My shelving system... here it is. http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u189/PolTavern/ I used a hole saw to cut perfect holes through each of the shelves in order to accomodate the tubing (hole saw set at Harbor Freight Tools 1.99!!). Also, the TOP shelf is cut in half so that I can remove that half when I am brewing, so that I can mix my mash easier.
The wheels I purchased at Harbor Freight Tools... they were on clearance for like $3 each, simply bought some long bolts and washers in order to affix them to the shelving system. Each shelf is rated at 1,000 lbs, it cost me $55 and it took all of 60 minutes to assemble. It was one of my best purchases yet. I have my thru the wall thermometers installed at $11 each and it is looking pretty sweet! My neighbors will be in AWE when I wheel this baby out into the driveway in April!
I took my MLT out today to clean it up for a brew session, and noticed that the hose clamps on the stainless steel braid didn't look so good:
Despite that the packaging said they were all stainless steel, they are corroding. Not good.
So, I did a quick modification to my original design using a piece of 7/16" x 5/16" vinyl tubing (food grade, high temp). I cut a length to fit inside the SS braid, and then notched it along the entire length to allow liquid to flow through.
I capped it at the end with my brass nut, and slipped the tubing inside the braid. Then I slipped the other end of the tubing on to the barb inside the cooler. The SS braid fits nice and snug over it, so there is no need for hose clamps anymore.
EDIT: If you use the tubing insert idea instead of hose clamps to secure your braid, you MUST use stiff, high temp, food grade tubing. This works exceptionally for myself and many other people. However, if you use rubber tubing, or soft tubing, or tubing that is not rated for high temperatures, it will collapse under its own weight inside the SS braid and cause a stuck sparge. Further, you do not need the tubing to reinforce the SS braid -- it should not collapse under the weight of the mash (if it does you either have a deceivingly similar-looking plastic braid, or the quality of your SS braid is too poor to use in an MLT).
Zip straps or wire ties might work as a replacement for "all stainless" steel hose clamps...that is if you can tighten them down enough to prevent the braid/hose from coming loose.
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MATT - 65g in 2k8
3rd Circle Brewery
Ferminatin' - Route 666 Pale Ale
Figurin' to do - Oatmeal Stout, Gueuze, Belgian Blonde, Mild, English Pale Ale, Weizenbock
Zip straps or wire ties might work as a replacement for "all stainless" steel hose clamps...that is if you can tighten them down enough to prevent the braid/hose from coming loose.
Anybody try zip ties in MLT? Would the plastic hold up to the heat? That seems to be the simplest solution...If soft vinyl tubing can stand hot temps than I would think hard plastic zip-ties would too. Jeez, I just gotta do it and see what happens.
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"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." Lincoln's First Annual Message to Congress, December 3, 1861.
Well i got all the parts for making my MLT, this worked out very good !! I'm only doing a 5gal atm so had to change the size's a bit . Like the vinyl tube idea as for the washers i was able to use Hole Grommets 3/4" they work great and tighten down to make a great seal just use then on the out side, worked great and have 5gal of hot water in it now testing
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Primary 1:
Primary 2:Vanilla Caramel Cream Ale
Secondary 1:American amber ale
secondary 2:Apfelwein
up next: German Hef
Drinking: Chimay
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