Sight glass - Eye candy or necessary?

[oo7cable]

Hey guys,

Been out of brewing for a while, previously did 5g DME brews.

I'm going keggle BIAB - got my 3 way valve from BF in route...
Was thinking of putting a sight glass on my keggle, I've marked it pretty good on the outside, so I can pretty much gauge the volume. But is a sight glass really worth it? It's not that expensive...$20 or so...but I'd have to build a heat shield, not to mention the extra care when lugging the keggle around.

So what do you think? Sight glass...do it? Or don't worry about it...


Josh

 

[thekraken]

I'd say that depends on how confident you are in eye balling your volumes from the outside, or how important that is to you. For cheaper than a sight glass you could etch volume markings inside your kettle or just make a measuring stick you can dip into the keggle and take a volume reading.
I don't have a sight glass, haven’t etched my keggle, or made a (decent) measuring dip stick, and I get by without them. Necessary? No... All that said I'll probably install a sight glass in my keggle in the near future for the convenience, not the necessity.

I did start to attempt to etch my keggle but found it difficult to mask off volume levels with enough accuracy for me to be happy with. I imagine that would be much easier with regular pots or kettles.

 

[oo7cable]

I currently use magnets to accurately measure volume. Might go with a depth gauge mash paddle though, thats a pretty good idea!

 

[JLeuck64]

The only reason I recently bought a 10gal kettle with a thermometer and a sight glass was I wanted to eventually build a 3 tier gravity brew stand. Knowing that this kettle would be up high (above my head) I figured having a sight glass would make it easier to gauge where the water level is without having to climb up on a step stool... IT DOES!!!

 

[chawn]

Sight glass = something else that I will eventually break.

 

[Gavin C]

I'm too afraid to screw up my pot by drilling through it. In spite of watching some great vids showing how "easy" it is I thought the reward was not worth the risk. Etched my kettle instead. 1/4 gallon increments added to the manufacturer's 1 gallon markings.

Now eyeballing 1/8 gallon is easy.

 

[dk21]

A sight glass isn't necessary, but they are really useful.

 

[oo7cable]

Gavin, that etching looks good! I might have to consider doing it.

 

[Gavin C]

Gavin, that etching looks good! I might have to consider doing it.

It's very easy. I just followed the instructions in the thread on HBT. I. Think someone pointed it out earlier. Just need more salt than was mentioned. I kept adding it till I heard the sizzle. Then the etching was so easy and definite.

9v battery salt vinegar wire and a cue tip. So satisfyingly simple. Just take your time with the taping. I used electrical tape. A little bit of bleeding of the etch but nothing to worry about. Very pleased with the outcome.

 

[RussPDX]

Sightglass, etching, gauged paddle, I believe that if you want to be a better brewer then knowing your volumes accurately is very important. I use a Sightglass on my keggles and it is great (Arizona Iced Tea can makes a great heat shield).

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Can someone post a link to the thread about etching. I have a new brew pot on the way and would like to do this before I use it.

 

[BaylessBrewer]

Never mind I found it. Thanks