How to add permanent volume markings to a kettle (illustrated)

[BeardedBrews]

I spent over an hour, carefully measuring and marking my kettle. Mixed the vinegar / salt solution, wired the 9v battery, dipped the Q-tip in the solution, tested it against the underside of the kettle nothing. I tested the wiring with my voltmeter and it reads 9.2v, I even made sure to take the reading from multiple places in the kettle to make sure I had good continuity. Tried again. Nothing.

What gives? I mixed 1/4 cup vinegar with 1/4 tsp of salt. Should I have used more salt?

I go with as much salt as I can get to dissolve in the vinegar. I typically have a few grains too much and they just knock around in the bottom of the little bowl.

For me it's probably 1/4cup vinegar to 1 tablespoon of salt

 

[Hang Glider]

I spent over an hour, carefully measuring and marking my kettle. Mixed the vinegar / salt solution, wired the 9v battery, dipped the Q-tip in the solution, tested it against the underside of the kettle nothing. I tested the wiring with my voltmeter and it reads 9.2v, I even made sure to take the reading from multiple places in the kettle to make sure I had good continuity. Tried again. Nothing.

What gives? I mixed 1/4 cup vinegar with 1/4 tsp of salt. Should I have used more salt?

Didn't work for me either - I tried two 9v, then I took my battery charger out of the garage - it puts out 12 volts, at higher amperage - WOW -

I think an old phone charger wall wart is going to be the best and easiest solution for most folks.

 

[jleiii]

Many modern small electronics chargers may not be up to the task as they put out very little power. You're basically shorting out the supply through the solution, and their output voltage probably drops to near zero as soon as you you 'complete the circuit'. The 12v charger puts out AMPS vs their Milliamps. Laptop chargers will work well too as they also put out amps.

 

[hio3791]

Tried again. This time, I mixed 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 tablespoon of salt. Still nothing. The only difference I noticed was that if I held the q-tip to the pot for more than a couple of seconds, it would make what looks like a scorch mark but it wipes away clean. I'm about to give up on this.

 

[BeardedBrews]

Tried again. This time, I mixed 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 tablespoon of salt. Still nothing. The only difference I noticed was that if I held the q-tip to the pot for more than a couple of seconds, it would make what looks like a scorch mark but it wipes away clean. I'm about to give up on this.

If the solution on the Q-Tip isn't bubbling and hissing when you put it against the pot, then either your connections aren't good, or you don't have enough power. A quick test is to take the Q-Tip off your wire and tap it to the pot near where you're etching. It should spark visibly.

Check to make sure the wires aren't coming loose, and that the distance between where the pot is connected and the Q-Tip isn't too big.

 

[Mer-man]

Tried again. This time, I mixed 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 tablespoon of salt. Still nothing. The only difference I noticed was that if I held the q-tip to the pot for more than a couple of seconds, it would make what looks like a scorch mark but it wipes away clean. I'm about to give up on this.

Check your polarity.

 

[brew_darrymore]

Check your polarity.

^ this. Just what I was about to say.

Attach the positive lead to your kettle, and negative to your q-tip.

 

[brewkinger]

Check to make sure the wires aren't coming loose, and that the distance between where the pot is connected and the Q-Tip isn't too big.

^^^^THIS^^^^^

Make sure that u keep the distance between where the wire is connected to the pot and where you are working with the Qtip very close

 

[hio3791]

Thank you guys! I will give your recommendations and go and report back.

 

[sweetcell]

I think an old phone charger wall wart is going to be the best and easiest solution for most folks.

question about using a old wall-wort: does it need to be DC, like a battery? or will AC output work too?

 

[Hang Glider]

most of those are DC output - read the specs on the plug-in block. It will tell you.


*wort - becomes beer
*wart - lump

 

[BeardedBrews]

question about using a old wall-wort: does it need to be DC, like a battery? or will AC output work too?

DC has a permanent + and - side, so you can attach the leads so that all you are doing is removing metal where you etch.

AC alternates +/- so you will end up making a black deposit instead of removing metal and leaving a white etch line.


You can also use the DC to remove metal, and then go back over it with AC to darken the lines. Check out the knife forums, they're all about this stuff:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/562469-etching-tests

 

[Brewjangle]

Will any type of vinegar like red wine, Apple or rice work the same as distilled or is there a certain property to distilled that makes it suitable?

