Cutting holes in your kettle?

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Permalink Reply by Cain Harland on December 29, 2014 at 1:36pm

I cut a hole in mine with this cheap Chinese step bit and put in a weedless bulkhead someone on here sold me. People say bad things about step bits but worked well for me.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/3pcs-set-HSS-Step-Drill-Bit-Set-core...

bulkhead and ball valve like the ones on this page

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/BSP-Hardware/1017341_25620692...

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Permalink Reply by Cain Harland on December 29, 2014 at 2:05pm

here is the bulkhead and ball valve as one unit

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Stainless-Steel-Weldless-Ke...

and weldless thermometers here

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/Measuring-Testing/1017341_253...

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Permalink Reply by Cain Harland on January 30, 2015 at 2:19pm

Update on the cheap Chinese step bit. I used it to put a weedless bulk head in a keg, it got the job done but is starting to look a bit worn. I'm guess I will get through a couple more holes then I will need 1 more to finish the keggles. Still a pretty cheap way to go.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on December 29, 2014 at 3:31pm

I used a hole saw - plumber friend of mine suggested it, said he had drilled through 3mm stainless with it. This is the standard hole saw that you sue with a drill. Take it slow and it works a treat, just need to give the edges a bit of a file to tidy them up.

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Permalink Reply by Scott H on December 29, 2014 at 4:48pm

Holesaw will work but a Chasis punch makes a much cleaner hole.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on December 29, 2014 at 6:00pm

I was a bit worried that the chassis punch would munt the rounded side of the kettle. Plus, from a cost perspective, I had the hole saw set and my chassis punch was too big... :) 

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Permalink Reply by Peter Smith on December 31, 2014 at 1:31pm

I wondered if the chassis punch would do this but there is a video on youtube and it doesn't seem to,  stainless is dame strong.   I am going to try the chassis punch myself.

just read below $10 is a deal

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Permalink Reply by Ben Dean on December 31, 2014 at 1:56pm

Not sure if it's that cheap because I'm buying a tap off him as well or if he always charges that price. I'm happy anyhow.

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Permalink Reply by Ben Dean on December 31, 2014 at 7:14am

Thanks for the replies.

Google found brewbuild.co.nz (based in East Tamaki). I got in touch and he charges $10 to put a hole in your kettle, which is definitely worth it (for me) seeing as I don't own the relevant tools and am not too confident doing it myself. I'm just getting a tap and leaving the thermometer as I'm paranoid about catching my bag on it (I do BIAB). Taking it in when they reopen after xmas holidays in a couple of weeks.

Cheers

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