Making a Tun

[PSUHomebrewer]

Hey,
Im making a new mash tun out of a keg and have been thinking of how to cut the top off. I cant use the cut off wheel i used on my keggle since the shield hits the rim of the keg and i cant cut the 12" minimum circle i need to drop my false bottom in. Im going to go with a reciprocating saw. I had some extra time today while i was at home depot and saw they have 2 other blades that i thought would work better than the standard "the torch" (milwaukee's metal cutting blade). The two other blades were also called "the torch" but instead of having a tooth pattern they were abrasive blades, one used Tungsten Carbide and the other diamond.
Im guessing that either of those blades, espicaly the diamond, would work better for cutting the ss, even though id have to use running water while cutting instead of oil.

Anyone ever use blades like that to do any cutting and have any advice on them, or any issues or ideas i may be overlooking using blades like that, instead of the regular saws all metal blades?

Also the diamond blades claims that it will last 300x longer than the regular blades when cutting cast iron which would equal out the cost.

Links to the blade are diamond, carbide. I dont plan on using the 9" blades, they have shorter versions, i think in the 4-6" range.

[raven19]

Can you cut a smaller diameter hole, and then cut two slits at either side of the hole, to allow the falsie to slide in through the slots?

I have a flat false bottom in my keggle MT, hence can do that.

Post 12 on this thread for a piccie:
http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/i ... t&p=645880

[CRBrewHound]

For mine, I did not cut a circle inside of the keg, but rather cut the top off via the outside of the keg below the lid line. I like this method for the mash tun as it is much easier to clean out the tun. I welded a new set of handles on the keg and used a pizza pan with a cabinet handle from lowe's as a lid, it works great.

Just a suggestion, it has worked great for me.

[scotchpine]

If you know anyone with a plasma cutter and could use it, I would. I used the one at my father-in-law's shop for this and it cuts like a hot knife through butter. Running around the handle rim as a guide made a perfect 12" hole. Then just angle grinder to smooth the edge. I think it was also easier to clean up on the inside than filings from saw cutting would have been. I think there is a video on you tube of a guy doing this. Good luck

[Rictanica]

If you know anyone with a plasma cutter and could use it, I would. I used the one at my father-in-law's shop for this and it cuts like a hot knife through butter. Running around the handle rim as a guide made a perfect 12" hole. Then just angle grinder to smooth the edge. I think it was also easier to clean up on the inside than filings from saw cutting would have been. I think there is a video on you tube of a guy doing this. Good luck

The plasma cutter is the best way, just make sure you put some water in the bottom before you cut. The spater is hell to clean off.

[foomench]

Plasma cutter. My keg conversion project thread here: viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21745