Jbrew
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2017
- Messages
- 184
- Reaction score
- 19
So, I wanted to add a ball valve to my bayou 40 qt pot. I started with a 1/8" cobalt bit, then moved to a 1/2"step bit. The pot drilled very easy with the step bit, and when I got to end of it, I thought to myself, maybe I should finish it with the next size step bit, but figured the greenlee is supposed to make a very nice hole. So I went ahead with the greenlee punch, and you can see the resulting hole. I'm guessing because the pot is so thin. Its one of the lowes bayou classic pots for $60.
So I cleaned up the hole and I figured I'd put it together anyway, maybe ill get lucky and it won't leak. But sure enough, it does, as I suspected. I might solder a spud on it, maybe ill be able to get it to seal.
In any case, the wife noticed my extreme frustration and disappointment and said that was my starter pot and told me to spend the money and pick out a nice brew kettle. The temptation she's created has caused me to start shopping around.
So my questions are:
Do you guys think soldering a spud on might seal that crack on the side of the hole? Even if i get a new kettle, I would like to really try and save this one, having an extra kettle would be good to have.
And
If i buy a new kettle, I'm considering 15 gallons, because id like to do 10 gallon batches eventually, and an electric brewing setup eventually. But my stove at the moment can barely boil 5 gallon batches. Is there any drawbacks to doing 5 gallon batches in a 15 gallon kettle? And do you guys have any suggestions towards kettles? I haven't shopped around that much. I do like the spike kettles. Whichever I buy, if I do, id like to have welded on spuds right out of the box.
Thanks guys for any input.
So I cleaned up the hole and I figured I'd put it together anyway, maybe ill get lucky and it won't leak. But sure enough, it does, as I suspected. I might solder a spud on it, maybe ill be able to get it to seal.
In any case, the wife noticed my extreme frustration and disappointment and said that was my starter pot and told me to spend the money and pick out a nice brew kettle. The temptation she's created has caused me to start shopping around.
So my questions are:
Do you guys think soldering a spud on might seal that crack on the side of the hole? Even if i get a new kettle, I would like to really try and save this one, having an extra kettle would be good to have.
And
If i buy a new kettle, I'm considering 15 gallons, because id like to do 10 gallon batches eventually, and an electric brewing setup eventually. But my stove at the moment can barely boil 5 gallon batches. Is there any drawbacks to doing 5 gallon batches in a 15 gallon kettle? And do you guys have any suggestions towards kettles? I haven't shopped around that much. I do like the spike kettles. Whichever I buy, if I do, id like to have welded on spuds right out of the box.
Thanks guys for any input.