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lindahr
Posts: 160
Location: United States Occupation: Age: 73 |
#1 2013-11-12 21:45 |
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Rick recently found me a beer keg to use as a slack tub. Lovely stainless steel and just the right size. However, how do you take the top off without damaging the handles or the tank? The handles are openings in a raised edge with the top of the keg recessed about 3 or 4 inches below (for teetotalers who aren't familiar with beer kegs). The raised edge and the top appear to be tigged together, but perhaps the top was the only separate part and tigged to the tank from the outside. Should I saw off the raised edge and the top together, cut out the top, and then tig the edge back on? Or should I use the plasma cutter, or some other method? I don't want to damage the keg.
I know somebody has done this because I've seen beer kegs used in shops before, so give me some hints. I'm also nagging Rick to check with the Tabernacle's beer suppliers to see if they can find some more beer kegs they don't need to return. If he does, I'll put them in Iron in the Hat. I'm working on letters to my clients about my retirement and finished my last report, so I should be free to actually use my shop very soon. It will be great to actually beat some metal. Linda (stupid website keeps changing the t to r when I'm describing a method for joining metal. I guess I should have just said welded) |
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cal
Posts: 137
Location: United States Sharpsburg, GA Occupation: Retired Programer Age: 73 |
#2 2013-11-13 06:55 |
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I've never had the pleasure of cutting open a beer keg but I would think the best way would be to use a plasma cutter on it. I can tell you that a torch will not cut stainless worth anything.
If you do come up with some more kegs I would be very interested. I knocked a couple of holes in my bucket by dropping something into it. (Most likely a piece of newly created scrap  )
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Cal Kohler
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dan tull
Posts: 66
Location: United States Occupation: blacksmith,full time Age: 79 |
#3 2013-11-13 10:25 |
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Plasma.
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Sean OShea
Posts: 40
Location: United States Doraville, Georgia Occupation: Age: 54 |
#4 2013-11-13 14:51 |
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Plasma - what Dan said. You can use my plasma cutter at my shop if you want to. I know Jim Guy was looking for a beer keg for a slack tub as well.
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lindahr
Posts: 160
Location: United States Occupation: Age: 73 |
#5 2013-11-13 16:41 |
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I haven't fired up the plasma cutter in a while, so this sounds like a good opportunity. I need to get a dryer for my compressor first though, since I've had problems with ragged cuts because there was moisture in the air supply. I'll let you all know how it goes.
Linda |
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Mike LaMarre
Posts: 27
Location: United States Occupation: Metal Fabricator/Weldah Age: 68 |
#6 2013-11-13 19:47 |
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Plasma is the way to go. You should be able to rest the torch head right against the inside rim of the keg and use it as a guide, this will leave a nice 1/2" or so lip around the top that will act as a slosh baffle, if you have the tank on wheels. In a previous life, I owned the first "Air Plasma" in South Florida that would cut 1/2" material. South Florida humidity + compressor = very wet air, as you said, not a good match for a plaz. I had a drier that was attached to the plasma only, a canister with an inlet and an outlet, and the filter media was only a roll of toilet paper. Cheap and readily available to replace. It worked great for me, I am sure with a little looking on line, you could find one. I probably got mine from a welding supply, but can't remember a manufacturer name. It is only about 13 gauge or less thick, so even with a ratty cut, it is an easy grind to clean up.
Cheers, Mike L. . |
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lindahr
Posts: 160
Location: United States Occupation: Age: 73 |
#7 2013-11-20 21:18 |
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Thanks Mike, I'll look around for one.
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