New Keg Obtained,

[zwagerman9]

Ok I got a sanke keg from kegking for $55, have dissasembled the top housing so its usable,(was a pain drilled into the ring so i could pull it out).
Any use for the pole down the middle?
Learning curve, degas on its side. Haha, the shirt i was wearing smells like a horrible pub.
And thoughts for drilling the element housing hole, was going to pre-drill and drill up with a step up bit but have to get one and the cheapest so far looks ebay http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3pcs-HSS-Ste ... 3482wt_752
along them lines.
or prefer hole saws?
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/32mm-Hole-Sa ... 2183wt_997
Would that seem appropriate?
Ive also thought about going to to any local steel workshop etc and see if i can give them a bit of cash to drill the hole. 32mm hole.
Cheers

Rae

[Kimbo]

Any use for the pole down the middle?


Rae

Hi Rae, i saw a good looking parrot in a thread somewhere made from those bits ;-)

[R-sole]

32mm hole sounds like you are going to use on of these.

may want thinking about...

http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/i ... =0&start=0

12 pages of negative comments.

[cdbrown]

I used a hole saw for drilling out the keg. Just need to make sure you regularly spray the bit and cutting surface with something like wd-40 to keep things lubricated and cool. Once the SS heats up it is hard to cut. Don't push too hard or the hole saw will just bite into the softened steel and get stuck, nice constant pressure and it won't take long to get through. I got the hole saws in a pack from bunnings.

[law-of-ohms]

+1 for the 32mm hole saw.

Cuts like cheese for me.....

I then ARC weld (stainless rods) a 1" BSP Stainless fitting.

The ARC weld is not pretty but is functional.

[Kimbo]

+1 for the 32mm hole saw.

Cuts like cheese for me.....

I then ARC weld (stainless rods) a 1" BSP Stainless fitting.

The ARC weld is not pretty but is functional.

What sort of flux do you use for that?

[zwagerman9]

5Star - I take you advise highly and you already mentioned not to buy it, but I was there an figured $40, lets see how long it lasts haha. Ill post on here once I lay in my grave that I just dug about the element. :razz:
I may head down to bunnings now an see if they can have what i need to drill it then, will have a chat, would rather order a cheap holesaw to use once,

On a positive note, half of a still is complete.

Cheers

Rae

[zwagerman9]

Also any thoughts on how low to put the element? cheers

Rae

[cdbrown]

No flux - just stainless welding rods. Need to turn the arc welding machine right down as if the amps are high you'll just blow a hole in the keg (which I did a few times). preheating the rods helps alot, the low amps make it hard to get the arc running. Takes a fair bit of practice - but I managed to do it with very little previous experience so anyone can do it. If you have a mate with a tig/mig that knows what they are doing - I'd give it to them to do.

Element - put it as low as you can get it while making sure the wall of the keg is flat. So just above where it curves at the bottom.

[law-of-ohms]

+1 for what cdbrown said.... alll true

[zwagerman9]

Thanks CDBROWN,
With your hole saw did you get a steel cutting set? I looked but with patience it looks cheaper to order from china, just have to wait, but ill save maybe 50-60$.

Also,
Double distilled my first batch of TPW through the airstill.
TPW 13%abv,
First distillation diluted to 40%,
Second distillation ended me with say 600ml of hearts? being very rough on that guess.

I used 6 normal cups with about 300ml per cup,
First cup was 100ml foreshots as window cleaner,
1st cup back to my low wines,
2nd cup - used about 100ml in combo with my heads then rest into low wine batch,
3+4th cup smelt the cleanest and tastiest kept (make the presumption as hearts)
5th cup used 100 ml in combo with my hearts,
6th cup as low wines.
As a total I got 2litres diluted to 50ABV (I use whiskey profile kit and like to mix, and then final dilute to ensure 40+abv)

Does that sound right?

so from about 50litres of TPW i got 12litres of 40% low wines,
so in theory i should get about 6litres of decent spirit?
Its alot of effort with the airstill but in saying that it only cost me maybe $20 and a few hours of my time.

Yes im on the road to a Keg Pot Still.

Haha And also - :text-offtopic:

Cheers

Rae

[cdbrown]

It's hole saw set pretty much like this http://www.tradeessentials.com.au/goods.php?id=1983 I have used some of the other sizes for different projects. But yes it is expensive if you don't think you'll ever use it again.

[cereal_killer]

It's hole saw set pretty much like this http://www.tradeessentials.com.au/goods.php?id=1983 I have used some of the other sizes for different projects. But yes it is expensive if you don't think you'll ever use it again.

your link sends us to an intellectual property lawsuit page....

[zwagerman9]

As time is not of the essence in this scenario I have ordered.
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/32mm-Hole-Sa ... 2a1e7634e4

Will leave feedback on product if people require.

Will be a once off use.

[cdbrown]

Should do the job. The bit looks thicker than the one I've got and a lot less teeth.

[zwagerman9]

Haha yeah Im aware, i figured id see what comes in the mail, the drill bit still works out cheaper with that and buying a pilot drill at bunnings etc.

[kiwikeg]

i use hole saws a lot at work. reputable brands are Blu mol, Starret and Bahco, Blu mol last the longest. The chinese ones are a single use item.

[Linno]

i use hole saws a lot at work. reputable brands are Blu mol, Starret and Bahco, Blu mol last the longest. The chinese ones are a single use item.

yep to that - i watched a bloke go through 2 cheap bits with little result trying this exact task. :angry-banghead:

[stilly_bugger]

You can get better tungsten carbide tipped 32mm metal hole saws on EBay for $10 delivered.

Bought a $30 buck TCT hole saw last week. Made two cuts with it and sheared the teeth off it. :angry-banghead: I kept it lubed with WD40 and kept the RPM under 300, but no love.

The problem comes right near the end of the cut. When a only a small section of your hole is fully cut the teeth catch on the remaining metal and shear off.

I think I'll just load up of $10 bits and be prepared for them to last 1-2 cuts.

[stilly_bugger]

i use hole saws a lot at work. reputable brands are Blu mol, Starret and Bahco, Blu mol last the longest. The chinese ones are a single use item.

Are these the Blu Mol bits that you use?

http://www.blumol.com/images/products/b ... tct-hs.jpg

http://www.blumol.com/bm-stungstenct-hs.html

Where can you buy them in Aus? And do you know how much they are?