Brewery Build - Single Tier HERMS - Page 3

mplutodh1 · 01-03-2010, 09:43 PM

Not as much as I'd have liked but kind of expected that with all of the obligations around the holidays. I've ordered quite a few of the parts - still waiting on a few things to come back in stock at suppliers. We've passed our design off to the welder and on Wednesday he sent the cut sheet off to the materials supplier. Hoping he'll be able to make headway on the frame in the coming few weeks.

Parts that have shown up over the last several weeks:

March Pumps (2)
Sight Glasses (2) - Thanks Bobby_M!
Love Controllers (2)
Honeywell Gas Valve (1)
1/2" Ball Valves (5)
False Bottoms (2) - Thanks Jaybird
Kegs (3)
Wheels (2)
Banjo Burners (3)

Also ordered our couplings and nipples for our keggles. Today's project that my dad has been working on is building the cutting jig for the keggle tops. I've got 1 of the 3 kegs mostly polished. Started on the second before I chopped up my finger (that's put a bit of a damper on polishing for a little bit).

Hoping to order the cam-locks in the next week or so (depending on whether or not the supplier gets them back in stock) - and have a few smaller parts to order for the gas plumbing and control panel.

Wish I had more to report - it is going slower than I had hoped but it'll be worth it in the end!

I'll keep everyone posted.

mplutodh1 · 01-05-2010, 05:51 AM

01/04/10 Update:

Gave our welder, Micah, the green light tonight after he received the pricing from the metal supplier. If all goes well we might have the stand in about a week!

And we thought we had some time to order up remaining parts - guess we better get on it!

**Brewmoor** · 01-06-2010, 08:15 PM

Can't wait to see how this design works out. I like the idea of putting the kegs on hinges. Are you going to use any hard plumbing or will it all be flexible? I saw on another thread you are going to use the camlocks. Type F so I assume you are using some sort of tubing.

mplutodh1 · 01-06-2010, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewmoor

Can't wait to see how this design works out. I like the idea of putting the kegs on hinges. Are you going to use any hard plumbing or will it all be flexible? I saw on another thread you are going to use the camlocks. Type F so I assume you are using some sort of tubing.

We'll be using silicone tubing - likely the stuff from Austin Homebrew and making several sets of tubing. Correct, we'll also be using the cam locks on all of our fittings. No hard plumbing for liquid.

mplutodh1 · 01-15-2010, 04:44 PM

01/15/10 Update:

Got word last night that the welding on the stand is all done (minus hinges which we'll take care of Wednesday of next week when we go to pick up the stand). We've still got quite a bit of work to go but that's a big step in the right direction.

Items we're still working through figuring out:

1) HERMs Coil Mounting - how we want to go about doing this, think we've determined we'll probably use compression fittings on the side of the keg so the coil can be removed.

2) HLT Stirrer - trying to determine what motor we want to use and how we want to go about incorporating in our design.

3) Sparging Setup - we've talked through numerous options but haven't settled on our desired approach yet.

4) Control Panel - we have a general desired direction but are working through the electrical schematics and options. Hoping to mimic a control panel similar to that used in the HERMAN build but simpler (no circuit board - rather using pilot lights if possible).

**Mirage** · 01-15-2010, 06:17 PM

Wow, that looks sweet! What are you going to use the other kegs for?

mplutodh1 · 01-15-2010, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mirage

Wow, that looks sweet! What are you going to use the other kegs for?

Undetermined at this point - we picked those up and were just looking for 1 more but after taking a closer look at them, especially one, they are pretty beat up (dented and don't sit flat). So we scored 3 nice kegs.

We'll probably use them for fermenters or other projects later on.

**Mirage** · 01-15-2010, 08:13 PM

Ah cool cool! I am also just picking up sankes as I can. Always find a use for them or I am sure I can sell them for what I paid at a later date.

**flananuts** · 01-15-2010, 08:38 PM

Make 10-15 gallon fermenters out of them. there's a guy on HBT that makes a tri-clover set up for them. Great use in my opinion. I turned another keg into a cooler for bbq's etc but now wish I had not cut the top off.

**Mirage** · 01-15-2010, 08:45 PM

I was reading about turning a keg with the top cut off into a fermenter. I think it would almost be better (more work but better) in that you can easily clean and make sure it is clean. It involved plexi and a gasket and 2x4 to hold it down. People were pressure fermenting in it and everything. Seemed pretty sweet to me.