Mini Kegs are Here!

[Mike Bean]

The mini kegs just arrived. I was wondering if anyone has made a tank from them before?

I got them from Midwest. I called them and they told me there were made of TIN. Now I am no metal expert, but what is the difference between tin and steel? How about TIG welding it?

There appears to be some kind of coating inside and I am not sure if it is resistant to gasoline and it most likely will pull through when welded and mess of the puddle. So, what do I use to remove it? And then I should re-coat the tank when done to help seal.

Anyone got some ideas for me here?

Thanks,

Mike Bean

[c.schulz]

Sorry to say mike but you probably wont be able to tig this. I had a friend of mine try this also with the filler neck that I bought from Speedway Motors. The metal is just to thin,(0.010). Once he heated the neck up and brought the flame to the tank it just went away. So he ended up brazing it together. My next step was to try some POR15 and bond a neck to the tank. Just havent gotten to it yet.
Then of course you will have to blast and paint or powder coat if the metal is not to thin.

Chris

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_3095Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_2470Medium.jpg

[Mike Bean]

Hi Chris,

So what did you do to prep the surface before you attempted to TIG weld it? Did you grind down the TIN coating? And was there a coating on the inside that needed to be removed?

As for the tank in the photo, what did you do to make that one up? It looks like it is done.

Thanks,
Mike Bean

[c.schulz]

He just ground the tin coating and brazed away. Didnt seem to have a coating on the inside. Ive never had a problem with it leaking. What you see is the original state after welding. Needs a little filler at the neck for a dent and then off to the powder coaters. Ive also bought some extra tanks from Midwest and some necks from Speedway to try a little POR15. But like I said, just havent had the time to try one out. How about you try and let me know how it works. But as far as the welding.....You will have to find a filler neck that is close in metal thickness as the tank in order to weld together. My buddy that tried is a experienced welder and just found that the the 2 metals are just to different in thickness.

Chris

[c.schulz]

Mike did you have any luck with building these tanks. Ill going to try my hand at another soon.

Chris

[Mike Bean]

I have not attempted it yet, I am have some ideas and I hope to get to them in a couple of weeks.

I will post my progress and ideas when I start.

Mike Bean

[stoolpigon]

I've been considering building a tank out of a Heinekin mini keg. I agree with some other statements that the sides of the keg are too thin. I'm going to cut a hole in the bottom of the tank and slide in another tank. My inner tank will have a neck that sticks out the top with a cap so it looks like the keg is the tank.

[sboarder2011]

those are sweet! where can we buy em?
!

[c.schulz]

those are sweet! where can we buy em?
!

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=4900:wave:

[c.schulz]

Hey Mike, finally got around to putting a keg together. It came out well but not as well as I had hoped. A little clean up and its off to the powder coaters. The next one will be a little different for my new ride.

Chris
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4164Medium-1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4161Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4162Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4163Medium.jpg

[old kid]

Chris looks great !!!!!!! did you make it from scratch or did you buy the keg and put on the neck and petcock ??????? If you bought it WHERE ?????

:cheers:

[c.schulz]

Chris looks great !!!!!!! did you make it from scratch or did you buy the keg and put on the neck and petcock ??????? If you bought it WHERE ?????

:cheers:

The kegs can be bought at http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=4900
And the fill neck and bung I bought through http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Filler-Neck-Twist-Cap-with-Steel-Bung,967.html http://www.speedwaymotors.com/Female-Steel-Weld-Bung-Fittings,991.html.
They dont sell the filler neck with the flange anymore. Probably a good thing because it was way over priced. The straight neck should work fine also just tac it in place with super glue and then wipe the POR-15 around the neck with a popcicle stick. I would also wipe around the neck on the inside. Be sure to wear rubber gloves. The POR does not come off easy.

Chris

[sboarder2011]

can i buy a compleate one with a cap already in it? if so, where?

[c.schulz]

can i buy a compleate one with a cap already in it? if so, where?

I guess I could sell you one. All the parts are like $35 plus a couple hours to make them. You are looking at $65 w/o paint. Plus shipping of course.
They would be slightly different because the flanged neck style are not avaliable anymore. Let me know, I do take paypal.

Chris

[c.schulz]

Here is the next step for some eye candy. Added a little wood grain. Next will be to clear and mount.

Chris
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4170Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4169Medium.jpg

[Redrooster]

Very Cool.....how hard was it to put the wood grain on it?

[c.schulz]

Very Cool.....how hard was it to put the wood grain on it?

Very easy really. Its just contact paper. First spray the can with 3M Super 77 adhesive and then cover with 3" strips of the paper. Ill be clear coating so that the paper does not fade from the sun.:wave:

Chris

[c.schulz]

Done.......

Chris
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4175Medium.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/cschulz/IMG_4174Medium.jpg

[Redrooster]

Chris that's the best looking keg yet.... great job!

[c.schulz]

Chris that's the best looking keg yet.... great job!

Thanks Red.:cheers:

Chris

[Assy]

that looks nice good job man i was gonna use one of those but i used a mini fire extinguisher and it looks great

[c.schulz]

Thanks, the mini fire extinguisher is a great idea also. Mine fit the theme of the kart.

Chris

[Assy]

Thanks, the mini fire extinguisher is a great idea also. Mine fit the theme of the kart.

Chris
yea they look real cool if you put them under the steering wheel on that steering support ill post picks of mine in a lil

here this is where i put mine there is a fuel valve on the bottom and the top unscrews

http://i42.tinypic.com/o9eh3p.jpg

you have to crazy glue the top valve open a little to u dont get ur gastank to make a vacuum and i added a hose just in case gas come out the top it hasnt yet just dont fill it to the max i go intill the stem of the top

if you need help feel free to ask

[bm1]

I hope you're not sending that tank to the powder coaters. Powder coating cures at 400 degrees, and what ever sealer you have in there will not hold up to the heat, plus, if this thing is .010 like you say, it will be zero temper when it comes out of the oven and will likely be a blob..
Welding can be done with a TIG and some ever-dur filler rod(silicone bronze). It takes very low heat, and does a nice job.

[c.schulz]

I hope you're not sending that tank to the powder coaters. Powder coating cures at 400 degrees, and what ever sealer you have in there will not hold up to the heat, plus, if this thing is .010 like you say, it will be zero temper when it comes out of the oven and will likely be a blob..
Welding can be done with a TIG and some ever-dur filler rod(silicone bronze). It takes very low heat, and does a nice job.

I didnt end up powder coating and probably wont for the reasons you pointed out. A good automotive paint will do me just fine.
As far as the welding goes the bungs are 1/4 thick and the tank is .010. Big difference in thicknesses thats why my welder ended up brazing the joint on the first one and the POR15 seems to be holding up fine on the second. Thanks for pointing out the concerns.:thumb:

Chris

[bm1]

You can weld those bungs in if you use some ever-dur filler. Start with the heat on the thick bung, and wick the ever-dur to your thin metal. It'll work fine. Ever-dur takes low heat to weld. I use it for a lot of stuff where heat would be of concern.