Welding vs weldless

[Damonic]

Makes perfect sense. In my head I was picturing SS stock pot lids which is probably why I didn't "get it". Thanks.

 

[Bobby_M]

Hmm, missed this thread for a while. Hexmonkey, I had the welding done at some custom cycle shop in Middlesex on Lincoln BLVD near Possomtown Rd.

 

[ChemE]

Welded = no chance for leaks, very durable, nothing to replace/maintain, permanent, less parts to clean...

I have to call BS here. Weld porosity can and does happen and is exceptionally difficult to address when it does rear its ugly head.

 

[Bobby_M]

Your BS flag is hereby revoked. What Yuri meant to say was..

Welded = noVERY LITTLE chance for leaks, very durable, nothing to replace/maintain, permanent, less parts to clean... compared to weldless.

 

[ChemE]

That I can buy. Unlikely if the welder knows what he/she is doing but an amateur can easily produce a weld which leaks like a sieve.

 

[Skrimpy]

All of this is exactly the type of discussion I was looking for. Thanks for all the help guys! The kegs are in the garage and three of them are in fantastic shape. Almost brand new. One is a little dinged up and doesn't really match the other three so that is the extra. When they are done I will take pictures and post a link. Now just to find some of that used bed framing for a free stand...those of you that fabricated tippy dumps, what did you use for hinges?

 

[muneerunisha]

You have given an useful and interesting information ......
Its very interesting to learn....
Thanks..........
...............

Use silver solder for both sanke and thin pots, if you can solder with 95/5 you can do the 1000 degree silver solder. You will need the staysilv white paste flux and safety silv 56 silver solder, clean the parts, apply liberal coating of flux both sides of soldering area, heat metal to dull red and apply silver solder. If you overheat the stainless and turn it black, let it cool and sandpaper the metal clean and start over. When you are finished let the work cool and remove flux with hot water and SS wire brush or scotch brite. If you want to practice, buy a couple 3/8" SS fender washers and 1/2" SS nuts, this will let you get familiar with how much heat to use with the silver solder. The main warning with silver brazing alloys is some of the solders are alloyed with cadmium which is a bad thing when in contact with food or beverage products, the Safety Silv 56 is cadmium free. The solder is not cheap ~$30 for a 1 OZ coil, but that should do about 6 - 10 joints or more if you are careful with fit up as this material will flow into void between fitting and pot. This material is almost as strong as welding and will not soften at temperatures below melt point (1,000 degrees +), direct flame from burner is okay as long as there is liquid in connection to carry away the heat.