap way to have a huge boil kettle, or do you just need a brew kettle that can handle 5 gallon batches?

If it's the latter, you can buy a 24 qt stainless steel pot at Big Lots or online for around $20-30, or even an aluminum one for 1/2 that.

[WARNING....RANT ALERT]

It drives me crazy all these people that want to do home brewing, but are looking for a bunch of insane shortcuts to save money. In my estimation, anyone can go from having NO equipment to brewing a batch of extract brew for around $80-100 for MINIMUM equipment. If you can't afford the $80-100, you SHOULD NOT get into the hobby. You don't deserve a cool hobby just because you breathe air, you have to earn it and be able to support it! Go mow some grass, deliver some pizza, work some overtime and save up the bloody $$$. I typically had $80.00 in my pocket when I was 12 years old mowing lawn for the neighborhood association, what's your excuse?

[RANT OVER....PEACE RESTORED]

Sorry, Stan, not directed at you, just a growing trend on the board that's making me nuttttttttts

stanzela · 12-02-2011, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TopherM

If you can't afford the $80-100, you SHOULD NOT get into the hobby. You don't deserve a cool hobby just because you breathe air, you have to earn it and be able to support it!

Yikes, a little question about boil-kettles and now we're getting into the philosophies of labour, meritocracy and ownership. Deep sh*t.

I guess I'll have to play the contrarian here. There are plenty of good people who would make excellent brewers who might not be able to afford the best-of-the-best for a bunch of reasons. Your comment paints a picture of anyone who can't afford a brew system as lazy, when really there are countless reasons why spending the dough on those sorts of things might be out of the question. A few legitimate excuses I can think of include: people with kids, people who are paying ridiculous money for other things like healthcare or care for a parent/relative, students, or just people who have a hard enough time putting food on the table while working their butts off. Just because these people order their priorities on the principle of selflessness and general do-goodery doesn't mean they don't deserve to brew - that's insane.

There is also a great deal to be said about creativity, innovation, and making the most out of a meager situation. I don't see how asking about re-purposing a trash can necessarily means that I'm looking for some sort of shortcut. Maybe I work for a trash can manufacturer, maybe I have thirty boil-kettles and am still curious about the prospects of using a trash can...I might just be a curious fellow. Maybe I don't want to wastefully purchase a new boil-kettle if I can re-use an old item that was headed straight to the scrap-yard.

I know your comment wasn't directed at me, so I don't take any personal offense, but I really do find the notion that someone who can't afford to brew is 'unworthy' to brew to be an incredibly offensive one. Are the only people who should be allowed to travel and see the world those that can afford it? What if the poor man managed to construct a brew-system without spending that $80? Would that no longer be 'deserved'? Earning something and being able to afford something are two VERY different things. To me, anyone who has the courage, passion, tenacity and innovation to get into homebrewing is more than worthy of the hobby - no matter what their approach.