Aluminium, anything wrong?

[Deebee]

Hi all.
i have the chance of shaking up a large aluminium stock pot for next to nothing.
Was thinking of fixing some kettle elements in it. Is there anything wrong with using aluminium as a boiler?
I seen to remember reading something negative about it somewhere.

[boingy]

It's fine. Lots of us use ali pans.

[Deebee]

It's fine. Lots of us use ali pans.

And can anyone tell me how i would drill out the holes for the elements and the ball valve?

Please remember i am in Norway and do not have access to all the nice shoups you guys do.

The good thing is that by using the aluminium pot i could run off from the MT into the boiler, have the boiler on the stove ( 2 kw). Put both elements on, ( 4.4 kw) then when the wort hits the boil turn them both off.

6+KW will warm the wort( 25-30 liters rather fast i guess..

[boingy]

Q-Max punches are the dogs for making holes in thin metal - no burr or distortion. No idea whether they will ship them to you but here is where I got mine:

http://www.rapidonline.com/Tools-Fasten ... al-punches

[Deebee]

these are not available in 38 mm?

[Scooby]

Aluminium has many advantages over stainless, it's more robust and will stand being kicked around the brewery much better than stainless, it is a better conductor of heat and more important for the home DIYer is much easier to work with. You only need HSS bits and hole saws to make very clean holes.

[Deebee]

Aluminium has many advantages over stainless, it's more robust and will stand being kicked around the brewery much better than stainless, it is a better conductor of heat and more important for the home DIYer is much easier to work with. You only need HSS bits and hole saws to make very clean holes.

Or the local trade school that have everything and will do it for less than it costs to buy the stuff in,..... especially here in any case.......