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Boerderij_Kabouter · 10-23-2008, 09:23 PM

So I am working very slowly toward my rig build. My design is detailed in the link in my sig. I have been researching kettles because I decided if I am waiting a few years to collect everything for my nice system, I may as well have nice kettles and sell off my keggle system. Kettles look nicer IMHO.

Anyway, please let me know your opinion between these two kettles:

B3's heavy duty line with welded in fittings for sight-glass, thermo, and ball valve.

# 10 Year Warranty from MoreBeer!
# Food Grade Stainless Steel with brushed finish will stay good looking for years
# Extra thick. 1.2 mm thick sidewall and a 5mm thick bottom!
# Includes stainless lid and handles
# 14" H x 18" D

or

The BoilerMaker with weldless ball valve, sight-glass, and thermo.

The B3 kettle is cheaper by ~$10 so cost is not an issue and the false bottoms are also comparable in cost.

The way I see it...

1. B3 has a higher quality kettle with the thicker walls and sandwiched Al base. However, that isn't really necessary with brewing.

2. The BoilerMaker has the tiltable thermo which is nice. However, the thermo that comes on the B3 is really nice and that is an easy upgrade down the road.

3. The BoilerMaker is weldless, whereas the B3 has welded fittings. I think I want welded but would be happy to hear from BoilerMaker owners about the fittings.

4. The Blichmann false bottom seems nice, but my regular perforated FB works just great.

5. The sight-glass design on the BM looks really nice, and I haven't held a B3 version.

Please vote and give a short description of why. I know the Blingmann image is nice, but both kettles will be equally beautiful IMO so please don't count that in your criteria. Also, please don't tell me to stick with the keggles, that's not the route I am taking. Thanks

Which is better?????

**Brooklyn-Brewtality** · 10-23-2008, 09:38 PM

I recently made a similar decision and went with the B3 pot. It is seriously heavy duty, and I love it. IMO the Blichman pots are just so nice I would be afraid of dingng them.

hcarter · 10-23-2008, 10:16 PM

To me, the B3 just seems well made. Plus I have always been very pleased with the customer service. That goes a long way with me.

**ThickHead** · 10-23-2008, 10:42 PM

When in doubt, I always go shiny.

Clayton · 10-23-2008, 10:55 PM

to me the Blichman is much nicer the site glass is better and better protected , the tiltable thermo is cool and the 3 pc stainless ball valve on the Blichman comes apart for easy clean and that ball value vs the b3 is more than 10 bucks right there

Clayton · 10-23-2008, 10:57 PM

oh and the clean out brush for the site glass is sweet
http://www.blichmannengineering.com/BoilerMaker/BoilerMaker_photo_gallery.htm

Boerderij_Kabouter · 10-24-2008, 01:07 PM

Are there any other BoilerMaker or B3 owners who would care to comment? Anything you specifically like/dislike?

Do you have an opinion on which features are more important?

How are the weldless fittings? I am skeptical of those...

Gordie · 10-24-2008, 05:32 PM

I've got a tri-Blingman setup. 20g bk, 15g MLT and HLT and I couldn't be happier with them with one exception. The weldless fitting. I'm running a modified version of Brutus 10 and came to the early conclusion that I need to run my temp probe for my MLT into the grain bed, not the outflow. The problem is that the hole drilled for the weldless therm is too small for a standard thermowell, so I'm going to need to get a 1/2" coupling welded in.

Still - other than that I've got to say you really can't go wrong with the Blingmans. I've had no problems at all with them and they're super easy to pull apart and clean. And the false bottom works like a dream. I recirculate throughout the mash and haven't had any problems. The spando-flexo thermemoter face is also a very underrated add on...

I haven't seen the B3s in person, but it looks like its difficult to go wrong here. Still, I'd recommend the Blichman's if the difference is only $10.

**EdWort** · 10-24-2008, 05:39 PM

I love my Blingmanns. The pickup tube snaps out and very easy to clean too.

Boerderij_Kabouter · 10-24-2008, 06:49 PM

Ooohhh-- I forgot to ask about that! How does the pickup work? Can I replace it with a longer tube and angle it and whatnot? I use those as returns for whirlpooling so the have to be angled just right.