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BlightyBrewer · 12-29-2005, 08:06 PM

Just finished making my counterflow wort chiller, as per the project featured in the Jan / Feb 06 issue of BYO. Found it pretty easy to make, and total cost was around £28. Haven't tested it yet, but no leaks on the water side. Used compression fittings throughout, and 8mm microbore copper tube (25ft).

PT Ray · 12-29-2005, 11:17 PM

Good looking chiller. Once you get the chance to use it you will wonder how you ever managed without it.

ian · 12-30-2005, 12:50 AM

Wow! That's nice. Looks like I might be able to figure it out, but since I'm no engineer and always overestimate my abilities do you have plans or a link to plans?

BlightyBrewer · 12-30-2005, 08:02 PM

Thanks guys. I'm gonna make a slight mod to it by plumbing in a tap on the water outlet so that I can regulate the flow and hence the beer outlet temp.

Ian, I don't have any plans, but if you get hold of a copy of the Jan / Feb 06 Brew Your Own (BYO) magazine, there is an article on how to make one. The only difference with mine is that I used compression fittings (the tee pieces) instead of normal copper tee pieces and JB Weld as suggested in BYO. The compression fittings also seemed to work quite well with the garden hose producing a good seal with no leaks.

AHammer16 · 01-03-2006, 10:44 PM

I was thinking about building one tomorrow. How do you get the wort into the copper? Siphon tube from the kettle connected to the inlet of the chiller?

Any problems with making it that i should be aware of?

Also i think you have the water inlet on the wrong side. Shouldn't the water go from the bottom to the top and the wort from the top to the bottom? Or maybe i am just looking at it upside down.

BlightyBrewer · 01-04-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHammer16

I was thinking about building one tomorrow. How do you get the wort into the copper? Siphon tube from the kettle connected to the inlet of the chiller?

I'll be using copper pipe and compression fittings from a tap in the boiler.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHammer16

Any problems with making it that i should be aware of?

Not really. Straighten out the microbore before threading inside the garden hose (use a little detergent to lubricate).

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHammer16

Also i think you have the water inlet on the wrong side. Shouldn't the water go from the bottom to the top and the wort from the top to the bottom? Or maybe i am just looking at it upside down.

Yep, it's upside down. Those pipes are only temporary as my inlet will be quite long to reach the outside tap. I'm going to use a tap on the water outlet to control the flow of hot water out.

big-o-2 · 01-05-2006, 04:15 AM

I built one when I got the issue. Freinds thought I was a nut for trying it. I will never go back, I just bought a 50 ft garden hose and some fittings. I carefully straightened out my wort cooler I had and it worked fine. Got 4 batches under my belt with it. It works well but it is a little slow, but hey by the time it goes throught the chiller it is 74 F in my carboy. Shake it and pitch yeast.

Love it...

AHammer16 · 01-05-2006, 06:57 PM

Just built mine yesterday. Went together w/ no problems.

That JB weld stuff is f'ing great. I have used epoxys before but that stuff is great.

**Orfy** · 01-05-2006, 07:20 PM

Looks good, well done.
Is this for extract brewing or are you collecting your AG bits?

BlightyBrewer · 01-05-2006, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orfy

Looks good, well done.
Is this for extract brewing or are you collecting your AG bits?

I'm starting down the road to AG. My wife bought me a 29L Brupaks Mash Tun / Boiler for Christmas, which I plan to use as a boiler / HLT. I shall probably make a cooler type tun, and use an old plastic fermenter to collect the runnings before transfering to the boiler.