Got lucky yesterday and picked up a 15.5 gallon keg and have decided to use it as a brew kettle. I'm looking for advice on which is the best way to cut the top open. I don't have many tools but I do have a Drexel and some metal cutting disk, but I get the feeling it will take a lot of disk.
Best way to cut the top off of a keg
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Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
Right angle grander with the discs for cutting stainless steel works great. I've used a PVC "T" fitting in the keg valve opening as a guide in order to get a perfect hole. I'll see if there are any size marks on the fitting still. I do know it was on the shelf at Lowe's, so easy to get/find. No fancy jig needed this way. 
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
And then spend time cleaning up that cut... Unless they're REALLY good with the cutter, you'll end up spending just as much time cleaning up the slag, as you would have just doing it yourself with the grinder.
BTW, it takes less than 10 minutes (more like 5) to cut the top of a keg, and clean it up so you won't get cut on the edge.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
DAAAAMN!! captwalt that's one ugly cut there...
My cut with a grinder:
My cut with a grinder:
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
I don't enter mine into contests, but I do like a uniform cut. Easier to get a lid on there, that seals up nicely (until you get to the boil). I also use one as a mash tun, where you don't want heat loss from a bad cut that leaks heat.
Cap'n, that's some ugly junk.
This jig is really easy to make, for use with a angle grinder, make perfect circles: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/simplest-keggle-cutting-jig-143048/
And Bobby_M's video for removing spear and the grinding process:
[ame]http://youtu.be/LthGdMk_avk[/ame]
And, if you find someone with a plasma cutter, here's a vid from Yuri Rage,
[ame]http://youtu.be/_reRMz7YHic[/ame]
This jig is really easy to make, for use with a angle grinder, make perfect circles: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/simplest-keggle-cutting-jig-143048/
And Bobby_M's video for removing spear and the grinding process:
[ame]http://youtu.be/LthGdMk_avk[/ame]
And, if you find someone with a plasma cutter, here's a vid from Yuri Rage,
[ame]http://youtu.be/_reRMz7YHic[/ame]
Ugly? Junk? Why is anybody busting on my keggle? I'm just trying to help by sharing my experience. I tried a few things and shared what worked best for me. Not everyone has the time or means to rig a jig or make a perfect circle with an angle grinder nor does everybody have access to a plasma cutter. But every self respecting man has a sawzall so I thought my comments would be useful. I happen to like my keggle very much as well as the award winning beers (see Zymurgy mag nov/dec pg 56 middle column, about 3/5 of the way down) that come out of that ugly junk.
Wait a minute. That is the beer talking. If I had the patience and ability I would have a gorgeous keggle like you guys but I don't and I won't do I think I'll just get on with my life with my ugly keggle and my subpar homebrew
Wait, that was the beer again. Honestly to each his/ her own. And like I always say" any job, big or small, is worth doing well, or not at all." Bravo on you pretty keggles I am humbled by your dedication to aesthetics and your pride in perfect curcuity.
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I'm guessing you knew the cutout in your keggle was not perfectly round. I'm also guessing that you knew you could grind/cut/sand to make it more round if you chose to put in the time. Your keggle works for you... that's what counts.
Thanks for contributing!
Ed
jmzcustomz
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My two cents. Do NOT use harbor freight disc. They are cheap and dangerous. I've had them explode on me while I was notching a truck frame. Thank god I wear safety glasses and a face shield. I got some decent ones from Lowes. Under $2 a piece.
Hey Cap'n, easy does it. Ugly junk is a generic HBT descriptor. It means "your junk is ugly". See? Not so bad afterall.
Anyhoo, really, your keggle cut is ugly, and I know that won't effect your beer in any way, but it's ugly.
I'm not attacking Cap'n. Just having fun. You've never seen the original UGLY JUNK sawsall keggle. That would make you feel better. I'll see if I can find you a motivational poster. Stand by.
Anyhoo, really, your keggle cut is ugly, and I know that won't effect your beer in any way, but it's ugly.
I'm not attacking Cap'n. Just having fun. You've never seen the original UGLY JUNK sawsall keggle. That would make you feel better. I'll see if I can find you a motivational poster. Stand by.
Biermuncher. Epic. Ugly Junk.
dbrewski
Well-Known Member
You have to have a special talent to get junk that ugly.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
I actually buy DeWalt 4.5" cutting discs for my grinder. IME, they do a great job and don't explode during use (that can't be fun). You can also get them from Amazon (love the free shipping via my Prime account :rockin
. As for captwalt and his comment of "But every self respecting man has a sawzall"... Nope, not gonna buy it. I don't have one, my father never had one (never needed to buy one) and he could fix just about anything we had (mechanical). I do have three right angle grinders though. One set up for polishing (don't care if I kill it). Another [the newest one] corded that I use to make all my metal cuts. With a third that's cordless. The second and third are DeWalt tools. I also have a disc cutter that's air powered (since I have my bigger compressor now, I can use it as I wish) and a right angle die grinder.
BTW, no man worth his salt is without an air compressor.
BTW, passedpawn... That's 'one ugly mother F... '
Hey man, you know that's not mine, right? It's BierMuncher's. Seriously. Not mine.
Golddiggie
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Golddiggie
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Golddiggie
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dbrewski
Well-Known Member
mux said:
Holy crap, if you are serious I am sorry to hear it. Power tools are scary beasts.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
Been thinking about that for a few minutes... I have to wonder if the guard was installed on the tool, or not. It's there to prevent something like that from happening. Same with 'normal' safety gear. Granted, most men will not want to use it, but you really need to use at least some at times.
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
mr_cad
Well-Known Member
When using a cutting wheel/disc always wear a face shield and ear protection. Long sleeves and gloves are highly recommended. I had a disc explode on me once and a piece hit me just below the eye. I don't take chances anymore. I always wear protective equipment while working in my shop. As for ear protection I come from a family of masons and most of them can't hear very well now that they are older. This from using powertools and brick saws with no hearing protection. Consider the cost of emergency room vs cost of safety gear and the gear wins everytime.
dmbriske
Member
Gloves on rotating equipment like an angle grinder are not such a good idea under most uses and circumstances...
Safe Work Procedures
Safe work procedures are formal, written instructions which describe how a task is to be performed. These procedures should incorporate appropriate safe work practices, such as prohibiting employees from wearing loose clothing or jewelry and requiring the securing of long hair with nets or caps. Clothing, jewelry, long hair, and even gloves can get entangled in moving machine parts.
Right from OSHA http://www.osha.gov/Publications/OSHA3170/3170-02R-2007-English.html#Controlling9
http://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/osha-regs-gloves-while-machining-168191/ Discussion on another board about gloves being mandated with rotating equipment
Golddiggie
Well-Known Member
I use leather palm (vibration reducing) work gloves when using the grinder (and most other power tools). I can grip the tools just as easily as without gloves, better in some cases. Plus, your hands don't get covered in metal dust this way.
I've had enough stray cuts/injuries to my hands [in the past] when not wearing gloves (or just cloth gloves) to now wear the better ones.
If you have or can borrow one, a shear works much better than I expected. I took the collar off of this keg but I think it would still work with the collar on. It may just limit the size of the hole a bit.
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IMO, Hand held power tools such as angle grinders and drills are not the same as "Rotating Equipment" described in the warning. If you get a glove or sleeve caught in a lathe, or mill it can pull your arm off... not likely with an angle grinder.
dallasdb
Well-Known Member
Take 15 minutes and build a jig, well worth the time and effort for a nice clean cut!
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