Drilling in SS StockPot

[ColmR]

Hi all,

I use a 30L stainless steel pot for brewing on gas and now want to convert it properly to a brew kettle. I've boought an SS tap, bulkhead, bazooka and now need to drill a half-inch hole in the pot.

What I've seen, step bits look to be the way to go. Does anyone know where I can get one handy enough? Or  ideally, does anybody have one that I could borrow (I'm in Dublin)? Don't want to spend money here if I don't have to

Thanks,
Colm

[Jacob]

I have a step bit so you can drop by with the pot. It will take just few minutes to drill that hole, or if you want you can borrow it from me.

[ColmR]

Ah, that's brilliant Jacob. I'll get in touch with a time that suits you. No particular rush on this one

[Shanna]

Hi there,

I have used a step bit before on drilling kegs but I would be wary of using it on a stock pot given that you have to use a fair amount of pressure with it. I would have a real concern that you will end up just pushing the walls of the pot inwards and end up with a wrecked pot because the thinner metal wall of the pot won't take the pressure needed to allow the step bit to pass through.

I built some of my setup using the following instructions from the following web site.
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/heating-elements?page=6

This site recommends using a chasis punch instead of either a step bit or a hole saw on thinner metal pots.

Just my two cents.

Regards,

Shanna

I have a step bit so you can drop by with the pot. It will take just few minutes to drill that hole, or if you want you can borrow it from me.

[Padraic]

Hi there,

I have used a step bit before on drilling kegs but I would be wary of using it on a stock pot given that you have to use a fair amount of pressure with it. I would have a real concern that you will end up just pushing the walls of the pot inwards and end up with a wrecked pot because the thinner metal wall of the pot won't take the pressure needed to allow the step bit to pass through.

I built some of my setup using the following instructions from the following web site.
http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/heating-elements?page=6

This site recommends using a chasis punch instead of either a step bit or a hole saw on thinner metal pots.

Just my two cents.

Regards,

Shanna

I have a step bit so you can drop by with the pot. It will take just few minutes to drill that hole, or if you want you can borrow it from me.

I've heard that qmax cutters are the way to go... never put a hole in a stock pot but I've heard they are the best way to do it! Chassis punch seems to be the same thing, qmax is probably just a brand...

[ColmR]

Thanks all. I'm happy to give it a shot with the step bit. It's a reasonably sturdy pot, so I reckon it's worth the risk. Especially because it's not that expensive anyway...

[Will_D]

As they in certain other books "Just take it easy, plenty of lube and don't push too hard"

[Simon_]

Thanks all. I'm happy to give it a shot with the step bit. It's a reasonably sturdy pot, so I reckon it's worth the risk. Especially because it's not that expensive anyway...

Sorry for dragging this old thread up.
Just wondering how this went?
I have SS tap I want to add to a stock pot. It's an induction one so I'd rather not wreck it. Any advice would be appreciated.

[Saruman (Reuben Gray)]

Also dragging this up as I was going to get a step bit to cut holes in my 70l stainless pots but after reading this and the electric brewery, I am reconsidering.

Has anyone got one of these hole punches? They seem to be very hard to find over here and very expensive too!

Edit: Found out we call it a sheet metal punch over here. Found plenty on amazon.co.uk for reasonable money.

[LordEoin]

I use one of these sets on stainless kegs, they might work well on pots as you don't need much pressure
(removed image as it was the wrong one, see 2 posts down)

[Simon_]

I got these and they did the job nicely. I've seen them in Aldi recently as well

[LordEoin]

Actually, looking at the previous picture, that one appears to be a wood hole saw.
Similar but lighter blades.
The metal version is similar but thicker and threads on

[googoomuck]

+1 for the hole saws, with a decent drill you will go through the pot no problem. I also used them for my keggle. Picked up two for less that €15.

[Shanna]

Actually, looking at the previous picture, that one appears to be a wood hole saw.
Similar but lighter blades.
The metal version is similar but thicker and threads on

Metal one of those will be either a bi-metal hole saw or else a tungsten carbide tipped hole saw. The other post to aldi are step bits. Neither is an appropriate choice of tool for a thin skinned SS pot but would work better on a thicker metal vessel like a keg. I would second what Saruman wrote and use a hole punch for a thin walled pot, otherwise you will end up with jagged edges and a hole that you won't be able to seal properly with a compression fitting.

Shanna

[molc]

Where do people get the A's taps and bulkheads btw? Need to get a proper tap for the kettle that I can reuse later