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

[dlaramie08]

I love this approach! Will use on my next kettle thanks for sharing!

Keep in mind that this only works if the sides of your kettle are straight, ie, not a keggle. There will be substantial error for vessels with curved sides.

 

[BeardedBrews]

Just wanted to peak into this thread and say that I ran a test on my retired 4-gallon pot last night. The results were great and I'm looking forward to putting my logo on my main brew kettle (cut vinyl should be in the mail today). When I do that, I will also be adding volume markers.

Thanks for an awesome thread!

-Ben

 

[ncbrewer]

Also, the bottom probably isn't perfectly flat all across - rounded at the sides. I checked the level with a known volume and then used the volume formula from there.

 

[churst]

Keep in mind that this only works if the sides of your kettle are straight, ie, not a keggle. There will be substantial error for vessels with curved sides.

Advice taken. Thanks dlaramie08!

 

[dlaramie08]

Advice taken. Thanks dlaramie08!

No prob. I always freak out when I'm doing something permanent.

 

[Spellman]

Just wanted to peak into this thread and say that I ran a test on my retired 4-gallon pot last night. The results were great and I'm looking forward to putting my logo on my main brew kettle (cut vinyl should be in the mail today). When I do that, I will also be adding volume markers.

Thanks for an awesome thread!

-Ben

That looks freaking cool! Personally I've got sight glasses on everything and I don't think I would ever change that if I got new ones, but I am very intrigued about putting stuff on the outside and maybe on kegs. Where did you get your vinyl done?

 

[jsamyn]

Here's mine, but with 2 questions:

How do you take pictures without so much glare?
How do you get the etching to be so uniformly white?

I've used the vinegar/salt solution and while I initially used a 9V battery, I switched over to a DC 12V/1A adapter.

 

[BeardedBrews]

Here's mine, but with 2 questions:

How do you take pictures without so much glare?
How do you get the etching to be so uniformly white?

I've used the vinegar/salt solution and while I initially used a 9V battery, I switched over to a DC 12V/1A adapter.

Most of it is getting the lighting right. The pot has a lightly brushed finish, but you can get a pretty good picture with something dark in the foreground. If I hold it to the light the finish looks much worse.

As far as consistency, I took that pic to look as consistent as possible. (Vain) In truth there are spots that are a little less matte. I think they were areas that I held the q-tip stationary instead of keeping it slowly moving. I used a 9v battery and some old wire/alligator clips I had around. I had to step up the salt a bit to get it to sizzle nicely after a second or two of contact. Plus I clipped the wire on pretty close to the tip of the q-tip.

 

[BeardedBrews]

In truth there are spots that are a little less matte.

Here is a closeup.

 

[thaymond]

Here is a closeup.

^this! Is! Great!

 

[rekoob]

Here is a closeup.

Looks really good. Well done.

 

[rekoob]

I've been wanting to use this technique to label my kegs. Finally got around to it. Got 8 unused kegs done up today. 4 more to go along with smaller numbers for the corny lids. I found that wrapping a cotton ball around the end of the q-tip helped for my thick numbers. I used a bench DC power supply. I ended up setting it to 12 volts, which got a good sizzle. With the increased surface area from the cotton ball I was drawing up to 4 amps. I am impressed with how much they stand out.

Those look great. I was thinking about doing the same, but like most of my hobby lists of things I want to do I see something shiny and off I go. This is on the list and at some point I will get-r-done.

 

[BeardedBrews]

That looks freaking cool! Personally I've got sight glasses on everything and I don't think I would ever change that if I got new ones, but I am very intrigued about putting stuff on the outside and maybe on kegs. Where did you get your vinyl done?

Thanks Spellman!

I worked with a guy named Dan on Etsy to design my logo, but he has a bunch of other great decals that he cuts. I don't think he's doing custom work any more, but I am guessing he would cut stock labels for you.

https://www.etsy.com/transaction/1009995176?

