Open the Keg

• 1). Depressurize, or degas, the keg by inserting a beer coupler -- tap -- and using the pressure relief valve.
  
  
• 2). Insert a small nail into the notch in the ring around the keg neck. Pry the ring up and pull it out with pliers.
  
  
• 3). Grab the neck of the keg and pull it up to remove the entire keg spear. This is a long tube that runs the length of the keg.
  
  
• 4). Find a pot lid that will fit inside ridge at the top of the keg, not over the entire top of the keg.
  
  
• 5). Mark the top of the keg with a circle slightly smaller than the lid diameter.
  
  
• 6). Cut along the marked circle with a rotary cutting tool fitted with metal cutting blades and remove the cut top of the keg.
  
  
• 7). Smooth sharp edges with a grinding or sanding attachment on the rotary cutting tool. Then smooth the edges by hand with fine-grit sandpaper.
  
  

Spigot and Thermometer Installation

• 1). Measure and mark 3 to 4 inches from the bottom of the keg.
  
  
• 2). Drill a 7/8-inch hole at the mark with a power drill fitted with a step bit or hole saw.
  
  
• 3). Sand the hole smooth with a power sanding tool and then with fine-grit sandpaper.
  
  
• 4). Insert the spigot into the 7/8-inch hole from the outside of the keg.
  
  
• 5). Place an O-ring seal around the spigot protruding on the inside of the keg, and then place a stainless steel washer over the O-ring.
  
  
• 6). Attach and tighten threaded coupling on the inside portion of the spigot. Thread and tighten a copper, 90-degree elbow fitting onto the coupling. Position it so that the opening of the elbow faces down.
  
  
• 7). Place a screen over the end of the elbow fitting to filter beer coming through the spigot. An unrolled copper dish scrubber makes an appropriate screen.
  
  
• 8). Drill and smooth an additional 7/8-inch hole about 3 to 4 inches from the keg bottom. Position this hole at about a 90-degree angle from the spigot.
  
  
• 9). Insert a weldless sight glass and thermometer assembly into the hole. Tighten it from the inside with the included jam nut and O-ring.
  
  
• 10
  
  Check the very bottom of the keg to ensure that draining holes are built into the lower lip. If there are no drainage holes, drill a few small ones.
  
  
• 11
  
  Check the fit of the lid. Adjust it by enlarging the hole or getting a better-fitting lid, if necessary.