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Author Topic: Cutting stainless steel  (Read 2531 times)

Offline pkeysinski

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Cutting stainless steel
« on: March 07, 2016, 03:43:14 pm »
I have an old keg, any suggestions on cutting the lid out ?

Offline Stevie

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2016, 03:53:51 pm »
Angle grinder with a jig connecting it to the opening.

Offline jwasciuk

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2016, 03:54:28 pm »
+1 for angle grinder and jig.


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Offline fmader

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2016, 04:39:52 pm »
High speed grinder powered by an air compressor
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Offline bigmunchez

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #4 on: March 08, 2016, 04:17:31 am »
Make sure its depressurised before you start...

Offline MDixon

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #5 on: March 08, 2016, 06:53:17 am »
Be sure the keg is discarded, nothing worse than kegs being stolen.

With that in mind, fill with some water to keep the noise down. We cut mine using a sawzall and then I smoothed them out and used emory cloth on them. It was a horrendous amount of noise. Even with the angle grinder be sure to wear eye and ears.
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Offline Phil_M

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2016, 07:35:20 am »
Even with the angle grinder be sure to wear eye and ears.

Be certain to head this advice, angle grinders aren't nicknamed "death wheels" for nothing. They're safe if used properly, but that means mandatory ear/eye pro.
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Offline riverrat

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2016, 07:48:02 am »
To add on to the angle grinder band wagon:
1. small pneumatic angle grinder works great.  electric version like the large version of a dremel or rotozip would work as well.
2. 3" cut off wheel (specific for metals).
3. full face shield if at all possible.  absolute minimum of full coverage goggles.
4. de-pressurize!
5. when cutting, get the blade to just barely protrude through the metal so you can still steer it around the circle.
6. clean up the edge with sanding disc and buffing disc.
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Offline MDixon

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2016, 08:10:26 am »
Oh heck yes, pull the spur out on the keg. No pressure at all, open to the atmosphere.

I have a scar on my forearm where I was working with an angle grinder in college and it twisted back into the arm. It removes the meat and cauterizes all at the same time. Afterwards there is nothing to sew up and nothing bleeds immediately. Later when you take a shower is when you realize just what you have done. Some welder's gloves would have prevented that injury.
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Offline pete b

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2016, 08:19:13 am »
nothing worse than kegs being stolen.


I don't think people should steal kegs but I can think of a few thousand things worse. ;) I'm sure your just using hyperbole for effect, just kidding around because that statement jumped out at me.
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Offline PrettyBeard

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #10 on: March 08, 2016, 08:24:39 am »
Stainless sucks to cut mechanically.  I'd use plasma, preferably with Nitrogen gas.

Offline Stevie

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Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #11 on: March 08, 2016, 08:26:28 am »
Yeah, stealing kegs is bad. Would you snag $100 from the tap room till? Not implying the OP stole the soon to be keggle.

Offline MDixon

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2016, 08:55:15 am »
My local brewery lost $40,000 worth of kegs one year. Probably being sent to other breweries as opposed to getting cut up or sold for scrap, but if someone is keeping the keg after paying a deposit it is essentially stealing the keg.


[Now if the keg says AB or MillerCoors on it they want you to cut it up as it was already (s)crap ;) ]
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RPIScotty

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #13 on: March 08, 2016, 08:57:38 am »
Double standard?


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Offline denny

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Re: Cutting stainless steel
« Reply #14 on: March 08, 2016, 09:04:08 am »
Double standard?


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I'd say so....don't steal ANY keg.
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