 

[brew_darrymore]

Will any type of vinegar like red wine, Apple or rice work the same as distilled or is there a certain property to distilled that makes it suitable?

I guess they all work the same. I used red wine vinegar to get this:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showpost.php?p=6835025&postcount=598

 

[fun4stuff]

Worked like a charm. Started with a 9 volt, but switched to my laptop charger which worked a lot faster for my 19 gallon pot. Started smoking a few times.. Got pretty hot.

 

[dsaavedra]

I gave this a shot over the weekend. I think it came out pretty nice! It's not perfect but it will definitely get the job done. I used a 12v DC power supply from an old wireless router.

 

[hio3791]

Success! I had the polarity on the battery backwards!

Measuring...


Figuring out gallon marks...


Taping...



Done...


All cleaned up...


Pics don't do justice but it came out nice.
Thanks!

 

[HappiBrew]

Been following this thread for some time, and have actually read the whole thing believe it or not. Finally got around to doing a test of this last night on my HLT. It had stamped gallon markers but I figured doing the half gallon graduations would be good practice for when I do the boil kettle with a full line set-up.
Some anecdotal advice, just from my experience doing this. I had no trouble with the vinegar/salt ratio suggested by the op. I did spend some time mixing it in well. I found it took a good minute of vigorous stirring to fully dissolve. A 9v battery was sufficient and didn't take much time to do the few lines I did in the test. I used large gauge speaker wire and actual 9v battery terminals to attach it. I taped the other end close to the work area and did a good wrap of the q-tip about half way up the bulk of the cotton.
I'm pretty stoked with the process and can't wait to do the BK.
I do plan to do a better job sealing the tape seams on the BK as any small gap for it to leak will etch under, as you can see. Maybe the heavy duty electrical tape was not the best to overlap that seam.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Did you measure or just half the current markings? If so, how accurate were the stamped markings?

 

[HappiBrew]

In this case I just measured and found them all to be the same. So I halved the distance and went from there. I plan to measure my boil kettle 1 gallon at a time using the volume lines in my 10 gal Igloo mash tun. I filled it today for that reason and used the HLT above to check accuracy. I filled 2 gallons at a time and found I had about 4 extra cups at the end after 10 gallons. Not sure if the HLT or the cooler are off but it's close enough for my liking (+/- 0.4%). Since the kettle will match the mash tun, everything should be consistent in the end.

 

[HappiBrew]

OK. So here she is. I have to say I'm quite happy. Big up to the op for the easy tutorial.

I followed the original directions to a T and had no issues. I used only one battery and did find the process slowed as I got towards the last 10 minutes of etching or so. As others have said, lay-out was the longest and most tedious part. Between the two-step process of doing lines, then numbers, I had a good 2 hours into layout and another hour into etching. Of course, much more time put into layout would have meant a cleaner outcome. (I do recommend spending some time here.) I feel like to get much more precise would have meant MUCH more time. and hey, it's just going to have boiling wort in it.

 

[HappiBrew]

PS. I found reusable, stick-on numbers at Hobby Lobby in the glass etching area. They are pretty durable and withstood lots of re-positioning. They even washed up good afterward. Which, means I can glass etch the carboys to match next....

 

[dmcman73]

Just finished mine. I used white vinegar and salt solution but instead of a battery, I used a DC variable bench power supply. In the event that someone makes a mistake while etchieng or does not like how it came out...if the etched area is not deep into the metal (probably kept it in the same spot too long) you can use Stainless steel buffing compound along with a dremel and a cotton wheel (you can get them in the dremel section) to polish the etching right out.

I accidentally etched the 0 first when I went to etch 10....oops. Used the buffing compound to buff off the 0 and I was able to etch the 1 on top of it.

I was going to buff out the 8 since it's a little off, but, I didn't want to go crazy...

EDIT: For some reason the link I added to the product page on Ace would not work for whatever reason so i just added a picture of the product

 

[NYShooterGuy]

I'll add the numbers and possibly 1/4 gallon increments as well.

View attachment 1458614612713.jpg

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[TravelingLight]

For those who used a wall wart/plug: do you still connect it the same way, solid black wire (negative) to the Qtip, and the striped/marked wire (positive) to the kettle?

