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Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:07 pm
by Br00ksy
Hellooo there
Saving towards getting the following shopping list for my boiler and a mac 4 ssg :cool:
shopping list.PNG


Ive removed the valve from the keg i have and im just wondering how everyone else has cut the holes? A holesaw on a drillbit?
What sort of collar i would need for triclamps?
keg 1.jpg

keg 2.jpg


Pretty new to distilling (started around august last year) but im sick of my crappy little t500 pot still and its pretty awful efficency ~x( (the head is in my profile pic)
It does the job but i know if i had some better gear i could be producing better booze!
But also bubblers are sexy af
Thanks for any and all input
Cheers peeps :whistle:

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:31 pm
by RuddyCrazy
All I did when I made mine was arc weld in a 4" ferrule making sure it was centered then welded the OD. Now with having the metal still on the inside it did make it easier to weld and the penetration was close to 100%. Now to sure of a good seal I cleaned up the ID with a die grinder then arc welded the ID. Then I just stitch drilled the inner until it came out then used the die grinder to smooth off the inner.

I used 316 SS welding rods too although one could use 309 rods aswell.

Ideally if one has tig the weld would be a heap neater but when I did mine I didn't have my tig.

Cheers Bryan

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:49 pm
by Doubleuj
There’s lots of tips in most of the bubbler build threads but the most common way to cut out your holes is to mark out the cut then drill a heap of small holes around the mark, then connect the dots with a dremmel or similar.
Drilling stainless is hard though, you’ll need a few drill bits, some cutting fluid or WD40, low speed and high pressure.
Take your time and take breaks, if the drill bit heats up once is wrecked.

I managed to find a mate with a plasma cutter that made easy work of cutting out my holes.

Plus I’d suggest flipping the keg and using the existing hole as a drain and put 2 x 4” ferrules on the top (old bottom)
One for a fill port and one for the still. Just make sure they’re spaced far enough apart so the clamps don’t hit.

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 5:51 pm
by Br00ksy
OD = Outside diameter?
ID = Inside diameter?

If so thanks a bunch
Sounds like a great idea bryan :text-thankyoublue:

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Sun Feb 09, 2020 6:38 pm
by Br00ksy
There’s lots of tips in most of the bubbler build threads but the most common way to cut out your holes is to mark out the cut then drill a heap of small holes around the mark, then connect the dots with a dremmel or similar.
Drilling stainless is hard though, you’ll need a few drill bits, some cutting fluid or WD40, low speed and high pressure.
Take your time and take breaks, if the drill bit heats up once is wrecked.

I managed to find a mate with a plasma cutter that made easy work of cutting out my holes.

Plus I’d suggest flipping the keg and using the existing hole as a drain and put 2 x 4” ferrules on the top (old bottom)
One for a fill port and one for the still. Just make sure they’re spaced far enough apart so the clamps don’t hit.


Hmmm
That sounds like a good idea too DoubleUJ, flipping the keg..... :text-+1:

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 10:21 pm
by Br00ksy
Would having a 2" neck affect performance at all?
Would it be slower to build temps or no problem?

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 7:06 am
by mattyb
Won’t make any difference in 2” just harder to clean. Take it to a stainless fab place. You would be surprised at how much headache it will save you and look awesome in the end. And not that expensive as you might think

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 8:26 am
by Zak Griffin
It's amazing what a cold carton of beer at about knock off time on a Friday will get you at your local steel fab joint. If you've got holes cut and all the bits you need ready to go, that is :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 11:04 am
by Br00ksy
received_1090333451338352.jpeg
Cheers guys ill look around my area to see what i can get done

Sitting in front of the 2nd keg (i angle grinded the other one and its rooted) and im really struggling to get the bloody spear out
Ive lined up with the tabs and it just won't come out the bastard
:angry-banghead:
received_216578219501297.jpeg

Any tips?

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 3:25 pm
by bluc
From memory you had to grab centre lift and turn 1/8th turn I think I lifted with screwdriver and turned with multigrips..

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:11 pm
by Br00ksy
Thanks bluc
ill give it a go tonight

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:13 pm
by db1979
Have you seen this thread?

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 4:34 pm
by The Stig
Do not be standing with you head directly over the spear when releasing !
It could end badly :teasing-neener:

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 10:18 pm
by Br00ksy
Update:
I spent 2 hours on the valve trying to get the bastard open to no avail again.....
Got my brother to give it a go and WHAM
Opened it first go
:))
There must be something wrong with my hands, head or both

Ordered some 4" ferrules from 5 star
Gettin keeeeen

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 6:07 am
by Andrew
Everything will be posted today :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Hope you like Chilli
Cheers

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 7:44 pm
by Br00ksy
Sweeet
I dont mind a bit of spice
Ill give em a go!

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Thu Feb 13, 2020 8:22 pm
by Andrew
Should be there in a couple of days .
Don’t get too excited , just a little surprise that’s different to the normal Chupa Chup
Let us know what you think :music-deathmetal:

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 1:31 pm
by Br00ksy
Just got a quick question about the mac 4 SSG
I am on tank water and the pump at home is activated when water pressure in the plumbing is low...
I know RC can be very touchy to water pressure changes
Would it be wise to invest in a flow regulator?

For my pot atm i just running the tap full blast and dumping the outflow into my downpipe to be drained back into the tanks :D
Cheers

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 2:10 pm
by tipsy
I've got the same set up as yours, I've by passed the pressure pump with a transfer pump (pump minus the pressure switch).

I needed another line back to the tank to relieve some of the pressure.

Re: Yet another 50L keg boiler build for the Mac 4 SSG

PostPosted: Fri Feb 14, 2020 2:41 pm
by The Stig
Br00ksy wrote:
For my pot atm i just running the tap full blast and dumping the outflow into my downpipe to be drained back into the tanks :D
Cheers

If that’s working for the pot without having the pump kick in and off it should be fine.
But, your probably better off getting an Ozito and some sort of water storage and doing a recirc system