And so it begins

[Zombie Killer]

Bought this today for $40. Its around 80 quarts or so. 19.5" deep 19.5" wide. Stainless stock pot. Not sure if im going to try too build it into a boiler or jut use it to make mash in. I have been reading like crazy and don't plan on rushing into any cutting/building until i get just about all i need to make a good still in order but it's a start.

should I just use some vinegar/ baking soda and elbow grease to clean this and would using some SS scrub pads on the inside be a bad idea ? thanks.

[corene1]

Bought this today for $40. Its around 80 quarts or so. 19.5" deep 19.5" wide. Stainless stock pot. Not sure if im going to try too build it into a boiler or jut use it to make mash in. I have been reading like crazy and don't plan on rushing into any cutting/building until i get just about all i need to make a good still in order but it's a start.

100_0482.JPG

should I just use some vinegar/ baking soda and elbow grease to clean this and would using some SS scrub pads on the inside be a bad idea ? thanks.

I think I would save that for cooking mashes . $40 dollars for a 80 quart stainless stock pot is a great find. My local restaurant supply wants closer to $200 for a pot like that. I would look for a stainless beer keg to make a still from. Lots of information here on making a keg still simple and inexpensively.

[S-Cackalacky]

As a BOP for mash cooking, it's probably a little big for a home cooking stove, but I bet it would work really well using the steam injection method. It would probably work well for a still, but if you cut on it, it probably won't work well for anything else. It's a damn good find for $40.

[Zombie Killer]

Yeah its a no go for the stove top thats for sure. still keeping my eye out for a nice used keg and will continue to do some research in the meantime. If i do decide to make it into a boiler. i would have to modify the lid most likely with a SS mixing bowl and have been tossing around a few ideas from some of the other builds i have seen here and coming up with a few of my own.

[ben stiller]

with a pot that big you could get away with using the lid as is but the bowl is a nice touch. Nice find

[Zombie Killer]

Looking at some stainless steel beer kegs 50L for $15 bucks a piece. is that a good deal ? thinking about buying at least 2 of them.
They say they can get them all the time because they dont get credit back on them like the other brands ? they are Moosehead Kegs. Anyone know if these are worth it to modify ?

[rager]

Looking at some stainless steel beer kegs 50L for $15 bucks a piece. is that a good deal ? thinking about buying at least 2 of them.
They say they can get them all the time because they dont get credit back on them like the other brands ? they are Moosehead Kegs. Anyone know if these are worth it to modify ?

the board has a big thing on using "stolen kegs" . not saying what you are looking at are but members push to obtain legal kegs or not mention it on the forum. yes 15 bucks each is a great price. id buy 2 or 3 at that price.

the keg thing is a hot topic.

do they have a 2 inch opening at the top?

cheers

rr

[Zombie Killer]

I have purchased 5-50L Kegs. 3 are FRANKE 1 is a Spartanburg the last one has a Red plastic cap which i have removed and now has no handles. it also seems to have a weird spacer between the KEG head and body ? that was underneath the plastic cover.
They all have a 2" opening.

[Zombie Killer]

Okay little update purchased four SS Kegs and this SS keg (number five ) I need to finish stripping the rubber cap off of the top.

not sure what im going to do with it though ? Some weirdness going on with the cap. Some kind of spacer to hold the rubber top on maybe ?

Might cut the top right off or use as a Thump Keg, tap some in and out holes maybe. Not sure right now because I would like to stick to all 2" Tri-Clamp connections.

[firewater69]

Looks like it's prolly just an added piece to give a place for the rubber to bond to.

[Zombie Killer]

Looks like it's prolly just an added piece to give a place for the rubber to bond to.

That's what i figured as the rubber continues under it. Would like to be able to remove it. Once I get the rest of the rubber off i can determine how structural it is.

[thatguy1313]

Have fun. That rubber is a bitch to get off. Cut some off a keg before. Had to use the angle grinder to finish getting the crap off.

[rager]

look around in the builds here. guys are plumbing the in and out for the thumper with only using the 2 inch opening the keg has

[Zombie Killer]

Have fun. That rubber is a bitch to get off. Cut some off a keg before. Had to use the angle grinder to finish getting the crap off.

This one doesn't seem too bad. If i cut around that center plate looks like it will pop right off. I hope. Cutting that wedge out was a pain, thought yeah i'll just use the drywall saw who needs to break out the power tools...

