Outsourcing kettle drilling

[SEndorf]

I'm in the planning stages of an electric brewery build.
On three new kettles, it looks like I will need a total of 7 drills.
Yes, I know about greenlee punches and whatnot. Just don't want to DIY on this part of the project. A search of the issue here had a few threads indicating Midwest Supply has (or had) a drilling service. Not anymore.
Does anyone know where I can get these drilled? I'm very willing to pay a few bucks a pop which is nothing compared to the total cost of this project.

 

[Bobby_M]

Where are you located?

 

[SEndorf]

Minneapolis.
If you've got the equipment.....

 

[augiedoggy]

Minneapolis.
If you've got the equipment.....

A drill and bit.... (Or punch)

You can also try an fabrication shop. Most would be happy to drill the holes for you for a small fee.

 

[b-boy]

I'd call around to any metalworking, machining, or welding shop in your area. Any of them should be able to do it. My guess is they'll charge a fixed price per hole. It'll probably cost you < $40.

 

[SEndorf]

Thanks. I'll check with some machine shops.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Are you using weldless bulkheads for all your attachments? If so harbor freight has a knockout punch kit for $25 that works great. I used mine to punch a bunch of holes into kegs last week. They are sized for pipe, not the couplers and such that thread onto the pipe. So a 1/2" knockout hole will fit 1/2" pipe but not a 1/2" coupler. Which works great if you are going to sandwiche an o-ring in there.

 

[augiedoggy]

Are you using weldless bulkheads for all your attachments? If so harbor freight has a knockout punch kit for $25 that works great. I used mine to punch a bunch of holes into kegs last week. They are sized for pipe, not the couplers and such that thread onto the pipe. So a 1/2" knockout hole will fit 1/2" pipe but not a 1/2" coupler. Which works great if you are going to sandwiche an o-ring in there.

The Op is not interested in doing it him(or herself) they may be elderly, handicapped or dnot own any power tools... Hell I'm surprised at some of the younger people I know that don't own any basic handtools... Its not uncommon anymore.

Different people - different mindsets, A concept I'm trying to familiarize myself better with too...

 

[sandyeggoxj]

The Op is not interested in doing it him(or herself) they may be elderly, handicapped or dnot own any power tools... Hell I'm surprised at some of the younger people I know that don't own any basic handtools... Its not uncommon anymore.

Different people - different mindsets, A concept I'm trying to familiarize myself better with too...

But it isn't hard?!? I know the homebrew community gets a bit carried away with DIY sometimes but there are some parts that are easy to do with minimal tools. It isn't like I am suggesting buying a tig welder...

 

[augiedoggy]

Its not hard if you know how.... Theres a lot of threads here where people had failed miserably because theY dont use oil or try to drill with the speed too high on the drill.... This makes it intimidating for others... I went through 2 sets of bits myself before I realized it cuts like butter if you run the drill slow...

 

[SEndorf]

I'm fairly handy.... not (too) elderly..... and am not yet of feeble mind, yet my wife would disagree.
Yes, I understand drillling a hole is not rocket science.
Here are my reasons for outsourcing the drilling: (which may be of some value for others in the planning stage)...
1. The punch of choice is a radio punch - not a conduit punch or a step punch. If I'm going to drill into a $400 + kettle, I am going to use the right punch. If not clean, you will have leaks - at worst have a trashed kettle.
2. The cost of the three needed sizes of punches are more than the cost to have a shop do it.
3. I do not want to have yet another expensive 'once-used' tool sitting in my shop.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

To play devils advocate...

Those punches are expensive. They will last for many uses. A quality tool will hold its value well. You are not the first nor the last in homebrew land to need or want to use a similar punch. Given these statements it is reasonable to assume that you could easily and quickly sell the punches to another homebrewer here on the forum who could then continue to pass them along via the classified section.

That should address items 1, 2 and 3.

 

[augiedoggy]

I'm fairly handy.... not (too) elderly..... and am not yet of feeble mind, yet my wife would disagree.
Yes, I understand drillling a hole is not rocket science.
Here are my reasons for outsourcing the drilling: (which may be of some value for others in the planning stage)...
1. The punch of choice is a radio punch - not a conduit punch or a step punch. If I'm going to drill into a $400 + kettle, I am going to use the right punch. If not clean, you will have leaks - at worst have a trashed kettle.
2. The cost of the three needed sizes of punches are more than the cost to have a shop do it.
3. I do not want to have yet another expensive 'once-used' tool sitting in my shop.

all I have in response to that is I have drilled 16 1/2" or larger holes 1n 4 different stainless kettles and kegs with the cheap harbor freight step bits and not one leak or problem as a result... remember you would be drilling very slow.

