Taps: To Weld Or Not To Weld

[MHD]

I stumbled across Goat brewey site the other day where he quite accurately described the process of putting a tap into a HLT and Kettle without welding (including the ingenious use of a silicone baking tray for gaskets)

Who has fitted a tap to a Keg or stockpot without welding? I have a shiny and brilliant 36L stainless stockpot (1/2 price bargain at $100 instead of $200) I am using as a kettle and have since scored a CFC so having a tap will make chilling a lot easier!

Does the curvature of the surface present much of a problem? and if the stainless is thin can I use a hole saw?

 

[lou]

Hi MHD

No the curvature doesn't matter. I have attched taps to thick walled kegs and a small SS 12 L pot with no troubles. I use rubber o-rings and lots of plumbers tape round threads.

Re the thin pot. I tried drilling a thin walled pot with a hole saw and it wouldn't 'bite' the metal and i ended up blunting the hole saw. I ended up drilling a ordinary hole with a small drill bit and grindind the rest with a cheap little grind stone. Very easy to do.

A good way of attaching the tap once hole is drilled is to get a compression fitting with male thread at the other end and just bolt them together through the wall of the pot. If the pot is thin like mine is, the clamping action flattens the pot in that spot anyway and curavture is no longer a problem. You doo need to add a few washers onto the male thread though as most male thread is tapered. Hard to explain but if you try screwing the tap on the tapered thread it just stops before you want it too and seals.

With this method you only need the tap -the comp fitting - 2 or three metal washers plumbers tape and an o ring. and you already have the pick tube attachment ready to go.

lou

 

[Jazzafish]

With my keg to kettle conversion it was simply cut a hole with a 20 mill hole saw. I just drilled straight in no lube, no worries. I put some plumbers tape on the taps thread and screwed it in. I also used kinda thick rubber washers on each side of the hole. From there I screwed it tight to form a seal with nuts/bolts. No leaks yet.

I'd also like to point out that I am not a real mechanical type of guy. It was my first time using the mentioned tools, and it worked pretty simply. What I'm getting at is if I can do it, anyone can.

 

[BoilerBoy]

I have a 70L SS kettle the fittings are not welded.
Initially with the help of DonMac we tried fibre washes but it leaked along the thread.

I went to clark Rubber and bought for $2 high temp food grade rubber and made two tight fitting washes and it has never leaked.

It probably doesn't matter which way you go, though from a couple of people I have read who have gone the welded route they wouldn't bother again.
Unless you can do it yourself or you know someone who can weld SS which is difficult weldless is the way to go IMO.

Cheers,

BB