Joe's dumb question for the day.

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nutmg1
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Joe's dumb question for the day.

Post by nutmg1 »

How do I tell if my keg is Aluminum or Stainless Steal?

I cut a hole in it and it sure seems like Aluminum. I havn't seen this discussed here.

I was reading some other thread that said you shouldn't use the Aluminum for your boiler?

Any ideas?
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Uncle Jesse
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well

Post by Uncle Jesse »

magnet?
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As-Ol-Joe
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Post by As-Ol-Joe »

I'm not sure what grade of stainless a keg is made from. If the grade is high enough, a magnet won't stick to it. I would think there would some type of markings on it.
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trimpy
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Post by trimpy »

The density of SS vs Aluminum is at least 3 time. According to micromatic, a full 15.5 gal keg weighs 161lbs and that same volume of h20 is around 129lbs, so and empty SS keg should weigh in the area of 30-35lbs, whereas aluminum should be significantly less than that.
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Husker
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Post by Husker »

tough to get an accurate test that way trimpy. Just too many variables.

Kegs weigh from 35 to 45 lb empty. They have different skirt patterns, and different thinknesses.

AL kegs are much thicker than SS kegs. Who knows if there is a "standard" thinkness or not.

One thing to look for, is that a SS keg is tough to scratch with a knife. An AL keg is very easy to scratch with a knife, and actually, you can gouge it and carve out a chip pretty easily.

You might simply take the keg to a scrap metal dealer. They will be able to tell you in a second, if it is AL or SS.

H.
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Jetzon
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Post by Jetzon »

Your right about that Husker. Scrap yard will know in about 2 seconds.
I took 2 Kegs along with an old 13' Satellite dish "Solid aluminum dish"
and some other stuff to scrap for $. He said Kegs were SS with just a simple glance at'm..
I wish Now I would have kept them :roll: Thats before I even thought about this Hobby.
I'm sure you could call a scrap yard and they can tell ya how to check N see.
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HookLine
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Post by HookLine »

This question of how to tell aluminium from stainless has been asked many times before on this forum.

If you do a search for "aluminium AND stainless", you will find answers.

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theholymackerel
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Post by theholymackerel »

I think the easiest way to tell is to scratch the keg.

Stainless will be difficult to scratch... aluminum will be easy to scratch, even deeply.
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punkin
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Re: Joe's dumb question for the day.

Post by punkin »

nutmg1 wrote:How do I tell if my keg is Aluminum or Stainless Steal?

I cut a hole in it and it sure seems like Aluminum.

Any ideas?

If it was easy to cut the hole in it, it was Aluminium. :wink:

If you had to use cutting fluid, press down hard on the hole saw, watch the bit smoke and turn purple, stop for a break, add more cutting fluid and then burn yourself getting the bit back outa the drill, it was stainless :lol: :lol:
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Jetzon
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Post by Jetzon »

:lol: LMAO @ Punkin!
Smoked a few bits have we Punkin... Ive done the same

"then burn yourself getting the bit back outa the drill" :?
I know that Feeling :roll:
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big worm
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Post by big worm »

omg punkin i do need to get you "over here and do some fishen" you would be a trip to haing out with...lmao i think it took like 3 saw blades and a 1/2 pint of etho to cut one keg here. on the last thread asking about this i really liked the ping or pong sound test method. there are red necks all over the planet..not just here :wink:
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Old_Blue
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Post by Old_Blue »

If you get it done in less that a six pack its aluminum :D
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CAMEL_Joe
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Post by CAMEL_Joe »

not sure how to tell the difference between alumminimun
and stainless but when cutting or drilling stainless steel
try dumping some coffee creamer on the blade or bit it
acts like a lubricant you will be amazed with the resaults.
there free anywhere they sell coffee
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Old_Blue
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Post by Old_Blue »

Never heared of coffee creamer. That's what I love about this site. Bet I will try it next time :wink:

I just usually take out the ol barlow and scrape across it and see what kind of mark it makes. The barlow good about finding bondo too. It will leave a dent in a soft spot.
Fire is the devil’s only friend - Don McLean
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Dnderhead
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Post by Dnderhead »

come on guys I can tell as soon as I touch it and ss I can cut, drill
worked with a lot of it it is tuf not hard
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punkin
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Post by punkin »

Dnderhead wrote:come on guys I can tell as soon as I touch it and ss I can cut, drill
worked with a lot of it it is tuf not hard
Hear that, as soon as he touches it.

Cause stainless sits colder than alloy 8)

Like marble sits colder than granite :lol:
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junkyard dawg
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Post by junkyard dawg »

I'm with dnderhead. I can tell the difference by looking and certainly by touching it.

I don't really have a good answer to the question tho... you just know...

You could always do a spark test. Touch it with a grinder and observe the spark. Different metals throw different sparks. Al hardly makes a spark
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