JMichael

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Okay, so I started my stand build with a cross between the Brutus and the “wallace” slotted angle stand. However, while testing the burners (one banjo and two six inch) I became a little concerned with the stand’s durability. The slotted angle didn't seem strong enough and it would droop and twist in some places when it got hot. So, it was back to the drawing board. I decided to use a Brutus style design with 1 ½ x 1 ½ inch square tubing (not stainless). I should’ve gone this route to begin with but I didn’t know how to weld I didn’t want to pay someone to do it. So, now I have a stronger sturdier stand and I know how to weld (kind of). They weren’t pretty welds but they’re solid. I had someone with welding experience check my work and after fixing a couple of bad welds I cleaned it, painted it and transferred my gas and electrical stuff over.

All I can say is this has been an experience. I have had a lot of fun building these stands and a lot of cussing and headaches too. But, I now have some electrical, gas, and welding experience. I still need to add my pilot burners and do some testing before I can brew my first batch on it but for the most part it is done.

Here are some pics of the first one (now it’s a storage stand in my garage) and the new one.

dRaPP

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Take THAT, erector set brewstand!

Both of those look like pretty sweet setups. The second obviously looks better. Good job!

__________________
Primary1: Sapphire Hefeweizen
Primary2: Citrennial IPA (Citra and Centennial hops)
Secondary: New Zealand IPA (Nelson, Riwaka, Motueka, and Pacific Gem hops)
Bottled: American Amber, American Pale, Red IPA
Kegged: One Hearted Ale

mjohnson

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Your garage is too clean.


Nice stand btw.

Fritztheelephant

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It appears that you switched from the green Chugger pumps to regular March 809's? Did you not like them?

JMichael

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They had some issues. Evidently, they were part of their initial test lot that were not suppose to go out to the public so they replaced the motors with actual March 809's.

I think they've got some new ones in now. I'd give them another try. The guys at Tri-State Pump have been really good to work with. They have great customer service.

JMichael

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Notice you don't see the right side of the garage. Thanks

Fritztheelephant

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Yes. Their prices seem more than resonable on both the chugger and the March.

I am currently building a brewstand from very similar material as your weldless. You issues have me concerned. How bad was the twisting and sagging? Just enough that you wanted something better or not a chance in hell this will work?

JMichael

Recipes 

Mostly the sagging occurred on the front and back sides (mostly the back) where the banjo burner was located. It would get glowing red. I think a heat shield may have helped but I didn't want to chance ten gallons of boiling wort collapsing on me. Could make for a bad combination; boil liquid, open flame, gas and electricity.

To be honest, the square tubing was cheaper than the slotted angle. I got 60 feet at a local metals yard for $84.00 ($28 each, stainless was like $123 each). They cut it into 6 foot lengths for me and said they'd cut the exact lengths I needed but I didn't have my design sheet with me.

jcav

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Nice job JMichael, I think your new stand looks great! You can now brew in confidence as the steel you used is more than strong enough. That's quite a control box you got there, where did you get it?

__________________
"Talent is hitting a target no one else can hit. Genius is hitting a target no one else can see."

"Just because your paranoid doesn't mean they really aren't after you!"

JMichael

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Thanks. It's a 12x12 PVC box I found at Lowes for about $30.