 

[SEndorf]

To play devils advocate...

Those punches are expensive. They will last for many uses. A quality tool will hold its value well. You are not the first nor the last in homebrew land to need or want to use a similar punch. Given these statements it is reasonable to assume that you could easily and quickly sell the punches to another homebrewer here on the forum who could then continue to pass them along via the classified section.

That should address items 1, 2 and 3.

I agree. Sounds good to me.
I don't see any current listing for 13/16" and 1.5"

 

[brewmasterorr]

If you are having fittings welded then you can have the shop cut the hole and weld the fitting at the same time. I have seen about $60 in my area for a 1/2" bulkhead. And I paid $90 for a 2" triclamp. I have drilled weldless fitting in the past but just had a professional put the fitting on my pots when I upgraded. Not worth the extra effort when the hole is pretty much included with paying for the welding....

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Damn, here I am welding in npt couplers or triclamp fittings for $25. Time to up my prices!

 

[b-boy]

Wow - $60? Although in my area most of the shops are charging $90-$110 per hour, depending on the material being welded, so that's probably about right.

 

[augiedoggy]

I didnt realize each fitting would be so much My uncle is a welder and has mentioned I could come to him if I ever need any stainless welding done but I have called him out on the favor yet.... I guess im waiting on the outcome from my research of possibly opening a nanobrewery in a couple years.

I acquired a small Lincoln mig welder myself recently but have yet to use it and I wouldn't want to practice on something like this where clean welds are important. even is my little welder was up to the job.

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Boy has this thread has devolved.

You can mig stainless with the right mix of shielding gas and for a homebrewer that would probably be fine. But it doesn't really work for sanitary stuff where you are trying to keep things as pure stainless as possible. TIG is really the only way to go. I can do about 4 couplers an hour, give or take, so even at $25/coupler I'm pulling in about $100/hour. It takes about $5 worth of argon, a few cents of 308/309 filler rod and a couple bucks a coupler. So of that $100 about $80 goes toward labor and the underlying costs. The backing gas really chews up some extra argon.

 

[SEndorf]

These are weldless.
Yesterday I got ahold of a client that fabricates prototypes. He's got the right stuff and will do these drill-outs for free. Probably take him about 30 min.

 

[b-boy]

These are weldless.
Yesterday I got ahold of a client that fabricates prototypes. He's got the right stuff and will do these drill-outs for free. Probably take him about 30 min.

Free is good!

 

[augiedoggy]

Boy has this thread has devolved.

You can mig stainless with the right mix of shielding gas and for a homebrewer that would probably be fine. But it doesn't really work for sanitary stuff where you are trying to keep things as pure stainless as possible. TIG is really the only way to go. I can do about 4 couplers an hour, give or take, so even at $25/coupler I'm pulling in about $100/hour. It takes about $5 worth of argon, a few cents of 308/309 filler rod and a couple bucks a coupler. So of that $100 about $80 goes toward labor and the underlying costs. The backing gas really chews up some extra argon.

I wouldnt say it devolved?
Honestly how much on point discussion can people have about drilling or cutting a hole in a pot?

sounds like the OP scored a win win solution

 

[sandyeggoxj]

Good point auggie.

Free is a great price. I love it when I find those deals!

 

[JimEb]

I'm in the middle of my electric brewery build and messing with the stainless steel kettles makes me wish I just ponied up the cash and bought from Spikes.

Think I was quoted about $840 from Spikes for my needed kettles.

So I bought some Concords from Amazon for about $280
Painstakingly drilled and punched the holes...trashed one knock-out punch in the process...$80....trashed a step bit as well...$20 cheapee. I'm not a novice metalworker either.
Bought and machined some couplers $100.
Had a guy weld them on for $150 (charges $60/hr)

So I got alot of headaches and $630 into this.

 

[augiedoggy]

I'm in the middle of my electric brewery build and messing with the stainless steel kettles makes me wish I just ponied up the cash and bought from Spikes.

Think I was quoted about $840 from Spikes for my needed kettles.

So I bought some Concords from Amazon for about $280
Painstakingly drilled and punched the holes...trashed one knock-out punch in the process...$80....trashed a step bit as well...$20 cheapee. I'm not a novice metalworker either.
Bought and machined some couplers $100.
Had a guy weld them on for $150 (charges $60/hr)

So I got alot of headaches and $630 into this.

Once I learned the hard way and burned up the first set of step bits by going too fast I had no issues drilling my concord pot... used the cheap harbor freight bits if you use a variable speed drill and go slow they cut through like butter... also I used weldless fittings... over a year and almost 40 brews on them with no leaks...