Norseman Farm and Brewery: Equipment Upgrades

Part of the allure of being a homebrewer is designing and building your own equipment. Sure, there are many kits available, but where is the fun in that? To that end, I have performed a few upgrades on my boil kettle. With the help of a friend and his sandblasting cabinet, I have a dded gallon marks to the kettle.

We measured gallon by gallon, calculated the correct spacing and cut out a negative on vinyl. With that done, we moved to the blast cabinet, and began the process of etching the lines and numbers on the pot. I was a bit hesitant about how the final product would turn out, but my worries proved to be unfounded. We measured twice and cut once, and the numbers hit exactly where I needed them.

Next, I added a weldless bulkhead and valve. Drilling stainless steel is always a chore, so make sure to use an oil of some sort - I prefer 3 n 1 oil. First, I drill a 1/8" pilot hole, and then move up to a step drill bit. Open up the hole to 13/16" and then de-burr. Place the stainless close nipple through the hole, attach the valve, heat resistant o-ring and nut, and tighten by hand. Teflon plumbers tape is essential in this process, in order to form a watertight seal. This addition was a success, it holds water and does not leak. All it needs is a soft copper dip tube, to draw liquid from the bottom of the pot.