[Zombie Killer]

Any thoughts or anyone ever use a gear puller to depressurize Kegs ? as apposed to the screwdriver/pry-bar method. ( My knuckles have bad luck in those type of situations )

[rad14701]

Any thoughts or anyone ever use a gear puller to depressurize Kegs ? as apposed to the screwdriver/pry-bar method. ( My knuckles have bad luck in those type of situations )

You could try it if you have a proper fitting puller...

[Zombie Killer]

I don't. And this weekend i plan on depressurizing all the kegs

[Zombie Killer]

Well got the top off. Used a Dremel 4000 with drywall cutting bit a screwdriver and a buck knife. Oh and some safety glasses of course
looks like this.

It was a little beat up under the cap. Guess no one was every really going to see it.

Think this one is going to become a Keggle. Anyone got a better idea ? Looks like a giant waste of time trying to cut off that spacer and get rid of the rest of the red rubber cap under it.

[Zombie Killer]

Going to hopefully depressurize the other kegs and remove the valves tonight.

[Zombie Killer]

4 beers done and one keg 4 more to go

[Zombie Killer]

Just a thought but has anyone ever had a problem with getting a good seal using Tri-Clover fittings on a flange like this one, with the notches in it were the valve comes out ? here is a pic.

[Zombie Killer]

Not were still will be setup but gives me a idea of the space it will take up.

[Zombie Killer]

I am thinking about cutting the top off this keg.

then getting the flange from it welded onto a SS mixing bowl or attaching another way, then attaching that to the top of the Stockpot lid. This way all my pot/kegs will be interchangeable with Tri-Clover fittings. There might be a better use for it though.
No hurry.

[thecroweater]

yes you could do that but it might be easier to just buy a ferule

[youngonce]

READ MORE:

I cut the top off my keg and used a copper bowl with a pressure fitting to hold it down..

found a pic;
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 88&t=52127

I use springs and a bar to hold it down - will have to get a pic

[still_stirrin]

Zombie,
As you probably know, the 2" Sanke outlet fits to a 2" Triclover very well. And you don't have to worry about sealing a bowl on top because a teflon TC gasket (with the seal ring bump sanded off on one side) fits up well with a 2" TC ferrule and seals most excellent.

You can create whatever and however you want, but the general design consensus is that the simplicity of the Sanke for use as a boiler is a perfect match. If you're planning a larger flute, well you're already planning sanitary welds. So have at it.

Personally, I'd use the SS pots for mashing igrains and set up your boiler to distill in.
ss

[Zombie Killer]

I have plans to make the stock pot dual purpose. The keg that i was going to cut the top of i really don't care about so thought it would make good Keggle and for donor parts. The stock pot is around 80 quarts which is about 24 us gallons ( i have been trying to get my head around Imperial and US measurements and conversions my 50L kegs are 13.2 US gallons or 10.9 imp ) so maybe the stock pot is actually 27 US gallons. have to order up some Tri-clover's and get my hands on some 2" copper yet to make a Boiler and a Thumper out of 2 kegs. but it would be nice to also have the option of a larger capacity boiler down the road. Thanks for the reply's

[Zombie Killer]

READ MORE:

I cut the top off my keg and used a copper bowl with a pressure fitting to hold it down..

found a pic;
http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... 88&t=52127

I use springs and a bar to hold it down - will have to get a pic

Hmm its close to my original idea. Cut hole in stock pot lid attach SS mixing bowl, then attach 2" Ferrel to the bowl. then Everlasting gasket and clamps to hold the lid to the pot. but just now I got the idea if I'm going to cut the top off the keg why not like this

Cut along red line use the whole top off this keg and attach it to the stock pot lid with some soldering/brazing or find a welder that will work for beer. Shouldn't be hard with the company i keep
thanks for the reply.

[thecroweater]

why on gods green would you do that if you want it as a boiler do nothing, maybe add a fill port. If its for a Mash tun then there is nothing to attach and cut it where you like (higher is better) maybe you could fashion the off cut as a lid

[Zombie Killer]

why on gods green would you do that if you want it as a boiler do nothing, maybe add a fill port. If its for a Mash tun then there is nothing to attach and cut it where you like (higher is better) maybe you could fashion the off cut as a lid

you may have read it wrong the keg i would be cutting up i could care less about I have 4 other kegs that are much better. I have a ss stock pot and 5 ss kegs to work with. if i could attach a 2" ferrel to the top of the stock pot lid i would have the option of using a large and small boiler while still using the same thump and worm.