Keg external heat source

[cat herder]

I'm nearly finished with building a 6 foot boka on a 15 gal keg. The last step is to find a suitable way to heat the boiler. My original plan had been to use a hot plate, but now I'm reading that those don't work well with kegs. Due to my current living situation propane isn't a viable option. Wood would be ideal, but apparently wood heat doesn't work well with reflux. I known that many people use water heater elements quite successfully and that is probably my best option. That said i would prefer not to go that route because I would like to, in the future, build a second set up so that I can use my keg on a fire to make whiskey the old fashioned way. I'm hoping to find a way to heat my keg externally with electricity or possibly wood. Is this pie in the sky? I've been looking into it all evening and can't find an answer.

[jb-texshine]

I'm nearly finished with building a 6 foot boka on a 15 gal keg. The last step is to find a suitable way to heat the boiler. My original plan had been to use a hot plate, but now I'm reading that those don't work well with kegs. Due to my current living situation propane isn't a viable option. Wood would be ideal, but apparently wood heat doesn't work well with reflux. I known that many people use water heater elements quite successfully and that is probably my best option. That said i would prefer not to go that route because I would like to, in the future, build a second set up so that I can use my keg on a fire to make whiskey the old fashioned way. I'm hoping to find a way to heat my keg externally with electricity or possibly wood. Is this pie in the sky? I've been looking into it all evening and can't find an answer.

Been thinking about building one myself.

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[raketemensch]

There's no reason you couldn't unscrew the heating element from your keg, plug the hole (easy with a ferrule), and heat it over a flame...

[cat herder]

There's no reason you couldn't unscrew the heating element from your keg, plug the hole (easy with a ferrule), and heat it over a flame...

Do you mean plug it with a nut, bolt, and a couple of washers? Won't it leak still? I can't imagine a rubber gasket holding up to flame.

[rad14701]

There's no reason you couldn't unscrew the heating element from your keg, plug the hole (easy with a ferrule), and heat it over a flame...

Do you mean plug it with a nut, bolt, and a couple of washers? Won't it leak still? I can't imagine a rubber gasket holding up to flame.

No rubber or synthetics...!!! Refer to Rule #8 of The Rules We Live By... Considering the threaded element port, use a copper or stainless steel threaded plug, wrapped with PTFE tape if needed...

[cat herder]

Thanks Rad that makes a lot more sense.