Keg use - Fermenter etc.

[NinjaMedic]

Ok so I've been doing a bunch of looking on here about using a keg as a fermenter and right now have gone with replacing the spear with a stopper drilled with a blow off and racking cane however I had an idea and wanted to run it by those with more experience than myself.

So basically I was thinking this: cut a hole in the top, much like you were making a keggle only a bit smaller, and then add a raised edge around the opening (no idea how this would be done... one reason for the post) and make a silicone seal (there's a youtube video on doing this) the same size as the hole that would sit around that raised edge. Have threaded rods welded around the hole a few inches past the edge then take the top from another keg you've cut (say the one you cut off your actual keggle) and drill holes in it to match the threaded rods and seat it on top of the keg with the seal and tighten it down with wing nuts/nuts.

It seems to me, and maybe I just don't know enough to know this is impossible, that this would allow one to easily clean the fermenter while also permitting a solid seal as well as allowing one to use it not only for fermenting but also serving. Another perk would be adding one of these: http://brewhardware.com/valves-69/146-wldip58 (I have this on my keggle) diptubes attached to a ball valve and turning the diptube so it would end up above the cake would possibly allow for draining the fermenter without needing a cane.

Thoughts????? Thanks! Cheers!

GG

 

[JoshuaWhite5522]

basically it sounds like you want to cut out the top of the keg and place a seal around the opening and place a lid on top of it. Something that look like one of these

 

[NinjaMedic]

basically it sounds like you want to cut out the top of the keg and place a seal around the opening and place a lid on top of it. Something that look like one of these

View attachment 182657

View attachment 182658

That's... damn didn't consider a clear top. Was thinking of using the sanke top so I could bottle/serve from one too. Epic. Now the question is how do you go about doing something like that?!? Did I somehow miss those threads? How difficulty/costly and think there would be a way to do both? The clear top for fermenting and a sanke lid for serving later?

 

[Ddubduder]

Wow those are awesome! I had been throwing around the same idea in my head. These seem to be exactly what I would like to do. Probably could pressurize too much but you could probably still pressure transfer and hold the closed system thought process. I like it.


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[Stealthcruiser]

Sub'd.

 

[JoshuaWhite5522]

For pressure transfers I have seen corny keg posts and dip tubes used on different designs. If you make your top out of plexi glass it should be real easy to drill holes for the ball/pin locks.

I am not so sure about serving from the fermenter, eventually you'll want to get the beer off the yeast

 

[NinjaMedic]

Wow those are awesome! I had been throwing around the same idea in my head. These seem to be exactly what I would like to do. Probably could pressurize too much but you could probably still pressure transfer and hold the closed system thought process. I like it.


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I'm still tossing this idea around with friends I have that know more than I do. The final goal would be to create a keg that I could use interchangeable lids. I could use the plexiglass style above for fermenting but then (assuming I have more than one like this) transfer it to one and bolt on a sanke lid and serve from that. Also having an open top like that makes cleaning easier and would allow for adding a diptube at the bottom (see original post) for easy transfer from the fermenter.