Wood to Steel Upgrade?

ScubaSteve · 08-20-2008, 02:16 AM

Thinking about upgrading, folks....

We're moving soon and I just don't have room in the new garage for my wooden rig.

Here's the wood stand:

Here's the kegs set up in a stainless steel cart I have:

I figure I'll have the HLT on top left, MT top right, and BK on bottom. I can set up a burner under the cart, but I think I can also create a slide out stand that a keg can sit on with a burner under it. It'll allow me a little more room to tend the boil. When I'm done, I can slide the keg and burner "drawer" back in. In the space on the bottom right, I think I'll put a chillzilla (or maybe a shirron or therminator) and rig my 2 march pumps.

Here's a profile comparison of both:

The stainless cart is about half the length, and I can still see into the top of the keggles. I figure this will tuck away nicely, and I might even be able to get away with packing this in a car.

Can anyone see a potential error in this upgrade? Am I missing something? I'd appreciate any critique of the new rig using the SS cart.

**Duckfoot** · 08-20-2008, 02:32 AM

I am just amazed that you haven't caught that thing on fire... I would have by now...

Great looking rig though...

McKBrew · 08-20-2008, 02:36 AM

Dude that wooden rig is beautiful. My suggestion is to move to a house with a bigger garage. (I know that doesn't help much, but I'd hate to see such a beautiful thing not get used.)

its02003 · 08-20-2008, 02:37 AM

Let me start off saying that its a shame that you are going to lose the ability to use the wooden masterpiece that you have there.

As to constructive feedback, I think you will really benefit from using the pull-out shelf method in the smaller stand. I really like the look of the smaller, more compact system and it still looks sleek since its all stainless. The additional shelf will open up "counter space" on the top of the stand that you can use to store things during the brewing process.

A few suggestions:

#1: To save yourself even more space and to multitask, you could mount a small peg-type rack on the front of the cart to hold utensils and other misc things you use on brew day.

#2: Build some sort of retractable heat shield with the shelf so that when you are running the burner, you chiller and other brewing paraphernalia are unaffected by the heat. This could be stored right on top of the shelf when its in its retracted state and when you pull it out to brew, the shield would be right there.

ScubaSteve · 08-20-2008, 04:55 PM

It's not that I can't have it at the new house.....I just like the idea of having a compact, squared away, clean looking rig.....and a clean garage. I put a LOT of work in the wood rig, so I definitely have some emotional attachment (SWMBO couldn't believe I'd get rid of it). If I do the stainless rig, I'll build it to be the last rig I'll ever do (famous last words

).

itis2003, I think you're envisioning a pull out shelf on the top. I was thinking about a pull out shelf on the bottom left. Kind of like an extendable platform with a burner that I could place a keggle on and do my boil without the overhang.

I've also just considered buying a banjo burner with the stand and setting that up right next to the rig, and not even screw with modding the cart. Maybe I could have it hook up to the rig with a QD. I would like to have 2 burners under the top shelf though, to heat/maintain the HLT and maybe do direct fire step mashing/temp maintenance. A HERMS would be a PITA. Chicago gets hella cold, and I know that the heat will just get sucked right out of the HLT/MT in the winter.

If I do decide to sell my wood rig, you know I'll post it up here for my HBT peeps before it goes on Craig's List

ScubaSteve · 08-20-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckfoot

I am just amazed that you haven't caught that thing on fire... I would have by now...

Great looking rig though...

Nope. It'll burn like the flames of hell and the sides will be just warm. The durarock cladding on the inside walls, and especially the heat shields protect the wood.