trailblazer
Well-Known Member
So, i picked up three kegs i found on craigs list for 20$ a peice so i could make my own brew sculpture i've been dreaming of. I'm an all grain brewer already (5 batches under my belt) but i, as many other brewer's, love new intimidating toys. I got an angle grinder from Harbor Freight on sale for 20$ and used some scrap wood, an old 2" hole saw and two steel c-calmps. i started with the other grip type clamps but they didnt hold good enough and one ended up breaking. I forget who came up with this jig for cutting kegs but it worked like a charm. who'ever you are, i thank you for your inginiousness!
This first picture is of the jig i made to cut the kegs tops off. I dont suggest using those clamp because out of my own personal experiance they were horible. i got those clamp from HF for 3$ each. I would definantly spend the extra dollar for the steel ones.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10870.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10873.jpg
Cutting the kegs took about 10 minute's for each one. i went slow and didnt try to cut all the way through on the first pass. the stainless gets thin enough that it will puch in a little and bog down the grinder a little after you get close to geting all the way through. before i cut the entire top off i stopped when i started breaking through on areas of the top. i used my hand to knock off the the top once i felt it was at the right level but it might be smarter to hit it with a mallet.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10874.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10877.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10882.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10863.jpg
remember to relax and have a homebrew after you cut the keg so you dont end up missing any fingers
This first picture is of the jig i made to cut the kegs tops off. I dont suggest using those clamp because out of my own personal experiance they were horible. i got those clamp from HF for 3$ each. I would definantly spend the extra dollar for the steel ones.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10870.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10873.jpg
Cutting the kegs took about 10 minute's for each one. i went slow and didnt try to cut all the way through on the first pass. the stainless gets thin enough that it will puch in a little and bog down the grinder a little after you get close to geting all the way through. before i cut the entire top off i stopped when i started breaking through on areas of the top. i used my hand to knock off the the top once i felt it was at the right level but it might be smarter to hit it with a mallet.
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10874.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10877.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10882.jpg
http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii305/trailblazer-420/SDC10863.jpg
remember to relax and have a homebrew after you cut the keg so you dont end up missing any fingers