15 gal boil pot questions

[coneal]

Hello all! I'm new to home brewing and to this site. So far both are awesome, and both reinforce how much I have to learn!

Starting with a "new-to-me" 15 gallon beer keg boil pot. I had the top cut off by some guys at work with a plasma cutter but I'm kind of worried about getting cut on the thin metal. Any suggestions?

Also, where exactly should I cut the hole for the drain valve and thermometer? How close to the bottom should the valve be?

And finally, is there anything I need to know about using a beer keg as a boil pot. I think my next batch is gonna be a 10 gallon batch, so any tips would be appreciated.

Thanks all. I post some info about myself in some other forum.

 

[Photopilot]

I don't think I'd suggest 10 gallon batches as your first attempt at brewing. You have a lot to learn and doing it in 10 gallon batches may make it harder.
Buy a 3 gallon pot and do some DME beers to learn before trying to figure out how to cool 10 gallons of boiling wort and a bunch of other things that are harder to manage in larger batches.

When you are ready to step up to big batches do a search for Keggles there is a ton of threads here and online about making and using them. If the edge of the top is too sharp you can use a grinder, file or sander to reduces its sharpness.

 

[bja]

I don't think I'd suggest 10 gallon batches as your first attempt at brewing.

Doesn't sound to me like this is his first attempt.

I think my next batch is gonna be a 10 gallon batch,

 

[Photopilot]

Doesn't sound to me like this is his first attempt.

Got it, just warning him there are a lot of differences in brewing stove top to 10 gallon batches. I have yet found a way to chill 10+ gallons in under an hour and without a huge effort. Building the keggle is only half the battle.

 

[coneal]

I guess "new" is a relative term. I've done 4-5 extract brews and just bottled my 1st all-grain the other day. Not that I ever thought I had this brewing thing figured out, but this site really drove home how much I have to learn. Like cooling a 10 gal batch, for example. That would have never crossed my mind!

I hadn't heard the term Keggle, so I'll google around a bit and see what I find.

Thanks for the help!

 

[paperairplane]

I cut my keggles with a 4" angle grinder and used that to sand / smooth the edges. Could use a file, sandpaper, whatever - just make a nice round, dull edge.

 

[Photopilot]

I guess "new" is a relative term. I've done 4-5 extract brews and just bottled my 1st all-grain the other day. Not that I ever thought I had this brewing thing figured out, but this site really drove home how much I have to learn. Like cooling a 10 gal batch, for example. That would have never crossed my mind!

I hadn't heard the term Keggle, so I'll google around a bit and see what I find.

Thanks for the help!

I have a pump and a nice stand but did not when I started doing AG. I often brew solo so the issues I had when stepping up to All Grain and then 10+ gallon batches:

• longer to heat up large quantities of water
  
• longer to cool large quantities of water
  
• Moving large quantities of water up hill or to and from each vessel. I don't like moving boiling water around without a pump.
  
• Pot too heavy to pick up solo.

I can do it, but my back hates me for it and I won't do it while the keggle is filled with scalding water.
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