What to do with Hamm Aluminum keg?

**Homercidal** · 09-25-2009, 01:31 PM

I was shopping a nearby flea market for some socket odds and ends and found a small SS pot (probably 2 gallon or less) and also noticed a 15.5 Gallon Hamm Keg. Fairly beat up and obviously old. I have not opened it yet.

They only wanted $5, so I grabbed it, thinking if nothing else, I could sell it to the scrap yard for most of that. I am thinking about cutting the top to make a kettle. Not sure how to do that. I can ask at work.

But I wondered what else it might be good for. As a kettle, I'd have to bang out a couple of dents. It will never look real purty, but I don't care. I'm just at the limit with my turkey fryer, and this would more than give me enough room to not have to worry about splashing etc. Or I could give it to a friend who is wanting to start brewing, but doesn't have much money.

It looks a lot like this one on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Wooden-Shoe-Beer-16-Gal-Aluminum-Keg-Minster-Ohio_W0QQitemZ360191042682QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_De faultDomain_0?hash=item53dd0f247a&_trksid=p3286.m2 0.l1116

**wilserbrewer** · 09-25-2009, 01:39 PM

Perhaps it could be used as a fermenter or electic kettle / HLT. Never seen inside one, but i believe aluminum kegs are coated inside, and if the coating could stand up to a burner might be a question.

**Homercidal** · 09-25-2009, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilserbrewer

Perhaps it could be used as a fermenter or electic kettle / HLT. Never seen inside one, but i believe aluminum kegs are coated inside, and if the coating could stand up to a burner might be a question.

Well, I don't have any need for a fermenter that large, nor HLT for that matter. As for the coating, I'll have to check. I might need to strip that off before using. Good point.

None of the guys out in the shop have any big secret way to cut the top off. Being aluminum is part of the problem. Also it would be a big hassle to set it up on a CNC mill to cut. The best advice so far is to scribe a line where I want to cut and use a jig saw or circular saw and carbide blade to cut. Then clean up with a file. This is probably easiest if I decide to make a kettle out of it.

**conpewter** · 09-25-2009, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Homercidal

Well, I don't have any need for a fermenter that large, nor HLT for that matter. As for the coating, I'll have to check. I might need to strip that off before using. Good point.

None of the guys out in the shop have any big secret way to cut the top off. Being aluminum is part of the problem. Also it would be a big hassle to set it up on a CNC mill to cut. The best advice so far is to scribe a line where I want to cut and use a jig saw or circular saw and carbide blade to cut. Then clean up with a file. This is probably easiest if I decide to make a kettle out of it.

Yep I'd just run a jigsaw or sawsall along it, a lot easier to cut than the SS ones.

**BrewBeemer** · 09-25-2009, 07:12 PM

Cut it around the fat center section into two, add the "U" shape protective edge material around the cut edge then add legs and padding over plywood for custom bar stools. Party of two only unless more pop up cheap.
I have a Hamm's "Tapper" 2 1/4 gallon aluminum mini keg smooth sides with a fat belly filled from the bottom with the tap recessed into the end, 3" diameter snap ring on the bottom to fill I guess? Thinking machine a stainless disc add add a fill and Co2 fitting too nice in set in storage.

Use yours as a oversized fuel tank for a "Rat Rod"?

With aluminum it will pull heat away rather fast, might think about using it as a post boil chiller filled with water and ice just add your cooling coil inside after the tap water pulled down the temp as far as you can then recirculate with your pump. Price was right.

Talloak · 09-25-2009, 08:14 PM

That style/shape of keg is not the preferred one for creating a keggle, but that doesn't mean it won't work great for you. Nice find.