Keg boilers

Kyle · June 13, 2011, 05:28:42 PM

Another option for affixing drains and heating element ports is to use the weldless fittings. I have one now on my 7.5g kettle (future use as Hot Liquor Tank) and it works really well.

the weldless bulkheads from hopdawg are quite good.

brew · June 13, 2011, 06:31:42 PM

Yes of course - duh - for some reason I always jump to the welding / braizing option! The weldless would be much easier eh...

Kyle · June 15, 2011, 11:59:25 AM

Well, my keg is cleaned up on the outside, I opened up the Sanke fitting (thanks youtube) and then filled with a Starsan bath to make the smell of old beer ickiness go away. I will be using this one as a kettle, but I can definitely see the appeal of using them as fermenters.

Brian_S · July 19, 2011, 10:13:18 PM

So any news on the keg conversion. I'm looking at picking up a couple of 15 Gal Sankes for boil and mash.

Did someone mention Best Metals having kegs?

B

Kyle · July 20, 2011, 09:28:45 AM

Best Metals, give them a call, but last time they only had one keg and it wasn't a standard size.

brew · July 20, 2011, 09:36:07 AM

Yeah Best Metals had (or had?) some of the smaller version, but they also have sanke connections in the side as well as the bottom. You could also try the other salvage yards around town, they do get them periodically. Jmac00 I think may see them at yards outside of town periodically as well so you could ask him if he's seen any recently. Otherwise there is a fellow on the Hanwell that has a bunch for $75 a piece. They are 50L kegs, both Kyle and I have picked up one from him... let me know if you want his number...

Dave Savoie · July 20, 2011, 09:45:55 AM

I actually got a call from best metals I think they now have some reg sanke's with no thing in the side

Kyle · July 20, 2011, 09:47:05 AM

the guy with the kegs for $75 has a bunch that have more than a little beer left in them = heavy. Call to see if he has empties, and if not plan to bring something with a Sanke fitting on it to pump out the spoiled beer, offering him a lower amount of cash, of course. He also has at least one 5gal keg with a sanke fitting for $40.

Dean · July 20, 2011, 11:21:02 AM

$75 is highway robbery for a couple pounds of scrap stainless, methinks they've caught on to the demand we've created. (ie: they now know who wants kegs, and why)

brew · July 20, 2011, 11:26:50 AM

Yes, and as well, NBLC (and NB bars, etc...) are not supposed to sell / give kegs away - I don't know why...

Dean · July 20, 2011, 11:41:23 AM

it's because although a deposit has been paid, they are the property of the brewery. Similar to milk crates ...have you tried to get someone to give you a couple lately? they don't even stack them outside the back door anymore ....

Kyle · July 20, 2011, 01:27:56 PM

A sanke 15.5 gal keg is 29pounds of stainless, but there may be better deals out there

Dean · July 20, 2011, 02:17:11 PM

yeah, considering they're in the scrap metal business and not the keg business, and $2400/metric tonne is the most scrap stainless has ever gone for, $75 for 13Kg of scrap stainless is one hell of a profit margin.

I stand by my original thought ....they see us coming. Not much we can do about it though ...unless we can find out who they're buying from for pennies on the dollar and offer them fair value.

Richard · July 20, 2011, 02:34:05 PM

Quote from: "Dean"Similar to milk crates ...have you tried to get someone to give you a couple lately? they don't even stack them outside the back door anymore ....

I'm just paying it forward - JMac00 gave them to me, I gave them to you...

Also I suspect the pennies-on-the-dollar thing is likely to be because the people turning up are different each time. I could be wrong.

Dean · July 20, 2011, 03:11:13 PM

yeah I suspect you're right. We need to find out who has a bunch of kegs sitting around getting in the way