lonestar1
Active Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2014
- Messages
- 32
- Reaction score
- 11
I've had a Mega Pot 15 kettle from Northern Brewer now for quite a few years. It has served me well except the lid handle snapped off. I had it rewelded with stainless rods. The welder said it appeared to be only tack welded and not fully welded along the base of each handle where it meets the lid. No biggie except I thought the welding should have been better, given the cost of the pot. I haven't brewed for three years since I got third-degree burns from boiling wort being transferred to my Chillzilla. The transfer hose popped off and boiled hot wort flowed onto my one foot. I'm still not healed completely, which is another story.
My real situation is this. I've always kept my brew equipment clean after each use. I've stored all the equipment these past three years. I decided to get over the 'fear' of repeating that stupid error on my part. I broke out the equipment a couple of days ago and boiled almost 15 gal of water laced with PBW. I wanted to ensure as much as possible that anything that had made its home inside the kettle was 'erased'. That went all fine & dandy. I then got all my grain and newly purchased yeast & hops ready with the yeast in a starter/stir plate.
Today, I filled the Mega Pot 15 gal with about 10 gal of filtered water to begin heating it. That's when I noticed a small stream of water pissing out along the bottom of the kettle. That had not been there when I initially boiled my batch of PBW. Upon inspecting the leak before & after emptying it, I got the impression that the stainless metal at the bottom of the kettle where it bends and makes the curve to form the kettle bottom, was thinner from appearance. Could this cause a leak from the repeated exposure to the flame that is so close to it? Meaning, if the metal was indeed thinner than it should be, could the years of extreme heat weaken the metal, allowing some type of deterioration process to occur? I've emailed Northern Brewer with the problem to see if they would replace it. Based on my experience with the handle, I'm suspicious now that the Quality Contro of manufacturing this pot has led to my current dilemma. I'm doubtful that NB will do anything for me. I'm also dismayed that you can no longer reach customer service by phone. That sucks. That's a real degradation to customer service for its customers.
Aside from getting someone to do a weld repair, if that is possible, has anyone had a similar leak issue and used a compound to seal a hole? Possibly some brand of high temp epoxy? Or the material used to bond or seal holes in mufflers? I don't have the resources to pay $304 for another Mega Pot from NB also given my being suspicion on their quality now. Anyone have a similar issue with the Mega Pot brand?
Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give me.
Ed
My real situation is this. I've always kept my brew equipment clean after each use. I've stored all the equipment these past three years. I decided to get over the 'fear' of repeating that stupid error on my part. I broke out the equipment a couple of days ago and boiled almost 15 gal of water laced with PBW. I wanted to ensure as much as possible that anything that had made its home inside the kettle was 'erased'. That went all fine & dandy. I then got all my grain and newly purchased yeast & hops ready with the yeast in a starter/stir plate.
Today, I filled the Mega Pot 15 gal with about 10 gal of filtered water to begin heating it. That's when I noticed a small stream of water pissing out along the bottom of the kettle. That had not been there when I initially boiled my batch of PBW. Upon inspecting the leak before & after emptying it, I got the impression that the stainless metal at the bottom of the kettle where it bends and makes the curve to form the kettle bottom, was thinner from appearance. Could this cause a leak from the repeated exposure to the flame that is so close to it? Meaning, if the metal was indeed thinner than it should be, could the years of extreme heat weaken the metal, allowing some type of deterioration process to occur? I've emailed Northern Brewer with the problem to see if they would replace it. Based on my experience with the handle, I'm suspicious now that the Quality Contro of manufacturing this pot has led to my current dilemma. I'm doubtful that NB will do anything for me. I'm also dismayed that you can no longer reach customer service by phone. That sucks. That's a real degradation to customer service for its customers.
Aside from getting someone to do a weld repair, if that is possible, has anyone had a similar leak issue and used a compound to seal a hole? Possibly some brand of high temp epoxy? Or the material used to bond or seal holes in mufflers? I don't have the resources to pay $304 for another Mega Pot from NB also given my being suspicion on their quality now. Anyone have a similar issue with the Mega Pot brand?
Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give me.
Ed