Well, I've been threatening for years to do this. Now I have a line on a reportedly great TIG guy who specializes in sanitary welds. Not exactly local: 1 1/2 hour drive from my house.
I've started the mods, so there is no going back. The plan:
- Remove the bottom of the Blichmann 27 gal Ferminator where that wimpy dump ball valve connects & replace with a 2" tri-clove weld stub. Butt weld (excuse the term) the stub to the conical.
- Enlarge the racking port & install a 1 1/2' tri-clove weld stub there.
- Replace the sometimes leaky compression racking port "O" ring with a tri-clove cap with welded assembly and Teflon seal.
Last night I turned the threads off of the pipe nipple and reamed a matching hole in a tri-clove cover. That's a bear in work hardening SS! The racking port tube flare pretty much matches the remaining nipple OD and will be TIg'ed in place there. All other work will be done by folks with actual talent as opposed to myself who doesn't want his ineptitude to trash a $900 conical.
Eventually, when I can find someone who will rent it to me, a stud welder (excuse again please) and place a dozen 10-24 or whatever 1/2" long studs to capture 50' of 1/4" copper tubing around the conical and terminate in some sort of QD.
I was generously donated a water cooler for a chiller. So that's what started this whole thing.
Pictures forthcoming when I have something interesting to post.
opinions folks?
Edited by Stout_fan, 25 June 2014 - 02:41 PM.
