Drilling for heating element - DIY or metal fabricator?

[northernnick]

Hi,

Long time lurker, first-ish time poster.

I have a keggle build and I have bought a 3KW U shaped threaded heating element. The width of the thread is 16mm, so I need to drill these holes into the keg. I've tried using my hardened steel bits to drill into the keg, but I'm not really making a dent.

Is it worth trying another DIY option of is there a metal fabricator in Dublin that anyone recommends? I dont mind spending 10/15EUR on two holes, they'd have it done in a matter of minutes.

Thanks,

[Leann ull]

Advice is water or oil  on bit and set your drill as slow as it will go apply big pressure and go 5-10 rpm
You should feel it bite
I prefer water trickle from hose
Start with a small diameter first
Pick a new spot as you have probably hardened where you were.

[northernnick]

Problem is, I dont have a bit upto 16mm, think 10 is my max. So I was just gonna get it as big as I could and file it.

Silly idea?

[Leann ull]

Yeah
Step drill bit is what you need, where are you based?

[Beerbuddha]

You can use a hole saw if you can get one possibly of an electritian if you know one.

Either way I'd buy a small container of metal cutting compound as it will prolong life of any drill bits and will last you for years. Its a must for stainless and cobalt drill bits are great for stainless.

Either way of cutting with drill, step drill or hole drill I found a drimmel super for cleaning up the sharp edges and again a drimmel is a great piece of kit for the tool shed and budding engineer brewer.

[northernnick]

I'm in Harolds Cross, D6.

Step drill bits seems to be 20EUR upwards and I don' really want to purchase it just for this job alone when it could be less than tha to get a bloke to do it in 5 mins.

[Shanna]

I'm in Harolds Cross, D6.

Step drill bits seems to be 20EUR upwards and I don' really want to purchase it just for this job alone when it could be less than tha to get a bloke to do it in 5 mins.

Unless you have a mate that is a metal fabricator it will probably cost as much.
McQuillans in capel street give members a discount. You can get the following for €9.

http://www.mcquillantools.ie/morse-38mm-master-cobalt-bi-metal-hole-saw/

I guarantee you will use it more than once, bought one myself & have used it half a dozen times.

Shanna

[northernnick]

Cheers for that. I don't need a 38mm bit for a 16mm thread though I'll try and call a few fabricators to see if they can do it. Failing that I think I'll have to buy a drill stepbit.

Unless there is anyone who could lend me one for a few hours?

[molc]

I got a set of stepbits from AliExpress for next to nothing and they've done a great job for me; used in countless other projects as well.

[northernnick]

Oh yeah, I know I can order them from Ali Express, but I can' be bothered to hang around for 5 weeks waiting for delivery. I can order from UK and get it for next week.

With the missus away for the weekend I wanted to get it all set up and try it out with my new ArdBir,so was trying to get it done post haste.

Plus if my order from homebrewireland arrives tomorrow I've got 10kgs of Maris Otter arriving so I could get 2 brew days in. Win!

[darren996]

Save yourself some ball ache and get a qmax cutter, it will do a better and neater job in a fraction of time.

http://www.handyhardware.ie/product/25328/Sheet-Metal-Punch-16mm


Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[nigel_c]

I got a set of stepbits from AliExpress for next to nothing and they've done a great job for me; used in countless other projects as well.

+1 Just take your time and these will do the job.

[northernnick]

Just ordered a 3  piece HSS step drill set from the UK for 8EUR. Realised I can also use it on my kegerator shank holes as well which were .. ahem... not the finest of metal cutting skills demonstrated

I managed to get the holes to 10mm so some short of the 16/17mm needed. But I'll wait another week. The old pico boiler will have to do for this weekends brews. Thanks for your advice guys.   

[pob]

Just ordered a 3  piece HSS step drill set from the UK for 8EUR. Realised I can also use it on my kegerator shank holes as well which were .. ahem... not the finest of metal cutting skills demonstrated

I managed to get the holes to 10mm so some short of the 16/17mm needed. But I'll wait another week. The old pico boiler will have to do for this weekends brews. Thanks for your advice guys.

Is it rated for Stainless, otherwise it'll/could be chewed up by keggle.

[northernnick]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3Pcs-HSS-Steel-Step-Cone-Titanium-Drill-Bits-Tool-Set-Hole-Cutter-4-12-20-32mm-/282042372671?

Titanium Coated HSS Drill Bits.....?