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I have browsed through countless post of ppl using kegs to make stills...Is there any reason I have to put a bowl on top of my keg or could I just remove the valve where the pump would be and bolt my column directly to the hole?Thx.

http://www.brewhaus.com/Tri_Clamp_to_NP ... 004200.htm

You can use this with the tri clamp they sell right under it

Ive ordered from them before fast shipping

hope tis helps

Thx for the link..I understand there are adaptors to hook the head right to the existing hole just wondered if there is any reason other than for cleaning purposes to use the bowl method rather than hooking right to the top of the keg.

TryMe wrote:Thx for the link..I understand there are adaptors to hook the head right to the existing hole just wondered if there is any reason other than for cleaning purposes to use the bowl method rather than hooking right to the top of the keg.

Sure can I just soldered a short column to the fitting that held in keg by retaining ring after taking it out and removing tube and ball seal assembly.Just needs a little flour paste to seal when doing a run.

One of the main reasons why you see people cutting a larger hole in the top of their keg and using a bowl with the column mounted on it is for the purpose of post-run cleaning... You can't get inside the keg to do any scrubbing if all you have is the valve hole to go through... It boils down to personal preference...

rad14701 wrote:One of the main reasons why you see people cutting a larger hole in the top of their keg and using a bowl with the column mounted on it is for the purpose of post-run cleaning... You can't get inside the keg to do any scrubbing if all you have is the valve hole to go through... It boils down to personal preference...

yup what he said....buddy of mine has been pissing with the bowl for like two weeks now its just not that hard ,but use a good mixer bowl with a good lip and sharp drill bits "thin s/s rips from the pressure of a ape with a dull bit.

rad14701 wrote:One of the main reasons why you see people cutting a larger hole in the top of their keg and using a bowl with the column mounted on it is for the purpose of post-run cleaning... You can't get inside the keg to do any scrubbing if all you have is the valve hole to go through... It boils down to personal preference...

And that depends on what you're going to do with it. If all you're doing is cleared sugar washes for neutral spirit, then you can easily get away with using the valve connector. But, say you're doing all grain mashes that have been fermented on the grain, or god forbid, you're distilling on the grain. You pretty much have to have easy access to the inside.

rad14701 wrote:One of the main reasons why you see people cutting a larger hole in the top of their keg and using a bowl with the column mounted on it is for the purpose of post-run cleaning... You can't get inside the keg to do any scrubbing if all you have is the valve hole to go through... It boils down to personal preference...

I made a rod with a rolled up piece of screen wire wider then still attached at center to end . with a drill to spin it it does quite well in cleaning my keg.Any thing thats ever wouldn't come off with that I just set keg on burner empty and let it burn to ash and then cleaned with screen on rod..Seldom need to do that leaving wash in still filled to top with added water a few days usually leaves still clean where just a rinse is needed.I have a few kegs that have been cut but I use them to do mash with.I keep hid my still parts when not in use and an uncut keg doesn't look like anything but a keg.With a board over it its a keg stand to set appliances on to work off of.

Running a pressure washer wand down in an un-cut keg is another option, if you have access to one... Both cut and un-cut kegs each have their pro's and con's, and it definitely depends on what you're going to dump in there as to which way to go...

I've been keeping a watchful eye out for one myself... My buddy might have an old one down in the basement of his bar that can get my hands on... If not then he might have an old pop canister... I'd welcome either one... He called and left a message the other day so this gives me more incentive to make a return call...

I use the tri clover type fitting on mine with no problems. Easy to take apart and stash the column. I've yet to have problems cleaning it. I usually just have to rinse it out real good with hot water. I've ran some all-grain washes through it and they didn't leave the slightest bit of residue on the bottom or sides. If it does get dirty, just use your brain and clean it like Tater does or one of many other ways that I can think of.

Hey a local old timer helped me out with the cleaning problem after watching me struggle for an hour or so, he left and came back with a 3' section of stainless chain, threw it into the keg with water put an old blanket down and had my 12 year old roll it all around for 3-5 min and low and behold when we flipped and drained it you can see a little bit I had missed. He said try and keep it stainless on stainless whether your using nuts and bolts or chain, hope this helps..

!

He even said you can use riverbed/landscape stones that fit through the hole pretty logical when ya think about it !!
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I've found caustic soda or an oxygen based cleaner (like Napisan) to work very effectively. A soak for a day or so and all the crud gets eaten away. I've been doing this to clean beer fermenters and kegs for a long time without any bother. Saves on elbow grease and in particular works against scratching and leaving homes for bacteria.

Cmonster wrote:I've found caustic soda or an oxygen based cleaner (like Napisan) to work very effectively. A soak for a day or so and all the crud gets eaten away. I've been doing this to clean beer fermenters and kegs for a long time without any bother. Saves on elbow grease and in particular works against scratching and leaving homes for bacteria.

That is how I do it. Though the 3 kegs I have done were all fairly clean on the inside to start with.