I just did my markings with the battery. Gonna do the numbers next but wanted more power and didn't want to electrocute myself. I was going to use a 12VDC 300mA charger. All good? Thanks.

 

[fun4stuff]

For those who used a wall wart/plug: do you still connect it the same way, solid black wire (negative) to the Qtip, and the striped/marked wire (positive) to the kettle?

I just did my markings with the battery. Gonna do the numbers next but wanted more power and didn't want to electrocute myself. I was going to use a 12VDC 300mA charger. All good? Thanks.

Yup connect the same way. Make sure it's outputting DC. Don't electrocute yourself!! Also risk of burns and fire. The end of the q-tip gets pretty hot.

 

[TravelingLight]

Yup connect the same way. Make sure it's outputting DC. Don't electrocute yourself!! Also risk of burns and fire. The end of the q-tip gets pretty hot.

Thanks man. Did it this weekend. Got better results with the wall charger than the battery. Battery was working fine, just a longer process. The wall wort did great. Even put my initial on the handle of my big stainless spoon so I'll always know it's mine! Great thread thanks for the great advice.

 

[brewkinger]

Not sure if I posted my lid or not. Got bored and found my son's stencils

View attachment 1460299523923.jpg

 

[Yesfan]

The Ironman is bad ass!


Your son deserves a beer for that! (<----if he's old enough.....)

 

[sablesurfer]

WARNING!
I just learned this past weekend. When you are getting ready to throw out parts to an old system and you finally get to the pot, do NOT look inside at the pretty etchings. I will doubt your resolve to get rid of that work, especially when it was your first good work.

Sigh.

 

[brewkinger]

WARNING!
I just learned this past weekend. When you are getting ready to throw out parts to an old system and you finally get to the pot, do NOT look inside at the pretty etchings. I will doubt your resolve to get rid of that work, especially when it was your first good work.

Sigh.

That's why my kettle is being passed down to my son when the time comes. He is responsible for the creativity and design and he is my little Ironman, so it is only right and just for him to be the next owner.

 

[baseballsmitty]

i have yet to do it but plan to measure with a gallon measuringq cup i purchased a whilewhile7 back. You can use a pencil to mark, oro crayon i believe.

6

i used a milk jug and taped thea upper level of the water with electrical7 tape. I would pour in one gallon then tape and continue with the next. Thea marks were quite off from the quart marks that the pot came with on my little pot.

 

[DrunkleJon]

You could also measure the water level by weight.

 

[Huaco]

You could also measure the water level by weight.

That's what I did when calibrating my sight glass. I weighed out a gallon of water and marked it on the gallon jug with a sharpie. Then, as long as you fill to the same spot on the line each time, you have a repeatable gallon.

 

[BoostEd6]

Marked my kettles today using this method. Thanks for the thread OP.

 

[Ghunter0815]

Just got my new 10 gallon kettle in today. Will be marking it up this weekend!!

Before I can do that though, can anyone give me some ideas on how to remove rather large organic particles from my new pot? LoL

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1462583315.384266.jpg

 

[jbsilent]

What's the preferred technique to find ur markings? Weigh out a half gallon at a time to do half gallon increments or eyeball it with a measuring cup?

 

[MonkeyBot]

What's the preferred technique to find ur markings? Weigh out a half gallon at a time to do half gallon increments or eyeball it with a measuring cup?

Just use a measuring cup to measure out a half gallon or a gallon. Then measure from the bottom of the pot to the waterline and use that height as your measurement. Just measure out the rest of the marks.

 

[kombat]

Just use a measuring cup to measure out a half gallon or a gallon. Then measure from the bottom of the pot to the waterline and use that height as your measurement. Just measure out the rest of the marks.

That's what I did, but note that if you really want to be precise, don't use the "measuring" technique until you've already filled the kettle above any attachments at the bottom that could affect the volume, such as a whirlpool arm or pickup tube. I know they don't take up much volume, but if you're off by 1/32 of an inch, and you're marking off a 15 gallon kettle, that error compounds the higher up the kettle wall you go. By the time you get to the top, you could be off by as much as a half an inch, which could be a couple quarts of liquid, depending on your kettle geometry.

 

[ravhawk2000]

This is just a really cool, simple solution to a problem! Thanks for the post!