Cutting holes in your kettle?

[Ben Dean]

I'm wanting to add a tap and thermometer to my 50L pot, has anyone here done this themselves and can share the process, or know of anywhere in Auckland that will do metal cutting jobs this small?

Cheers
Ben

[Cain Harland]

I cut a hole in mine with this cheap Chinese step bit and put in a weedless bulkhead someone on here sold me. People say bad things about step bits but worked well for me.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/3pcs-set-HSS-Step-Drill-Bit-Set-core...

bulkhead and ball valve like the ones on this page

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/BSP-Hardware/1017341_25620692...

[Cain Harland]

here is the bulkhead and ball valve as one unit

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/Stainless-Steel-Weldless-Ke...

and weldless thermometers here

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/group/Measuring-Testing/1017341_253...

[Cain Harland]

Update on the cheap Chinese step bit. I used it to put a weedless bulk head in a keg, it got the job done but is starting to look a bit worn. I'm guess I will get through a couple more holes then I will need 1 more to finish the keggles. Still a pretty cheap way to go.

[Andrew]

I used a hole saw - plumber friend of mine suggested it, said he had drilled through 3mm stainless with it. This is the standard hole saw that you sue with a drill. Take it slow and it works a treat, just need to give the edges a bit of a file to tidy them up.

[Scott H]

Holesaw will work but a Chasis punch makes a much cleaner hole.

[Andrew]

I was a bit worried that the chassis punch would munt the rounded side of the kettle. Plus, from a cost perspective, I had the hole saw set and my chassis punch was too big... :) 

[Peter Smith]

I wondered if the chassis punch would do this but there is a video on youtube and it doesn't seem to,  stainless is dame strong.   I am going to try the chassis punch myself.

just read below $10 is a deal

[Ben Dean]

Not sure if it's that cheap because I'm buying a tap off him as well or if he always charges that price. I'm happy anyhow.

[Ben Dean]

Thanks for the replies.

Google found brewbuild.co.nz (based in East Tamaki). I got in touch and he charges $10 to put a hole in your kettle, which is definitely worth it (for me) seeing as I don't own the relevant tools and am not too confident doing it myself. I'm just getting a tap and leaving the thermometer as I'm paranoid about catching my bag on it (I do BIAB). Taking it in when they reopen after xmas holidays in a couple of weeks.

Cheers