any last minute advice before i build my chiller ?

yeasty · 02-24-2009, 10:36 PM

gonna build my IC tomorrow. if you got any pics, tricks, or other advice please chime in now. i wanted to build it with a 8 gal pot in mind knowing it will be too big for my 5.5gal pot right now. i have 50ft of 1/2 OD copper tubing and one male and one female connection....

KerryD · 02-24-2009, 11:03 PM

Just make sure your connections are outside the pot so if they leak they don't leak into the pot. I put a slight bend down at the ends where you put the connections. if they leak, they won't run down the pipe and back into the wort, they will leak back toward the hoses.

HOP-HEAD · 02-24-2009, 11:23 PM

...or just make your copper connections without any leaks. People sweat water lines for inside of homes everyday. They don't put the connections outside just in case they leak someday...

On the other hand, any copper to hose connections should be off to the side of the kettle, because those can and likely will leak at one time or another. Don't let a leak scare you, though. If you're sweating the joints, as I think you should, just take your time, clean very well, make clean cuts, and flux, flux, flux....

I actually made my chiller with a step in the bottom to clear the filter that runs across the bottom of the pot out of the spigot.

yeasty · 02-24-2009, 11:49 PM

thanks for the input ! how much room should i leave between coils ? how much room from the sides of the pot ? is a double coil ok ???

RedIrocZ-28 · 02-25-2009, 12:40 AM

I made an IC with only 20' of 3/8" tubing immersed that can take 5gals to pitching temps in 17 minutes with the pot sitting on the counter. My design was a dual "interwoven" coil setup. I got mine to have coils close to the edge of the pot as well as spaced evenly throughout the pot. Coils are about 1" apart.

XXguy · 02-25-2009, 01:25 AM

Head over to the DIY section here at HBT - I think Bobby_M even had a video posted making a homemade chiller. So far my homemade chiller is one of my most useful pieces of homebrew equipment. I like the setup RedIroc has - simple but looks effective!

s3n8 · 02-25-2009, 01:43 AM

I do not know if anyone else has tried this, but instead of wrapping the coils around something, I used the inside of a bucket to form my coils. Make sure this fits inside your pot though (obviously). I used the Bobby_M 3/8 90s (yes, 3/8) rather than bending, and the 5/8 hose fitting to barb fitting drilled out with a 1/2" bit. Soldered everything together. I also took apart some 14g romex, and wound that around the coils (woven, weaved?) in and out and soldered the top and bottom. It is a lot less flexy that way, but still allows for some expansion and contraction.

yeasty · 02-25-2009, 02:44 PM

fun ! i used a corny keg for mold. was gonna post pics but i am not allowed ? do i no t have the right membership for that ?

**Clipper** · 02-25-2009, 02:57 PM

I've sweat miles of cooper pipe over the years and I find the Mapp (yellow can) gas works better for the smaller jobs. I also use a damp towel to take a swipe around the fitting to smooth things out.

**Homercidal** · 02-25-2009, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yeasty

fun ! i used a corny keg for mold. was gonna post pics but i am not allowed ? do i no t have the right membership for that ?

I'm not a member yet, and I've posted pics. There is a button that should allow you to link to a picture on a server. Oh, yeah, you have to have your picture hosted somewhere first. I think members can host pictures on this site, others have to use a different host.

Making stuff is fun, yeah?