A hole lotta problem

[damoninja]

If weldless and the pot is thick enough, you may want to tap the thread*, which requires more tools but will be super easy. Long before I knew anything about anything, I just drilled 1/2mm smaller than my valve and wound the tap in with elbow grease.

*If it's only a 2mm wall thickness, there's not much point threading and locknuts and silicon washers will do everything you need them to. Even 4mm, you could get away with it as I have done - just don't drill your hole oversize.

My old pot was about 2mm thick, what I did was drill the hole just a little bit too small and turned the thread to it, stainless winning over aluminium the thread of the nipple cut a nice thread and it actually sealed without any o rings, though I put o rings on it anyway.

 

[droid]

In your case with alu you might not need to worry about this it might be relevant in the future, or help someone else.

I did two holes the other day in SS and used a hole saw which has a pilot drill in it. I used some silicone like roof and gutter sealant and made a big circle around where I was to drill. Then I poured my lube in and the silicone ring held it there in a nice pool while the hole was cut. By the time the hole is drilled you can wipe it off with no probs.

Have a bit of a think about the depth of your tap, as in how high up the side of the pot you go and will you have a pick-up tube and how much loss or wort will be left behind etc

good luck, welcome to the dark and slippery side

 

[scooterism]

Can I ask, how much are you paying for this pot + what's it capacity?

And how much is the tooling you are looking at buying?

 

[Feldon]

Just a thought re. the safety of the process of drilling a hole in a pot, regardless of whether its stainless or aluminium.

Before you start drilling, make sure the curvature of the pot is oriented east-west (ie, not with the curvature rolling towards your body) .

If the curvature is rolling toward you and the bit glances off while you are exerting strong downward pressure on the drill, you could suddenly find yourself drilling a hole in your groin.

And all the plumber's tape in the world might not be enough to stop the leakage.

 

[Colo]

Have a bit of a think about the depth of your tap, as in how high up the side of the pot you go and will you have a pick-up tube and how much loss or wort will be left behind etc

Was out at craftbrewer the other day buying the ball valve they also raised this point so I have a few peices to play with. Craftbrewer also sell the carbide stepped drill bits so I just purchased one, I think as a brewer I'm in for the long haul so I'm sure it will get used again.

 

[Mardoo]

Also, put the hole directly beneath one of the handles on your pot. That way, you'll never have to have the valve jabbing you in the nuts while you move a hot kettle. Make sense?

 

[damoninja]

Also, put the hole directly beneath one of the handles on your pot. That way, you'll never have to have the valve jabbing you in the nuts while you move a hot kettle. Make sense?

>Hot nut jab brewing co.