Sankey Kegs

[Dave Savoie]

I just spoke with Best Metals Fredericton about Sankey Kegs and they do have a fair amount of them and he will be getting back to me they usually charge $1.50 per Lbs
an empty keg weighs 29.7 pounds Im going to see if they can cut the top out of them prior to purchase !!!

29.7 pounds x 1.5 = $45

[Kyle]

Dave you are amazing, I just spent $75 on one.

[Jmac00]

I just spent $75 on one.

there's a sucker born everyday    

jk

[brew]

Dave that is a great price (especially for Best Metals - they are often quite expensive when selling scrap that has a purpose) - I called them a few months ago and they didn't have any... they did have some of the 30L rounded type with the ferrule on top and sides though... You may want to ensure you have a look at the keg before they cut it to make sure its the kind of keg you're after - a lot of them don't say their capacity right on them....

[Kyle]

Well, the one I got is in good shape and waaaay cheaper than a SS pot, so I'm content. I will, however, keep the Best Metals ones in mind for furure expansion.

[Dean]

What are you doing with these Kyle? Are you just cutting the whole top off and turning it into a big pot that gets used on a propane burner?

[Kyle]

Well, brew is doing as you discuss, with a propane setup. I will be going electric, using a 220v 30a dryer circuit to power a hot water heater element for boiling.

Winter brewing outside = not for me.

[Jmac00]

i've seen pics of guys that cut the bottom of the keg off, then use the sanke opening to fit a tri-clover clamp on and use it to gravity drain the kettle. then you wouldn't need a pump i guess? but you'd have to build a stand to hold the keg.

[Gil Breau]

Winter brewing outside = not for me.

Same. Stovetops are annoying but less so than the cold.

I'm actually looking into modifying my summer plan (which has been still progressing, coming slowly but progressing) of a three tier system and making it with a gas/propane stovetop burners....

[Dave Savoie]

The stovetop burners dont have enough BTU's im almost 100%

[Gil Breau]

No less than a heating element on a stove i would figure...and more even heat distribution.

Can't see why not. The HUGE BTU burners are unsafe for inside so I gotta figure something out.

[Dave Savoie]

Electric kettle elements are about 25-30$ use your dryer outlet when you wanna brew !!!

[brew]

For sure electric is nice inside - Home depot has 4500 watt 240v elements for like < $30 - they are low density as well which helps a _lot_ to prevent burning. Two of them comes in at around 40 amps, 9000 watts - not bad really. You can get 1/2 couplings (1" 304 stainless) from fastenal for like around $5 each. Weld or hard solder them in and you got a nice screw in port for the element.

For propane, the stove tops are like 4000 - 8000 BTU - just won't cut if for even a 5 gallon brew. I have a 65000 btu turkey fryer which does work, but not as well as the 100000+ burners you can get...

Jmac that's a cool idea - turn the keg upside down - I wonder if there's like a special ferrule type fitting you can get to drain with, or if a person would need to make something? I've seen bottom drains made by welding a regular copper elbow to a hole in the bottom of the keg - then copper out through the handle of the lip to a ball valve... I suppose these both make using propane more tricky though? Or maybe not, perhaps propane heating a bottom drain would not be a problem? Be great for electric only use though...

[Dean]

Well, brew is doing as you discuss, with a propane setup. I will be going electric, using a 220v 30a dryer circuit to power a hot water heater element for boiling.

Winter brewing outside = not for me.

aah, I see.

My garage is heated, you apartment dwellers are welcome to spend an afternoon/evening brewing in it if the need ever arises. just throwing that out there

same goes for storage of your bulky items

[Kyle]

thanks Dean, I think that offer will make for some happy winter brewers.