"polishing your keg" is more than a clever euphemism

[IrregularPulse]

Wow, that is nice.

 

[NoNothing]

Impressive man!

Im still trying to score a keg for my HLT

 

[ghart999]

I have a Megapot from Northern Brewer. Its that brushed stainless. Do you think that bad boy would polish up?

 

[Bobby_M]

Yeah, it will shine up. "Brushed" is how I'd describe my keg after a pass with the medium pads. You might want to hit it with the "fine" gator grit with a light touch to knock down the ridges before going to the polishing phase. YMMV.

 

[AlchemyBrewing]

I am almost done with mine and ready to put it to use for the first time in 8 years. The wife wants to know if it will actually make brewing her beer any better... :fro:

 

[ghart999]

Tell her the shinier the kettle the better the beer. Its a fact.

 

[AlchemyBrewing]

I like it. She wants to brew up an IPA on Sunday so she will get to break in the new shiny keg and the new March Pump.

 

[MrShake]

anyone got or can snap a pic of these gator pads? I want to make sure I'm buyin the right thing.

 

[Bobby_M]

Sorry about that. I finally dumped godaddy and got a real host but I haven't put the pictures back up yet. That probably means that 5000 of my posts are currently lame... sorry.

The proper name for the pads are Gator Grit Finishing Pads, fine or medium.

 

[ghart999]

anyone got or can snap a pic of these gator pads? I want to make sure I'm buyin the right thing.

Go to page 1 of this post.

 

[AlchemyBrewing]

I am pretty sure Bobby has pics in his video.

 

[BigJefe]

Is there an easy way to etch a polished keg? I think it would be cool to have the brewery name etched into a polished keg, or polish just the brewery name in a regular scuffed keg... Masking tape isn't going to do the trick when you a taking an angle grinder to it.

I looked it up in google and it is talking about muriatic and sulferic acids and high temps... People already look at my brewing equipment and thing I'm making meth, I really don't need to start having kilns and acids and what not.

 

[BrewBeemer]

I would use a sheet of natural rubber with sticky back, install on the keg then pencil out your design and cut out with a razor blade. Use a pencil eraser with glass bead or fine diamond grit for a soft finish on the exposed area for your design. This is all they do at the sand blasting places with glass is use the sheet surgical rubber as a shield.

 

[SweetSounds]

You could draw up what you want in the computer and have a sign shop cut vinyl - Then you put the "negative" part on the pot.

Then take it to a sandblasting place. Not sure what it would cost, but it should work great!

BTW, Bobby, Inspirational thread! I started polishing my Firestone Corny HLT last night... W.O.W does it look sweet!

Thanks!

 

[TheBigLebrewski]

Just wanted to take the time to thank Bobby, as well as the others who have placed thier input on this subject.
Thanks Again!

Also, wanted to confirm the following process worked fanstastic!!!
and maybe simplify for the community.

Tools
- 4 1/4 inch angle grinder
- backing pad for angle grinder, gator grit makes this in yellow (must use)

Cleaning
- clean with gator grit surface finishing disc: Fine (it's bluish grey)
- you can use the burgandy medium for tougher kegs but not needed, then move to the fine

Polishing
- surface polishing/finishing disc from gator grit (they are white)
- green high gloss polishing compound for hard metals (green rectangular stick, the manufacturer at lowe's changes frequently, you will find it near the grinder pads,i believe its the #5)
- you can use the black stick for cleaning first, but not nessesary, i believe its the #2, then move to the green.

Good Luck!

 

[Bobby_M]

After working with a bunch of different pieces I'd say the above post is accurate with a few nuance options.

It's hard to know how rough a keg needs to be to justify backing out to the medium cleaning pad. You can use the fine to take out larger scratches but it will take longer and use up more of the pad. It may be worth circling bad scratches with a sharpie, hitting those with the medium, then do the whole thing with the fine. It's tricky to find deep scratches until you actually start working.

That also goes for the polishing step with the various rouge sticks. The grits go 1 to 5, with 5 being the coarsest. If you finish your gator fine pad with the lightest of touches to reduce swirl marks, you might be able to go right to a 4 or 5. If not, 4-5 first, then finish with a 1-2.

