I too used a step bit from Harbor Freight and after drilling the hole in my keggle for a valve, the bit was destroyed. At least it was cheap, so I wasn't too worried.
Adding ball valve to kettle
- Thread starter bosster01
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I too used a step bit from Harbor Freight and after drilling the hole in my keggle for a valve, the bit was destroyed. At least it was cheap, so I wasn't too worried.
Another update - I added my plumbers tape and I flipped the internal O ring. It got shredded a little because I pushed too hard with my drill and I kind of have a tiny lip on the inside of the kettle.
This time I tightened it less aggressively, just hand tightened with one turn with a wrench. I will test it for leaks this weekend.
FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I was unable to get the dip tube to push through the 2 O rings in the bulk head. I even tried wetting it and using keg lube. Idk wtf is wrong.
I was able to easily get the inner attachment that is meant for a mash tun inside though. And I think I'll just resolve to tipping the kettle for the last bit of wort, because it was way too much effort trying to push that thing in (prob tried for like 30 minutes).
This time I tightened it less aggressively, just hand tightened with one turn with a wrench. I will test it for leaks this weekend.
FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I was unable to get the dip tube to push through the 2 O rings in the bulk head. I even tried wetting it and using keg lube. Idk wtf is wrong.
I was able to easily get the inner attachment that is meant for a mash tun inside though. And I think I'll just resolve to tipping the kettle for the last bit of wort, because it was way too much effort trying to push that thing in (prob tried for like 30 minutes).
I clean valves 1 time per year because I don't want to have to clean and reapply Teflon tape that much...
Got a closer pic of the dip tube and where it should mount? I'd expect it to be a compression fitting, not an o ring fitting.
Got a closer pic of the dip tube and where it should mount? I'd expect it to be a compression fitting, not an o ring fitting.
So I will be testing out the kettle for the first time since adding the ball valve today. Lets hope for no leaks.
I was able today to get the dip tube installed. It was impossible before... but what I ended up doing is I had the mash tun barb connected into the bulk head for the last couple weeks because I was going to settle on using that. Well when I took everything apart today to make sure I was ready for brewing - I took off the mash tun barb, and it must have stretched out the O rings, because now the dip tube fit in just fine!
Just adding this in case anyone reads this and has the same problem.
