Keg Cutting 4.5" Grinder

[Mirage]

Hi everyone! I had a quick question about cutting wheels for cutting kegs. I know I need the thinnest I can get (1/16" or thinner). I saw some at Lowes which looked to be made out of fiberglass or something (other than metal). I was wondering if this is what I am looking for. It is made by Dewalt and it says that "Metal/Stainless Cutting" on the wheel. Thanks in advance!

Abe

PS I will be sure to post pictures of the finished product on here as everyone has been invaluable in terms of helping me build the brewery.

 

[Chad_C]

Sounds about right. I think that the cutting wheels are made of Aluminum Oxide, and are a black material with some weaving mixed in. Should cut through a keg without much trouble.

 

[Dave258]

I cut my keg last week, and from your description, that is what I used. I went through 2 of them because on the first I pushed too hard and it got caught and ripped the hell out of the cutting disk.
I tried to use Bobby M's jig, but didn't have the right hole saw to fit in the keg opening. I did a better job doing it free hand and just holding the grinder guard against the keg to keep the same spacing.

 

[Mirage]

Awesome! Thanks! Yea, these disks are kinda a dark maroon with some weaving. They are fairly inexpensive, so I wasn't sure if they were the correct thing to use. I will be using Deep Sea's jig (looks easier to make than Bobby's). Thanks for the feedback! I will pick some discs up along with some of the polishing pads (I need an excuse to get some new sun glasses). Shiny kegs here I come!

 

[android]

yep, those are the right discs... but honestly, IMHO save yourself the time of building the jig and just do it freehand, it's way easier than you think.

 

[Dave258]

yep, those are the right discs... but honestly, IMHO save yourself the time of building the jig and just do it freehand, it's way easier than you think.

I agree, however, I have only cut one keg so far. It took me longer to get the jig together, leveled, at the right height. When I realized I didn't have the right hole saw bit I cute the keg free hand in less time then all the other nonsense.

If cutting multiple kegs at once, the jig may be worth it?

 

[Dave258]

Mirage, what burner are you going to use with your keggle? I am still trying to find one that will work and be able to boil 10 gal. batches.

 

[Mirage]

I am using the Bayou SQ14 burner. It fits a keggle nicely on it and while it isn't the hottest burner, it will work fine I think. Thanks for the suggestions! I think I will go ahead and make the jig as I am kinda OCD about making a perfect cut. The jig is a pvc pipe with a bolt through it. Should take a few min to make. Thanks again! I will pick up the wheels then!

 

[lackey2000]

Here's my 7.5 I recently made.

Started making a jig but didn't have the right parts so said f it and did it freestyle.

I used a loop of string and a sharpie to trace a perfect 12" circle.

Rested the grinder on the edge of the keg and slowly made my way around. Went nice and slow on the first pass to etch a groove. Each successive pass made it deeper. After a few passes it was easy to keep it in the notch. The key for me was to not rush or push hard and let the grinder do the cutting.

Wear good protective eyewear and keep you mouth closed so that you can keep a close eye on where the wheel is cutting. Earplugs also help.

Afterward the edge was pretty sharp but easily knocked it down with some rough sandpaper. I no longer feel like I’ll loose my wrist.

Cutting disk before and after.

Used disk on top of the new one. Note how little the disk was worn after being used on TWO kegs.

 

[Bobby_M]

I agree that if you're only cutting one keg and you're not overally anal about a perfect circle, making the jig would take longer than the freehand cut.

 

[Mirage]

Yea, I am cutting two and one has a sizable dent in the cutting path and I do want a perfect circle. Modeling the kegs after yours Bobby, SUNGLASS HUT next stop.

 

[x2wdtoyotax]

Those Dewalt disks look like they hold up way better than the cheapo disks I used. I splintered 4 disks before I gave up and bought the good stuff. I free handed mine. It seemed to turn out ok?

 

[Mirage]

Just purchased a set of 5 of those discs (it was $7, how cheap is cheap for your discs? LOL) and the rubber backer, fine gator grit and white gator grit discs. I am ready to start grinding!

 

[x2wdtoyotax]

I bought these....

Cheapo cutting disks

They work pretty well... they just don't last very long. Especially against a tight radius stainless steel cut. Now I know.

 

[Mirage]

LMAO, it really did make me chuckle. The nice thing is that you get twice as many! So really, we will both be in the same boat in the end. That is funny.

 

[klyph]

Here's some pictures of the kegs I cut and the jig I made with a 1.5" ABS adapter, piece of all thread and an angle bracket. Super easy and quick to make, and it's fully adjustable.

 

[Gnome]

the black weave (Aluminum oxide) 1/8" thick will work great. Recommend to cut to fit lid for keggle. Freehand cut and use the face of blade to smooth edge and round out hole. the 1/16" works great for slotting copper for manifolds." Luke use the force" to steady your hand.

 

[BrewNinja1]

I used the Harbor Freight ones too, I could have gotten 2 kegs out of one disk, but decided that I will never use them again (I have an air cutoff tool) so I used a new one for the second keg. I started to build the jig, then found out my grinder doesnt have attachment points besides one on each side for the handle! DOH! I ended up freehanding it. It was super easy. Ear protection is a must...I did two in a row and my ears were ringing for a few hours after.

 

[woodstone]

Cut my first one this past weekend in prep for doing my first all-grain...

Used a narrow metal cutting disc...

Didn't even mark the keg first...

No jigs...

Rested the removable grip handle on the sanke fitting and rested the grinding wheel fender against the inside of the rolled top lip of the keg...

No problems...looks like a million bucks...

I used the grinding disc for about two minutes to remove some burs and then gave it a quick shot with some sandpaper...edge looks factory and smooth as a baby's @$$!

 

[humann_brewing]

yep, those are the right discs... but honestly, IMHO save yourself the time of building the jig and just do it freehand, it's way easier than you think.

Agreed, just figure out a way of making a large protractor (pen on a string etc...) so you can make a nice looking circle marked with a pen or something and freehand it.

I'm mean it's no biermunchers but this isn't that bad

 

[Dave258]

Human brewing, is that a sparge arm or your diptube?
Depth perception is not that great in the pic.

I am using a copper diptube, when I did a leak test, it leaves behind at least 1/2 gallon of liquid at the bottom of the keg. Is that what happens if you do not use a pump? Do you just adjust liquid accou ting for that as loss?

Not to steal the thread, but it was started by mirage who is changing to a keggle.

 

[DeepSea]

Awesome! Thanks! Yea, these disks are kinda a dark maroon with some weaving. They are fairly inexpensive, so I wasn't sure if they were the correct thing to use. I will be using Deep Sea's jig (looks easier to make than Bobby's). Thanks for the feedback! I will pick some discs up along with some of the polishing pads (I need an excuse to get some new sun glasses). Shiny kegs here I come!

I used the cheap ones from home depot. Buy a few extra as you will need one for each keg. I think I paid $2.00 each.The ABS pipe jig keeps it pretty steady so it does not bind up. If it does bind you it will damage the blade beyond use..

 

[humann_brewing]

Human brewing, is that a sparge arm or your diptube?
Depth perception is not that great in the pic.

I am using a copper diptube, when I did a leak test, it leaves behind at least 1/2 gallon of liquid at the bottom of the keg. Is that what happens if you do not use a pump? Do you just adjust liquid accou ting for that as loss?

Not to steal the thread, but it was started by mirage who is changing to a keggle.

That is a sparge arm I know the pic is crappy steam coming up like crazy