drilling holes into shiney thermopot question

[timbowden]

I've just got my first bit of Shiney (70litre thermopot) and will follow the "how to - thermopot conversion" to put a ball valve where the tap is. My problem is though that i want to put in a thermometer like this this into it
http://www.homebrewbuilder.co.uk/temperature.html

how do i drill into a thermopot? (please bear in mind i'm rubbish at this sort of thing!)
Does the double wall of a thermopot mean i cannot use a qmax cutter?
because there is a nut on the back of the thermostat (therefore reducing the amount of thread ending up on the inside of the pot) how do i actually mount it into a thermopot

help please!!! :pray:

 

[MacKiwi]

Not sure about the thermometer, but when I had to mount a bottom draining fitting to my insulated pot, I used a hole saw to cut through the outer skin and insulation...

And then you can use a qmax cutter or drill-bit for the inner hole.

 

[Darcey]

The 50l pot I have has aprox 2cm of foam insulating it. You would need to drill in to both and secure on the inner skin. The dial will cover up any unsightly hole but you will need a hole big enough to get tools in to tighten it to the inner skin. You may also want to consider how far that probe will get in to the mash. After your 2cm of insulation there will only be a small amount of the probe in the mash. The rest will be measuring the insulating foams temperature as well as the part in the wort. Personally I have a STC1000 and just dunk the probe in the mash and made a notch in the lid so it trails out.

Having said this I have not acutally cut a hole in to the thermopot on the sides so others may be able to offer more help on the matter.

D

 

[chastuck]

The other thing that worries me about the thermometers that stick into the pot is that they can can be easily damaged when you stir the mash with the mash paddle. I just dunk my digital thermometer in and close the lid on the lead without doing up the clasps. The lid edge is not sharp and the lead is thin enough to go under the lip without causing problems.

 

[timbowden]

Thanks for all the replies so far! I'm aiming for a brew shed soon and wanted to try and keep everything "tidy" hence the thermometer on the mash tun. I think for my fiirst brew with my new mash tun I'll dangle in my probe :lol:

 

[PD]

yes join the ranks of the danglers,much easier and less hassle.

 

[timbowden]

Probably more fun :rofl:

 

[PD]

ETI digital thermometers can survive a drop into a 100 liter pot of boiling water and survive !!

I know.....

 

[timbowden]

:rofl:

 

[cnelsonplumber]

Have a look at This and see if it helps. If you let me know the diameter of the probe, I can tell you which fittings to use. :thumb:

 

[timbowden]

1/4 inch it looks like"

Tim

 

[cnelsonplumber]

Ok had a better look at this now and there are two ways of sorting the build.
1. Use the technique in the link I posted but we need to know the exact size of the probe. If it looks like 1/4 its.probably 6mm. It will be worth contacting the manufacturer for the exact size if you dont have a vernier or micrometer.
The easier way is to buy a couple of 1/2" flange nuts

From any plumbers merchant. They are relatively thin and flanged so you can screw one all the way on to the guage thread, then insert the rest of the thread through the hole in the inner skin of the pot and fit a washer and the second cap nut on the inside. :-D
I have cut a normal 1/2 " BSP nut in half before and used washers to get me out of trouble but its a faff.
To sort out the pot body and tõo make it look tidy I suggest you pilot drill inner and outer skins with a single pass. Put a level across the top of your drill so the holes are at the same height.
Next use a ring cutter to open up the outer skin hole to the same diameter as the bit of the gauge that will be in that position.
Finally use a Q max cutter to open up the inner skin for the 1/2" thread.
There is quite a lot of info to digest here so hope it makes sense.
Failing that if you can get the nuts and the whole lot to ST then I will be pleased to do it for you.

 

[calumscott]

ETI digital thermometers can survive a drop into a 100 liter pot of boiling water and survive !!

I know.....

Linky please PD!! My digi died with the steam...

 

[timbowden]

thanks for the info cnelsonplumber, i'll get my brain round it and give it a go!
I'm not going to st unfortunately