Best way to cut the top off of a keg

[dbrewski]

I lost my eye from an exploding grinder wheel.

Holy crap, if you are serious I am sorry to hear it. Power tools are scary beasts.

 

[mux]

I lost my eye from an exploding grinder wheel.

Just kidding! But a wheel came apart on me, I always wear glasses with grinders.

 

[Golddiggie]

Holy crap, if you are serious I am sorry to hear it. Power tools are scary beasts.

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]

Just kidding! But a wheel came apart on me, I always wear glasses with grinders.

*******... :fro:

 

[mr_cad]

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]

Long sleeves and gloves are highly recommended. I had a disc explode on me once and a piece hit me just below the eye.

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]

Gloves on rotating equipment like an angle grinder are not such a good idea under most uses and circumstances...

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.

 

[lschiavo]

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.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

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

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]

Take 15 minutes and build a jig, well worth the time and effort for a nice clean cut!

 

[Golddiggie]

Take 15 minutes and build a jig, well worth the time and effort for a nice clean cut!

Or pick up a 1-1/4" PVC T fitting and be done in seconds. Also damned cheap to get and easy to use.

 

[WesleyS]

Take 15 minutes and build a jig, well worth the time and effort for a nice clean cut!

If you're only cutting one, I feel the jig is a waste of time. It might come in handy if you plan to do a lot of keggles. In the 10 or 15 minutes it would've taken to build the jig, not counting the added trip to the hardware store for the components of the jig, I used a tape measure and a pencil to draw out my circle on the keg and cut the hole with an angle grinder with cutting disc. It really wasn't as big of a deal as some make it out to be. I didn't even eat up a whole disc.

 

[Golddiggie]

I've run the guard against the top ring of the keg (where the handles are) as a guide before. Works pretty well and requires nothing extra. You just need to not go too fast, or too deep, on it. Still, I can have at least one keg top cut in less time than it takes to make the jig.

I'll probably use the pipe fitting for the next one I cut.

 

[WesleyS]

You just need to not go too fast, or too deep, on it.

Yeah, that's the key to the whole thing. You have to let the disc do the cutting and not try to force it. If you force it you will go through disc after disc.

 

[Golddiggie]

Yeah, that's the key to the whole thing. You have to let the disc do the cutting and not try to force it. If you force it you will go through disc after disc.

I can typically cut at least a few kegs per disc this way.

 

[Drunkerton]

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.

Gloves and long sleevs are not to be used with power tools. Metel shop 101. Both can get cought and do so real damage to you nd your tools. Hence why shop worker wear 3/4 sleeves.

 

[Golddiggie]

Gloves and long sleevs are not to be used with power tools. Metel shop 101. Both can get cought and do so real damage to you nd your tools. Hence why shop worker wear 3/4 sleeves.

You ever get hit with red hot metal flying through the air?? I have, which is why I tend to wear a long sleeve shirt (with tight cuffs) and working gloves (leather) when doing such things. I'm getting ready to purchase a leather apron for use when welding too.

 

[Merlmabase]

I used the pvc jig for cutting my last keggle. It really is great for those of us not blessed with freehand precision. Only downside seems to be that the hole can only be so big before the tool runs into the keg chime.

One of these days Im gonna build myself a new mash-tun with an upside-down sanke - cut the bottom, and use the valve opening to drain my wort. Having too small an opening seems like it'd be a pita for mixing and dumping grain. Ill give the guard-guide technique a try. At worst ill grind it out from there.

 

[jason91notch]

Used a cut off wheel and then cleaned it up with a grinder. The flash makes it look sketchy but its actually really clean.

 

[jason91notch]

Also, I just made a circle with a sharpie and went for it. My only regret is that I cut it out to about 14", and now I cant find a lid that'll fit it. Guess Ill have to make one.

 

[Golddiggie]

It will look a bit ghetto, but there's at least one lid that could work...

 

[mattd2]

Also, I just made a circle with a sharpie and went for it. My only regret is that I cut it out to about 14", and now I cant find a lid that'll fit it. Guess Ill have to make one.

Tack some SS washers to the "lid" you just removed

 

[dallasdb]

Or pick up a 1-1/4" PVC T fitting and be done in seconds. Also damned cheap to get and easy to use.

Can you give a little more detail on how to utilize this? I'm having a hard time envisioning it. Thanks

 

[Golddiggie]

Can you give a little more detail on how to utilize this? I'm having a hard time envisioning it. Thanks

Remove the valve, and spear, from the keg. Slip the 90 degree segment from the 'T' into the hole that's where the valve went. Rest the grinder against either end of the 'T' so that the blade is away from you. Turn on tool and rotate around, letting the T (a fixed rotation point) guiding your circle.

I usually mark a line with a sharpie on the keg top before cutting. That way I have something to follow along with.

 

[dallasdb]

Golddiggie

Thanks for the reply. I was trying to envision something secured to the grinder but a fixed rotation point makes sense. You could even slip on varying lengths of pvc to adjust the cut. This is super simple and cheap. I like it!

 

[Golddiggie]

I just adjust how the grinder rests against it to alter the cut. Even easier.

It did take a trip to Lowe's with one of the stoppers I was using in my keg fermenters to figure out what size T fitting to get. At least I only had to buy one, and not return it. :rockin:

 

[jason91notch]

Tack some SS washers to the "lid" you just removed

Actually I was thinking of making a false bottom out of it. decisions decisions...

 

[Golddiggie]

Actually I was thinking of making a false bottom out of it. decisions decisions...

I wouldn't... Too much work to adapt it into one. Plus, you'll have to fix the valve hole.

I use one from my BK as the cover for my mash tun keggle. I simply clamp a TC cap over the valve opening so it doesn't send heat right up it (and allow things to drop in).

 

[Hellosluggo]

Here are some photos of mine, and a link to the cutting video. Angle grinder with a cutoff disk, a pvc 'T', two pieces of slotted angle and some zip ties made for a quick and effective cutting jig!



[ame]http://youtu.be/xPgasVWYpAk[/ame]