DIY Conical Fermenter

**Yuri_Rage** · 10-12-2006, 02:41 AM

Uh oh, Yuri's at it again!

The UPS guy was really kind today and brought almost all of the parts for my next adventure in homebrewing. I bought five of the 21 gallon conical hoppers that Toledo Metal Spinning offers, taking advantage of their bulk pricing. They'll have 1" 3-piece dump valves, rotating racking arms with 1/2" 3-piece valves, and lids fabricated from the stock Toledo lid + the top of a single handle corny keg. I was so excited, I completely switched gears in the garage and got to work! Pics so far:

Sweet, my welds turned out water-tight! SWMBO loves when I test my projects out in the kitchen...

Eventually there'll be a 90 degree elbow between the dump valve and the welded fitting.

I'm gonna sell the four extra ones after they're finished, either here or on eBay. Price and details to be determined...I'll keep you posted. Hopefully I'll finish a lid tonight and have some pics to share.

Desert_Sky · 10-12-2006, 02:46 AM

Wow.....

Man, you do some really good work. Looking forward to tomorrows pics

**TheJadedDog** · 10-12-2006, 03:13 AM

What do you do for a living man, I am beyond impressed with your DIY skills.

**Yuri_Rage** · 10-12-2006, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheJadedDog

What do you do for a living man, I am beyond impressed with your DIY skills.

I have a decent job working for Uncle Sam, but it doesn't require fabrication skills. I just have an unhealthy fascination for cool tools and the stuff I can make with them. Thanks for the compliment!!!

Here's the progress so far. Not bad for an evening in the garage, I suppose. I have some stainless square tube on order for the legs, but it hasn't arrived yet. I can't wait to put one of these to use!

Desert_Sky · 10-12-2006, 01:53 PM

sexy

I wonder if I would be able to keep 10 gallons cool enough. I have an ambient temp of 68 degrees under the stairs in a closet. But I cant exactly wrap a wet towel around that bad boy though.

rdwj · 10-12-2006, 02:00 PM

That is AWESOME!

I think it's time to change your title from "Tim Allen's Clone" to "Tim Allen's Hero"

ian · 10-12-2006, 02:58 PM

So a price list is forthcoming then??
That looks awesome by the way.

Todd · 10-12-2006, 03:23 PM

Yuri,

What are you doing for the welds? how are you making sure they are sanitary on the inside. Also what exactly does that mean? I was watching a show and they said all the welds were sanded and polished. Is that needed?

Todd

**Yuri_Rage** · 10-12-2006, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ian

So a price list is forthcoming then??

I'll figure up a price after I "engineer" the lid latches - they might drive my cost up a little. I will post a parts list in case there's another hardcore DIY-er around.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Todd

What are you doing for the welds? how are you making sure they are sanitary on the inside. Also what exactly does that mean? I was watching a show and they said all the welds were sanded and polished. Is that needed?

So far I've been using 3/32" 309 alloy TIG filler rod, pure argon, and a Lincoln Square Wave machine with a 1/16" 2% thoriated electrode in an air cooled torch. I chose 309 because it works best for joining dissimilar alloys and can be used on mild steel (i.e., the lid latches). As far as "sanitary welds" - that's a bit of a joke to me. Yes, I'm going to grind any roughness down and avoid porosity at all cost, but I think the term is more of a marketing ploy than an actual process.

**Yuri_Rage** · 10-12-2006, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chimone

I wonder if I would be able to keep 10 gallons cool enough. I have an ambient temp of 68 degrees under the stairs in a closet. But I cant exactly wrap a wet towel around that bad boy though.

Actually, two wet towels and a few clothespins will probably work really well since metal is a much better conductor than glass and plastic. The dimensions are 20" in diameter by about 26" high - not too terribly big.