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The Perfect Keg Boiler

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  • @Talever, adjustable feet are a nice touch to level the column.

  • edited July 2013

    Hi Lloyd. Good Point. I will incorporate this type of foot in the next batch and may retro fit the ones I have, I weld a Nut inside the leg to conceal the assembly. The next set of feet will have a nut at the base to make adjustment easier. I did consider adjustable feet when I was making these but the Tripod set up is very stable but your right about being able to plumb the column which would make a big difference on the flow of the spirits back down the column . Thanks

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  • WOW You guys don't play do you ! That's some serious Stainless porn!

  • edited August 2013

    Made my boiler a new coat out of reflectix yesterday.

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  • Nice and neat,damn sweet attention paid luna

    It is what you make it!

  • edited August 2013

    Thanks, BS. It was actually a very easy material to work with, quite forgiving really. I have enough leftover to make winter coats for my fermenters.

  • Nice job !! Curious to hear what will be the difference in power input.

    M.

  • Thanks, Moscca. I am curious as well, the main reason I did it is because my plates would dump when the air conditioning kicked on with my shop fans on high. I have been making due with wrapping a few moving blankets around the boiler, hopefully this works better.

  • Should really help. Usge has been having dumping/surging issues running out side with gas. This material should at the very least protect against a breeze. Nice neat job

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  • Your keg boiler has everything. A nice top port connection for the column, element ports, a refill and drain, adjustable levelling feet, 2 liquid level sight glasses and a shiny new sports jacket.
    Add a bowtie and its ready for the big dance. :-bd

  • edited August 2013

    Here is the boiler I built for Sugardaddy. Flipped bottom ring cut off. 4" Ferrule and 2" Ferrule added on the now top. And a 2" Ferrule for the element. Bottom drain ala SD parts. Angle for legs with the cut off bottom ring as a base. Unfortunately my weld on the 4" leaked after he got it home. Luckily Bohunk took care of it for him.

    Wish mine was this nice.

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  • edited August 2013

    Is the reflectix the same thing that the heating and air people use the wrap (insulate) air conditioning ducts with? I assume that you are using duct tape to seal it with? I must say it has got to help and it really looks great. Did you put it on the bottom of the keg also? I wonder what temp that stuff melts at? I would say in the summer it would have to make your job lots easier and nicer to stay away from the heat.

  • @applepie, not duct tape it's a metal foil tape. Reflectix has their own and it's usually sold along side their thermal wrap. I don't think it will melt at the temps we run at, others have done the same thing and I haven't heard of any meltdowns. I did insulate the bottom as well just cause I had extra material and time.

  • @Lloyd said: Your keg boiler has everything. A nice top port connection for the column, element ports, a refill and drain, adjustable levelling feet, 2 liquid level sight glasses and a shiny new sports jacket.
    Add a bowtie and its ready for the big dance. :-bd

    I love my little boiler, but he wouldn't make a good dance partner unless I added wheels and a sense of rhythm. All he can do right now is just sit there and look cool. =))

    Your perfect keg design has served me well so far.

  • edited August 2013

    You are telling me everything I want to here except where did you get the reflectix ? Is that the same thing as lowes or home depot? It is absolutely wonderful

  • edited August 2013

    I picked it up at lowes. I think it was, 48" x 25' roll for 32 bucks and I ended up with plenty extra.

    If you're interested in the process here it is:

    I took the roll measured out 18" taped it up so it wouldn't unroll on me then cut it with a hack saw turning the roll as I cut it. Once done I set that aside.

    For the top, I cut 2 - 19" square pieces took my straight edge and went from corner to corner and made a small "X" to mark the center. I took a compass and marked a circle the size of the inner diameter of my ferrule and cut it out with a sharp utility knife.

    To get it over the ferrule it's kind of like putting a tire on a rim, start on one side and roll and stretch it over the ferrule. It's forgiving material and it will stretch making a nice fit. Once i had it over the ferrule, I took a spare 2" ferrule and marked the inner diameter of the fill port. Then took it off and cut that hole, put it back on and did the same thing for the view port. then I used that piece as a template for the second top piece but offset the two pieces. Once all that was over I put them back on and taped them down making sure to pull them tight.

    For the side I took the roll previously cut, taped down the leading edge and rolled it onto the keg. I marked and cut the 2" ferrules like I did with the top but I did it in place. Wrapped it around the keg twice and taped the seem the top and bottom. For the bottom, I did the same as the top but not as pretty. ;)

  • @Prairiepiss

    I love the finish on the kegs after you have cut the rim off.

    How do you do it cut it and what do you use to polish it with?

  • @LunaBrille said: I love my little boiler, but he wouldn't make a good dance partner unless I added wheels and a sense of rhythm. All he can do right now is just sit there and look cool.

    Donno, looks like he could do the R2D2.

  • edited August 2013

    ?

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  • @Law_Of_Ohms I used a cutoff wheel on a 4.5" grinder. Just followed the weld around. Then ground the remaining welds off. I used a 4.5" grinder with 3 different grit gator pads and a polishing pad. With polishing compound. There are a ton of tutorials online. Just Google keg polishing. It is a pain. I wanted to do my brew kegs. But after that one. It ain't gona happen.

    Love the R2D2.

  • LunaBrille You are gonna have to have 1 fine column to go on top of that tank cause that is one fine looking tank. I am sold on the reflectix. You gotta post your results when you fire that bad boy up. Reflectix is in my future for sure.

  • @Prairiepiss said: Law_Of_Ohms I used a cutoff wheel on a 4.5" grinder. Just followed the weld around. Then ground the remaining welds off. I used a 4.5" grinder with 3 different grit gator pads and a polishing pad. With polishing compound. There are a ton of tutorials online. Just Google keg polishing. It is a pain. I wanted to do my brew kegs. But after that one. It ain't gona happen.

    I have only polished a few and its not something I would like to do often. I must say though that that is a good idea to re-use the ring like that.

  • edited August 2013

    Here is R2D2 with his hybrid full dash2 column attached! I love upgrades ;)

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  • Looks great had to search for the bubble tee with the jacket...

  • edited August 2013

    Thanks FS. I'm going to make up the rest after I call @smaug. My CRS acted up again and I forgot to order the plates... Downcomers, check. Bubble caps, check. Plates? Ummmm.... :)]

  • 5 more sight glass kits?

  • No, just four. One is taken off in the picture so I could play with the Reflectix jacket.

  • Let me guess her name. Sweet and sexy! The keg is sweet and the column is sexy. I would seriously like to date her!

  • Great looking rig LB. Really like the boiler.

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