I have the vinyl version of my logo on my swing-tops in green, blue, and white. I think it looks pretty sharp there too.

 

[ahowardmd]

I just wanted to voice my sincere thanks to OP. Tried this method this weekend, and it worked like a charm. I love the DIY culture of homebrewing!

 

[NewJersey]

awesome. will be doing this as soon as i convert my kegs!!!

Still haven't got this done.
Maybe on Wednesday....

 

[NatureOfTheYeast]

This thread is just what I needed! :rockin:

The Roman numerals someone else in the thread did really struck a chord with me, don't know what happened to some of those quarter hash marks though :/

One thing is the etching wasn't a totally consistent "color", kinda splotchy. Not a big deal, and was probably an issue of skin oils interfering with the solution. Really, I'm just being anal at this point. This was a fun evening!

I also used a 9v wall wart.

THANKS ITSGUS!!

 

[dlaramie08]

This thread is just what I needed! :rockin:



The Roman numerals someone else in the thread did really struck a chord with me, don't know what happened to some of those quarter hash marks though :/



One thing is the etching wasn't a totally consistent "color", kinda splotchy. Not a big deal, and was probably an issue of skin oils interfering with the solution. Really, I'm just being anal at this point. This was a fun evening!



I also used a 9v wall wart.



THANKS ITSGUS!!

Your Roman numerals look much better than mine.

 

[NatureOfTheYeast]

Oh hey, it was your kettle that inspired me. Thanks, man!

Fun project!

 

[dlaramie08]

Oh hey, it was your kettle that inspired me. Thanks, man!



Fun project!

Glad I could be an inspiration!

 

[Artifishal]

Thank you! Very fun and seriously needed project today. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1440644287.216205.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1440644302.895938.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1440644319.003856.jpg

 

[ultravista]

Does anyone have photos of the inside of a keggle that was etched?

 

[Mr_McGibblets]

This is a great thread!

Has anyone considered etching their aluminum CO2 tanks with their last name or initials to tag it and ensure that they get their tank back?

 

[BeardedBrews]

This is a great thread!

Has anyone considered etching their aluminum CO2 tanks with their last name or initials to tag it and ensure that they get their tank back?

I'm not sure that I've ever gotten the same CO2 tank back, I usually just swap out for one of the full ones at the LHBS. I am sure the etching would work on the cylinder, just not so sure that the next guy wants my name on his tank.

 

[kombat]

Has anyone considered etching their aluminum CO2 tanks with their last name or initials to tag it and ensure that they get their tank back?

Nah, I just stand there and watch while they fill it.

 

[Nait]

Look around for a welding or plumbing supply shop. I pay $18 to refill a 10 pound cylinder.

 

[BeardedBrews]

Finished up my larger kettle, pretty fun project overall. Now I just need to pick out the numbers for inside.

 

[brew-bandit]

Your Mr. Hop Beard kettle sure looks excited to brew by the look of his sipgot

 

[COEBRA]

I know everbody's big on sterilizing there equipment, what might go wrong if some thing happens to get in there? Won't the alchole kill every thing?

Ah ha ha ha ha!!!

 

[Mikeystew]

This worked awesome. Thanks for the idea!

 

[kombat]

I did mine a couple of weeks ago. It was actually tricky taping off the demarcation lines for the first few gallons (1, 2, ...), as they were at the very bottom of my kettle, and it was difficult to see what I was doing down there and make sure the line was taped off in the correct spot. I carefully measured out cold water, a gallon at a time, to see where to place the marks. After I'd filled the kettle above any other volume-affecting items (my pickup tube, the whirlpool return tube), I just measured the distance between gallon marks (29 mm) and placed the remaining marks at those intervals instead of actually measuring out the rest of the water, gallon by gallon.

It actually worked surprisingly well, although it got annoying to keep moving the '1' stencil, as my kit only came with one, and there are a lot of ones between 10 and 15.