Building Keggles

[illin8]

I picked up two kegs yesterday and am planning my next move on getting them cut, fitted and welded. I've spent a bunch of time searching but still have some questions...

The two kegs will be used for an HLT and BK. Should I go ahead and do three 1/2" couplings per keg (drain, thermometer & sightglass)? What about ideal placement of each on the keg? Where is the best place to buy the S/S parts for these builds?

I was gonna pick them up and plan getting them done over time when I could...yeah right, I'll probably be at the welder tomorrow and doing test runs by tomorrow night...

 

[hammer one]

I really don't see any advantage of having a thermometer or sight glass in a boil kettle or a sight glass in a MT. My set up has all three in the HLT only. As far as fittings go I got mine at a local plumbing supply.

 

[Bobby_M]

3 couplings in the HLT for sure, two as low as they'll go and one for the thermo can be a few inches off the bottom skirt.

2 couplings in the MLT, One in the bottom of the keg if you're not going to direct fire it or normal sidemount if you are. The other would be the thermo.

I like thermos and sight glass in my boil kettle so make that exactly like the HLT.

You wouldn't save all the much in welding by skipping the sight glass on the BK.

Stainless Steel Fittings

 

[bendavanza]

any bung you weld in there now can be plugged until you need it, get it all done now, save yourself some headaches later.
I love the sight glass. I can't see well through all the steam during a boil when the kettle is only 1/3 full.