How to lighten your sanke keggle

[Flomaster]

This is so cool. Unfortunately, my sight glass would fall off.

just leave the little spot where you have you sight glass hole drilled.

I mounted my eye bolt as low as I could get it in anticipation of doing this.

I will just leave a tiny bit of material around where the eye bolt connects to. im sure you could do the same just relocate your hole lower and leave it attached.

I can sketch up a photo of what I'm talking about, but I don't think it would look bad all at.

-=Jason=-

 

[mrbubbly]

that is the cat's a$$ right there, thanks for the weekend project

 

[SixFoFalcon]

I thought about doing this, but I dry and store my kettle upside down, and the top skirt makes that a lot easier.

Sure would be nice to lighten the thing, though. Between the kettle, March pump, and all the stainless, brass, and copper tubing I have attached, it's a bit of a bear to move around.

 

[Raider-11]

I did a keggle for a friend so I posted pics that better discribe the process

 

[lex990]

i may have to do this on my keg, I got a free one that I am about to turn into my boil keggle, but since it was free, i'll be out no cost if i screw it up... will a dremel with a metal wheel work ya think?

 

[JakeFegely]

A dremel will probably do it, but it might take all day and a lot of wheels. It would be much easier with a 4-1/2" grinder with a wheel for cutting stainless.

 

[Cryptochronolite]

It would be cheaper to buy a harbor-freight 4" grinder for $29 USD than the cost of all those dremel cutting wheels.

Well, I just looked it up and that's a huge lie. Let me re-prhase:

It would be more fun to buy a harbor-freight 4" grinder for $39 USD than changing-out all those dremel cutting wheels.

 

[Raider-11]

A dremel will probably do it, but it might take all day and a lot of wheels. It would be much easier with a 4-1/2" grinder with a wheel for cutting stainless.

I agree, it takes one 4 1/2" cutoff disk to do the job and then its too small to cut through the curled top edge on another keg, a 4 1/2" grinder is a good investment thou.

 

[kailokai]

Hey that looks cool and now no skirt in the way! Unfortunately I still don't have kegs to start this project with.

 

[MichaelJ]

Very nice!! Where did you find that lid? I just got a keg and I'm glad I came across this post!

 

[Raider-11]

Very nice!! Where did you find that lid? I just got a keg and I'm glad I came across this post!

I found the lid at a local kitchen supply store, I bought the lid before I cut the hole in the keg so I could get the hole exact using my Keg Kutter

 

[AiredAle]

Raider11,

Thanks from me too. I saw this and did it to my boil kettle, and love it. Easy to see into, less crevices for crud, and lighter to boot.

It did take a while, and I was sweating about grinding too deeply, but it worked out well. Haven't shined it up and probably won't.

I used the cut out with 3 SS washers soldered on for the lid, but need to find a better one, it is easy to drop the lid into the kettle, and with a water heater element in there, that's not such a good idea...

 

[zymurgistic]

how did you get the keg so shiny-bright?

 

[Raider-11]

Im glad to hear that my contributions to Home Brew Talk are liked and useful
thanks all

 

[Flomaster]

how did you get the keg so shiny-bright?

please search for the keg polishing thread.

or click this link

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/polishing-your-keg-more-than-clever-euphemism-54025/


-=Jason=-

 

[Raider-11]

how did you get the keg so shiny-bright?

I would like to thank BobbyFromNJ for the video he made on polishing your keg

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/user/BobbyFromNJ#p/u/42/9Ln-plGzVc4"]http://http://www.youtube.com/user/BobbyFromNJ#p/u/42/9Ln-plGzVc4[/ame]

 

[Marshall081]

Copper pipe straps are like 12 for a dollar. You can bend them in half ream out the holes a bit and mount them under the washer in between the washer and lid and they will reach out and stop the lid from ever falling in. Also a 1 1/2" copper pipe cap and rubber mallet to knock it in place takes good care of the hole.

 

[Marshall081]

Here is a pic of the top of the cap.

 

[samc]

Anyone know of someone in the Portland, OR area who can do the skirt removal? I've got the grinder but lack the skill with it.

 

[mr_cad]

I know this is an old thread but I wanted to tell you guys I did this on an AB keg today and it worked great. I used a thin cut off wheel on my 4" grinder. It took 2 wheels and about 30 minutes because I was being very careful. One thing I will mention is to please wear proper safety gear. One of my wheels got small and then bound up and shredded and shot a piece at me. I was wearing a face shield so no damage done. If you dont have a face shield Harbor Freight has some for like 5 or 6 dollars. Also I did not leave the handles on...I cut them off completely. After I got done I weighed the pieces I cut of and they were about 6 1/4 lbs. That a huge benefit. Now I just have to hit it with my flapper pad. :rockin:

 

[Raider-11]

Glad to hear you didnt get hurt, I've had 4 1/2" cutoff wheels fly off the around the arbor hole and never found where it went, theres no excuse for not being safe.
How do you plan to handle the keggle with out handles?

 

[mr_cad]

I actually tested out washing and cleaning it after I got done and handling it by the lip is not that hard. Even with some water in the bottom the weight I took off from the skirt makes it easier to handle. I have a brew stand where everything is stored on it and I just roll it out the garage door for use. I never lift kegs full of liquid so I did not see a big disadvantage to no handles. I am saving the handle pieces and will weld them on later if the need arises.

 

[Justdrumin]

Sorry to resurrect this thread...but I'm lookin at doin this and want to know how people like having the lip on the top vs not havin it,and doin a straight cut across.

 

[conpewter]

You'll lose some structural integrity but should be fine since stainless is a lot sturdier than aluminum.