Tony3696

Recipes 

I was thinking about making a hanging 3 tier system using pulleys. The thought is I can hang 5 gallon coolers from my garage rafters using pulleys and have my kettle/burner on the floor. It would offer an infinitely adjustable system without lifting 180 degree water over my head. What do you think?

tre9er

Recipes 

I've thought of doing this but I would want the "shelf" to slide on a frame of some sort to keep it steady. I'd also want ratcheting lock mechanisms in case of pulley/cable/rope failure so I don't drop anything to the floor. I say go for it, so I can steal it.

__________________
_________________________________
Skal!
Den Faaborg Bryggeri

stevehaun

Recipes 

In the end, it would probably be cheaper to buy a pump.

tre9er

Recipes 

I was thinking of using a come-a-long type ratcheting crank, or mabye the boat winch from a trailer. Then I could have the safety-locking I was looking for. Those boat winches are cheap. Only need to hoist the HLT in my case, as the MLT is table level and the BK is down on a burner stand.

__________________
_________________________________
Skal!
Den Faaborg Bryggeri

CidahMastah

Recipes 

The thing is to ease the load of the lift you would need some pretty big pulleys. There is also some danger involved in the pulley setup vs. a pump. I think you are better off with a pump.

__________________
Man,... That's a lotta hooch!
Steel rig in progress
ebuild info

conpewter

Recipes 

I've thought about the same thing. I dislike having a pump as I can't see that it is clean inside (without taking it apart). I also find that draining the mash tun with the pump gets me a stuck sparge, when I just gravity drain it I don't get that.

__________________
"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people." - V

Primary: Nothin
Secondary: Shady Lord RIS, Water to Barleywine, Pumpkin wine, burnt mead
Kegged: Crappy infected mild
Bottles: Apfelwein, 999 Barleywine, Oatmeal Stout, Robust Porter, Robust smoked porter, Simcoe Smash

Bobby_M

Vendor Ads 

Recipes 

There's no reason to see inside a pump or to take it apart to clean it. I had 20 batches on my march pump before I ever thought to open it up. It looked factory new just from running hot water through it after each brew.

I certainly wouldn't want to be hoisting a container of 180F water over my head.

__________________
BrewHardware.com
Sightglass, Refractometer, Ball Valve, Weldless bulkhead, Thermometer, Decals, Stainless Steel Fittings, Compression Fittings, Camlock Quick Disconnects, Scale, RIMS tube, Plate Chiller, Chugger Pump, Super Clear Silicone Tubing, and more!

gunner65

Recipes 

Agreed boiling water running through my system leaves the pump spotless. In fact that's all that I use to clean my system.

__________________
Single Vessel BIAB is all I need....Until we figure out the no vessel technique.

WIPbrewery

Recipes 

peristaltic pumps for the win...albeit not as cost effective as a march pump, but you would have no fear at all being able to see inside the tubing.

jpietraski

Recipes 

Harbor Freight has a "General Purpose Hoist" that I use to lift a full, hot keggle.
Under $10, rated for 500lb. Sounds kinda shady, but hey, it works.

http://www.harborfreight.com/general-purpose-rope-hoist-45076.html