
Need to get some keggles cut
- brianhall1024
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:23 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Need to get some keggles cut
I just acquired some half barrel kegs and need to get the tops cut out for keggles. Any help on where to go would be fantastic!

Re: Need to get some keggles cut
I used a cut-off wheel on an angle grinder to do mine. I built a jig out of a piece of 2x4, a shelf bracket, and a PVC end cap (I think 1 1/4 fits nicely in the Sankey fitting), and tie-wrapped the angle grinder onto it. The first one looked like it was done by a drunk monkey, but # 3 actually looked pretty good. IIRC, I used a dremel to then clean it up. I think I still have said jig laying around if you want to try it. If you know someone w/ a plasma torch, though, it would save a lot of hassle. Another tip is to put the keg on its side and make sure you cover the connector w/ a rag when depressurizing. Also, figure out what you plan to use as a lid, and cut to size, and make sure your chiller fits if using an immersion chiller. (I wish I had gone w/ a bigger opening, but I'm not re-cutting now.
- brianhall1024
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:23 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Re: Need to get some keggles cut
Yeah, I'm not cutting them myself....BAD idea
- Josh_Jensen
- Posts: 128
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:08 am
Re: Need to get some keggles cut
There's a guy near me that does plasma cutting. I've been thinking about getting ahold of him for just this reason. If you're interested I could get ahold of him?
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- brianhall1024
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:23 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Re: Need to get some keggles cut
Yeah, I have 3 1/2 bbl that need to be cut...please feel free!
Re: Need to get some keggles cut
Plasma cutting is the way to go. Matt Marshall did mine [he was a member a couple years ago and built his system around a Lego controller]
The guy who submitted a barley wine in the Furious competition...
- UndeadFred
- Posts: 259
- Joined: Fri Feb 20, 2015 12:07 pm
Re: Need to get some keggles cut
It wasn't that bad doing mine with a air die grinder... you just have to be patient and take your time. Use cutting oil, go slow and avoid smoking the oil and work hardening the stainless...took less than 30 minutes, including going back and rounding the cut out and deburring...
If I had it to do again, I would probably leave the top on and cut the bottom off. You can fasten a Sanitary/Tri-Clamp/Tri-Clover fitting on to where the sanke spear attaches on those kegs.. For me, since I'm electric, that would have been a really handy bottom drain (and you can always attach a blank plug into the connection)...
The other trick I came up with and it's one of the few time I thought myself clever is that I took stout kitchen shears and cut up some 1/4" LDPE line into a gasket that goes around the cut lip of the keggle. I have had no issues with snagging my bag on the keg and it's nice even if you don't use a bag.. just cut a piece of the line about 3" longer than the circumference, and cut a notch all the way. when mounting the gasket on the keg, trim the piece so it's got 1/16" or less of a gap at the end.
I still think I'm clever for coming up with that. LDPE can easily handle boiling temps...
Fred
If I had it to do again, I would probably leave the top on and cut the bottom off. You can fasten a Sanitary/Tri-Clamp/Tri-Clover fitting on to where the sanke spear attaches on those kegs.. For me, since I'm electric, that would have been a really handy bottom drain (and you can always attach a blank plug into the connection)...
The other trick I came up with and it's one of the few time I thought myself clever is that I took stout kitchen shears and cut up some 1/4" LDPE line into a gasket that goes around the cut lip of the keggle. I have had no issues with snagging my bag on the keg and it's nice even if you don't use a bag.. just cut a piece of the line about 3" longer than the circumference, and cut a notch all the way. when mounting the gasket on the keg, trim the piece so it's got 1/16" or less of a gap at the end.
I still think I'm clever for coming up with that. LDPE can easily handle boiling temps...
Fred
- brianhall1024
- Posts: 582
- Joined: Fri Jun 04, 2010 5:23 pm
- Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
Re: Need to get some keggles cut
I'm just looking for someone to cut it, I'm not really feeling like cutting it myself, hence the post to ask if anyone knows someone. Thanks though!