BeerBorg

I want to drill a whole in my 5 gal pot, and install a valve, just like the one in my 15 gal pot. This pot will be used for smaller batches, to be used in combination with my plate chiller. I'm also buying a chest freezer and might eventually drill to convert it into a keg. For the time being, I'm just gonna use my Johnson controller to control the temp of the chest freezer and use picnic taps.

U can usually find cheap ones in walmart round $35 or so. Remember, u get what u pay for. Most my drills run over $200 but I use the heck out of them, wally world drills would not work. Then u will need drill bits, they also sell those, cheap.

Depending on the size of hole your gonna drill, u might want to pick up a drill bit called a step bit.

I bought an electric drill at harbor freight for $12. I use it for a motor on my barley crusher.

losman26 wrote:I want to drill a whole in my 5 gal pot, and install a valve, just like the one in my 15 gal pot. This pot will be used for smaller batches, to be used in combination with my plate chiller. I'm also buying a chest freezer and might eventually drill to convert it into a keg. For the time being, I'm just gonna use my Johnson controller to control the temp of the chest freezer and use picnic taps.

The others have talked about the drill, let me say something about the chest freezer, if you don't mind.
May I suggest that you do NOT drill the freezer? Instead, remove the lid, place a wood framing around the top, and replace the lid. That way, you can lay some foam strip on the inside of the wood, drill holes in the wood for your spigots, and thus, make it easier to operate.
I have one of the box freezers. I drilled thru the top, as the sides have the cooling coils located there. The tower was on top. so every time I wanted to phart around on the inside, it was a pita operation. With this suggestion, you'll only be lifting the lid, not the whole operation.
~The Nong

The Nong is right on with the chest freezer info. I was going to go that route until I was surprised with a kegerator. There are tons of good videos about how to convert a chest freezer into a keezer on youtube. Depending on the brand, it's a piece of cake to convert. Add a temperature controller and you're golden.

I will make a suggestion on the drill and say see if you can find an old as in antique old Craftsman drill. I got mine for $5 at a garage sale. It runs far better than the majority of modern drills and still has the power to twist itself right out of my grip if I am not holding it correctly.

i agree with duff. i got a 3/8 variable speed i used in the 80's and up til i stopped working in '06 for installing cabinets. still runs quite well and is my go to for hard to drill jobs (masonry or thick metal). but if your going to buy a new one like FiT said: you get what you pay for. spend the extra and get a tool that'll last