hot plate as heat source for keg

rodman99 · Post by **rodman99** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:29 am

I'm new to this and am about a week or two away from placing orders for my equipment. I have a question about using a keg and hotplate type heat source. The bottom of most US kegs are rounded to an extent so it doesn't seem like a flat hot plate would be a very efficient heat source. How does everyone else use these heat sources with kegs?

Thanks!

knuklehead · Post by **knuklehead** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:28 am

You can heat it with open flame using gas or install internal electric elements such as in a hot water heater. If you use electric elements you may want to install two of them. Use both for warm up and then run on one during the run.

Rocky_Creek · Post by **Rocky_Creek** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:09 am

My 61 year old instinct says a hot plate and keg combo would be pissing into the wind with the loss of a keg full and much frustration. Probably won't do the hotplate any good either.

Brett · Post by **Brett** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:19 pm

more like pissing into a gale,

u need a gas burner or internal elements

rodman99 · Post by **rodman99** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:28 pm

Is there a method of installing internal heating elements without having to cut the top of the keg? I've done some soldering in my past but no welding. Also, could someone point me in the right direction to order the elements?

Thanks!!

junkyard dawg · Post by **junkyard dawg** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:03 pm

You can put any number of elements through a small hole on the side of the keg. One day I want to build an electric still. It requires a bit of investment in control parts tho...

Propane works great for a keg boiler and is relatively cheap, simple and is just as safe so long as you are careful and pay close attention to what you are doing.

Bujapat · Post by **Bujapat** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:47 pm

I also think propane is the easiest way to go...

Otherway, why don't you want to cut the top of boiler? Is it a design problem or do you think it's difficult?

A large hole on top of boiler makes it easy to clean...
Also easy to fit a column by this way.

OldStormy · Post by **OldStormy** » Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:26 pm

Hi All,
I had my metal basher weld in a flat s/s plate approx 8" x 3" near the bottom of my keg into which two 1" holes are drilled to take my two elements. The flat plate allows me to keep both elements as low as possible without touching. Photos soon.
Cheers,
OldStormy

rodman99 · Post by **rodman99** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 7:33 am

I have the tools to cut the keg but none for welding/brazing the new top. Some of the stainless flanges, ferrules, etc. seem a little pricey as well.

Swag · Post by **Swag** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 8:17 am

rodman99 wrote:I have the tools to cut the keg but none for welding/brazing the new top. Some of the stainless flanges, ferrules, etc. seem a little pricey as well.

The top can easily be made from a stainless steel bowl inverted and bolted to the keg. Cut a hole in the bottom of the bowl and solder or bolt your stack to it. It's been done many times here and I'm sure you could get lots of help for every step of the way.
I made a flange out of some copper flat stock that I found at the scrap yard. I soldered it to my stack and bolted it through the top of my boiler.
You could do something similar even if you cut up a piece of 2" pipe and hammered it flat. The point is that there are safe and fairly inexpensive ways to attach your still to your boiler.
Top:

Bottom:

Bujapat · Post by **Bujapat** » Thu Mar 30, 2006 9:08 am

I used nearly the same way : a bowl and a flange

How do you intend to make a still without weldin' or brasin'?