If you're going for a mirror, simply sick finish, you're best off polishing 1, 3, 5 changing the pad each time. I didn't even go that far. I went to #2 then #5 put a coat of carnuba on it.

 

[passedpawn]

Don't forget to hit with paint thinner before (labels, adhesive removal) and after (remove all the black crap that is left over when done). Mine came out very nice. Thanks Bobby.

 

[TheBigLebrewski]

Cool, thanks pass!
i was wondering what would be safe to get rid of that black crap that hides in the in the tough crevices and around the raised letters of a keg.
I imagine paint thinner works wonders.
i recall it being mentioned earlier in the thread, i was hoping to get more confirmation.
i am going to give this a try ASAP.
Thanks again!

 

[passedpawn]

Cool, thanks pass!
i was wondering what would be safe to get rid of that black crap that hides in the in the tough crevices and around the raised letters of a keg.
I imagine paint thinner works wonders.
i recall it being mentioned earlier in the thread, i was hoping to get more confirmation.
i am going to give this a try ASAP.
Thanks again!

I only used the paint thinner on the outside. It easily takes off the black stuff. Afterwards, I'd do the whole keg, inside and out, with Bar Keeper's Friend.

 

[Captain_Bigelow]

Here is my loot for the project. Everything was about $50 in total. I picked up the grinder from Harbor Freight for about $15.

They did not have the polishing compound at my Lowes which is featured in the pics on this thread. But I believe the stuff I got is basically the same thing.

 

[Bobby_M]

I think they discontinued the polish, or at least the package style. You got the right stuff.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Dang Captian the price of the grinder is almost a freebie vs the polishing items. I'm seeing more of that same grinder design under many other names, use the snot out of it.

 

[TheCHICompany]

Here's a pic of my 2.5gal Mega-Mini-Mobile-Party-keg.
Plating shop polished it to mirror finish for $25

 

[Reelale]

That's just sick Gonna stock them, with the shine-on?

 

[Captain_Bigelow]

You can't beat Harbor Freight for the pricing. Their stuff is usually cheap Chinese made. But for small projects they work good.

This same grinder will just be $9.99 as of Aug 4th. They have a promo on it.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Here's a pic of my 2.5gal Mega-Mini-Mobile-Party-keg.
Plating shop polished it to mirror finish for $25

Great picture plus good to read a reply from ya Matt.
OT; any update on those larger Chinese fermenters?

 

[Captain_Bigelow]

So I started on this project this evening and wanted to remove the paint rings using a medium pad. I hit a snag. The wrench with the grinder doesn't fit the Gator Grit backing disc. The grinder pin wrench is 1 1/4" wide, the disc is 1 1/2". I went to Lowes, True Value Hardware and HD and none of them sell the pin wrenches. I looked at a few products in HD and they too had a 1 1/4" wrench with the grinder. The one that did fit however was a Dewalt.

I am going back to HF tomorrow to see if they have a larger pin wrench. If not I will have to exchange the grinder for one which does.

 

[pickles]

So I started on this project this evening and wanted to remove the paint rings using a medium pad. I hit a snag. The wrench with the grinder doesn't fit the Gator Grit backing disc. The grinder pin wrench is 1 1/4" wide, the disc is 1 1/2". I went to Lowes, True Value Hardware and HD and none of them sell the pin wrenches. I looked at a few products in HD and they too had a 1 1/4" wrench with the grinder. The one that did fit however was a Dewalt.

I am going back to HF tomorrow to see if they have a larger pin wrench. If not I will have to exchange the grinder for one which does.

Harbor Freight sells an adjustable one for about $5.

 

[Bobby_M]

No worries. You actually don't need to wrench tighten that. Hold the locking pin in on the grinder to keep the spindle from turning and lay your gloved hand flat on the gatorgrit pad and rotate your hand. You'll get it tight enough and as you use it, it will get tighter.

 

[TheCHICompany]

Words about tools: Don't scrimp on price and..............MAKITA