Automatic Sanke cutter - making kettles

[drew4brew]

Made up a jig for my cut off wheel. Cut 2 sankeys in about 4 minutes. One for HLT, the other for boil kettle.

 

[negativereaction]

Pretty close to the most amazing thing I have ever seen on the internet. Do you have more pics of the parts involved? Looks like a couple pieces of wood and some minor hardware?

 

[drew4brew]

Sure thing. I took out the diptube and reused one of the coupler parts that held it in under spring tension. The only modification I did was that I had to grind a tab off that part to allow it to spin freely. I used a bolt, washer and nut to hold it onto the wooden jig. It was a very simple project.

 

[negativereaction]

Good stuff. Just a normal metal cutoff wheel on the grinder?

 

[jflongo]

I have seen many people do it this way, however, they usually go slow and move it manually instead of letting it fly by itself. Nice job anyhow.

 

[drew4brew]

Yes, I used a common metal cutoff wheel.

 

[OMJ]

I'm with Bobby that video is pretty terrifying. Especially with the cord flapping all over the place.

Its not much work to control the grinder yourself and its infinitely safer.

 

[drew4brew]

Bobby, im not sure what you meant by "nice try". I finished the job on two kegs.
Omj - terrifying, really?? I was standing 5 feet back with hand on power wearing ear muff and eye protection. What do you think could have happened? I didn't feel the thing would jump up and fly into my head.
Maybe too much hollywood...? Warning: beer can be hazardous to your health! Lol. No offense intended, but its safer to your health not to drink!
Dont live in fear my friend. I wasn't doing this stupidly, it was quite cautiously, really. Probably safer than having my meat 12 inches from the disc, really.

 

[drew4brew]

All due respect granted. Thanks for explaining. I look forward to watching your vids. Its a very thin grinding wheel. Explosin would be weak, but agreed could cause damage if i werent protected in safety gear. To offer some other "dumb power machinery operating advice". -- its probably not the smartest to twirl around a keg in shorts risking burns and tripping. When you first started cutting you nearly put your foot in a loop of wire. Very risky indeed. Stay safe my friend and thanks for the heads up.

 

[DrunkleJon]

That video scared me a little too. The worries I had was that the wheel would get through the lid, fall into the keg jarring the wheel and possibly send schrapnel everywhere. Not to mention that i really wouldnt want the cutout and spinning wheel to scratch up the inside of the freshly cut keg. Nice solution though.

 

[drew4brew]

Thanks. Don't be scared.