Spike etching is off

[user 246304]

The etchings are put on by the kettle manufacturer (which is a Chinese company). If I were selling custom kettles for $300+, I would want my customers to have accurate etchings. I expect etching to be off on a $50 kettle. Not $300+. I haven't done anything to fix mine. I still love the kettle. The welding is top notch. But I am still annoyed the etching is off.

Yeah, I agree with you. I marked up the sightglasses on my BK and HLT, and don't really care as much on my HLT, which only has the etchings. I acidify the liquor in the HLT based on what I know I added.

I do really like these guys and, like you, find the welding absolutely beautiful. But it's inexcusable, at $300, to have volume off by so wide a margin even though I've just kind of learned to deal with it. And surely this manufacturing screwup has been known now for some time.

 

[wepeeler]

That's a bummer, especially when you're just coming into all grain, wepeeler. Enough variables to worry about and I agree with you - this shouldn't be happening on a $300 vessel. I'm not sure what's being done but I suspect - many with more experience will hopefully chime in, perhaps you know - that this is a mass manufacturing issue offshore, and it's just screwed up manufacturing. They're good guys and I stand by their welding and their end, but as a company, they shouldn't be putting up with this either - on behelf of us, and them, in their reputation.

Maybe try giving them a call?

Like I said, it's not a HUGE deal, because I measure out exactly what goes into the kettle, but for the price, it should be accurate. I posted more to follow up on the OP and to see if other people experienced this with SS. I've been told awhile back that they had some issues with the markings but was assured they fixed the problem. Apparently not. Still waiting on a return email. Doesn't seem to be a phone number anywhere on their website...

 

[user 246304]

Like I said, it's not a HUGE deal, because I measure out exactly what goes into the kettle, but for the price, it should be accurate. I posted more to follow up on the OP and to see if other people experienced this with SS. I've been told awhile back that they had some issues with the markings but was assured they fixed the problem. Apparently not. Still waiting on a return email. Doesn't seem to be a phone number anywhere on their website...

Wepeeler, sorry about that, I thought there was a number either on their site or with their e-mails, but I stand corrected. I just have e-mails as well, including the invoices they submit when you're ready to buy. In my experience, they were good in getting back to me, so hopefully you'l hear soon. Good luck.

 

[SpikeBrewing]

For the record this looks to be an issue with another company’s kettle and not a Spike kettle. Since this issue was brought to our attention last year we have updated our on site QC procedure to ensure etching accuracy.

 

[user 246304]

For the record this looks to be an issue with another company’s kettle and not a Spike kettle. Since this issue was brought to our attention last year we have updated our on site QC procedure to ensure etching accuracy.

Sorry, a bit confused, guys. I'd thought all your vessels were bought from a 3rd party manufacturer, they did the volume etchings, and you guys finished the vessels with your (beautiful) welding. I guess I am confused between what is "another company's kettle" and a "Spike kettle."

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Finally made the switch to All Grain (BIAB) last night. Picked up a 15 gallon SS Brew Tech kettle and decided to boil 5 gallons the night prior to determine boil off rate. Etchings on it are off 1/2 gallon as well. I emailed them, but haven't heard back yet. This isn't the end of the world, as I know the exact volume I put into the kettle, but its frustrating to know that a nearly $300 piece of equipment isn't accurate. It literally only has a few jobs, and one of them is to accurately measure volume. Just saying...

Sorry, a bit confused, guys. I'd thought all your vessels were bought from a 3rd party manufacturer, they did the volume etchings, and you guys finished the vessels with your (beautiful) welding. I guess I am confused between what is "another company's kettle" and a "Spike kettle."

The issue that revived this thread was with an Ss Brew Tech kettle not a Spike kettle. We have not seen any etching issues in about 6mo.

 

[user 246304]

I apologize. As the thread is about your vessels I just completely spaced he was talking about BrewTech. I'm glad you guys got the manufacturing issue resolved, because you do such top-shelf work and this issue sullied it some, imo.

 

[wepeeler]

The issue that revived this thread was with an Ss Brew Tech kettle not a Spike kettle. We have not seen any etching issues in about 6mo.

I should have gotten a Spike kettle. Didn't even know about you guys

 

[h22lude]

For the record this looks to be an issue with another company’s kettle and not a Spike kettle. Since this issue was brought to our attention last year we have updated our on site QC procedure to ensure etching accuracy.

This is great to hear. Thanks for chiming in. I am going to put an edit on my original post just letting people know QC has been taking action.

Edit: Looks like I can't edit my original posts. Might be an issue with HBT not allowing edits after a certain amount of months.

 

[wepeeler]

Wepeeler, sorry about that, I thought there was a number either on their site or with their e-mails, but I stand corrected. I just have e-mails as well, including the invoices they submit when you're ready to buy. In my experience, they were good in getting back to me, so hopefully you'l hear soon. Good luck.

Emailed them last Friday. Got a response Monoday asking for a picture with a tape measure along the inside of the kettle over the etchings. Sent the picture back Monday. No response. Emailed them a reminder with the picture yesterday (Tuesday). No response. Can't say I'm digging my SS experience...

*Update*
Great customer service. Seriously. The guy I had been emailing was talking over my situation with his QC team. They decided they would either offer me a $50 refund to keep the kettle or swap out for a new one. They even shipped the new kettle without me first returning the defective one! I offered my credit card as collateral and they told me, "we trust you here." Word. Quality customer service right there.

 

[augiedoggy]

Emailed them last Friday. Got a response Monoday asking for a picture with a tape measure along the inside of the kettle over the etchings. Sent the picture back Monday. No response. Emailed them a reminder with the picture yesterday (Tuesday). No response. Can't say I'm digging my SS experience...

*Update*
Great customer service. Seriously. The guy I had been emailing was talking over my situation with his QC team. They decided they would either offer me a $50 refund to keep the kettle or swap out for a new one. They even shipped the new kettle without me first returning the defective one! I offered my credit card as collateral and they told me, "we trust you here." Word. Quality customer service right there.

You can bet this thread and others like it likely had some influence on that..

 

[bbohanon]

All I can say is I love my Spike CF15. Great company and quality.

 

[augiedoggy]

I apologize. As the thread is about your vessels I just completely spaced he was talking about BrewTech. I'm glad you guys got the manufacturing issue resolved, because you do such top-shelf work and this issue sullied it some, imo.

Curious, Did you buy your kettles last year then and just get around to using them? I thought you just discovered this issue?

 

[user 246304]

Curious, Did you buy your kettles last year then and just get around to using them? I thought you just discovered this issue?

I'm sorry, Augie, I have a bad memory so can't recall when I got them. Certainly several months now and no, I used them right away. I measured them well before my first brew and discovered the variances off, then marked the sight glasses by pouring in gallon by gallon.

 

[wepeeler]

You can bet this thread and others like it likely had some influence on that..

Word of mouth can be a killer or a game changer.

 

[brewbama]

For what it’s worth, I have a kettle from another mfr and either the marks are slightly off or the gallon containers of water I’ve been using have more than a gallon in them. I usually end with slightly more volume per the kettle marking than intended. I use the markings as an indicator vs a verbatim volume mark.