My brew pot leaks...

[snevey]

I have a smaller 3 gallon brew kettle since I only do extracts at this point... I have a question about it though. The damn rivets that hold the handle on to the kettle leak, badly. I thought is drilling them out and putting some plastic washer on the inside and then riveting them again, or using small stainless steel bolts/nuts. I understand JB Weld is "food safe" but there is just something about heating up chemicals in my beer that scares me.

Clearly I'm not the only one who has had this problem and someone has to have a clever fix for it!

Steve

 

[Wellshooter]

Rivets can be "tightened" with a center punch and a hammer. Find a piece of steel pipe to use as an anvil inside the pot, then place the center punch in/on the rivet and smack it with a hammer. It may not stop the drip but it will certainly slow it down. They tend to work loose over time.

 

[Homercidal]

^^ What he said, although if you have the side opposite the hammer nice and solid, you should be able to get it to stop leaking completely too.

 

[matt415]

i had an aluminum pot that did the same thing. over time it just stopped leaking. i didnt do anything to it. i think that mineral deposits from my water sealed it up.

 

[TJTHEBEST]

ive got the same leaking problem. i think im gonna get some jb weld and try it.

 

[JefeTheVol]

Silicone is heat stable up to something like 500 degrees and you can get some nontoxic.

 

[philrose]

Food for thought: 15 qt kettle is on sale at austinhomebrew for 9.99.