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sarsnik · 06-26-2012, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeebas

Questions:

#1 There is one very minor pin sized leak if you look on the last picture of the last post - the full coupling -> street elbow connection - I tightened this as much as it would go, and it still seems to be making bubbles - is there any sort of sealant that anyone would recommend that I put around it? Also, trying to get a wrench to grasp one of those full couplings is darn near impossible.
#2 Realizing that I need thermometers for my first two pots (I mean who cares what exact temp the BK is at as long as its boiling, right?) I was wondering if there was a reason why more people don't use digital thermometers like this - http://www.amazon.com/CDN-DTQ450X-ProAccurate-Quick-Read-Thermometer/dp/B0021AEAG2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1340630745&sr=8-1&keywords=digital+meat+thermometer - with a NPT to probe compresson setup over the dial thermometers. Is it just that folks think the dial thermos look nicer or is there a functional reason?
#3 Any good arguments for or against having a sight gauge on the MLT (as opposed to just the HLT) I was figuring that if I know what I have for strike water in the HLT, and then just transfer that and the I know what I have for sparge water, then I am always gonna know what is going to be in the MLT... but I suppose that doesn't account for liquid being left behind, which leads me to
#4 Dip tubes - all three kettles? I have kettle screens for my MLT and BK so using dip tubes would necessitate a change in that. I could use one easily for the HLT since it has no screen. Or do I just accept some loss of liquid (whether it be water or wort)?

If anyone could help me out with these questions / has any suggestions that would be awesome. Thanks for the time everyone.

#1 I would retighten the connection and use a bunch of pipe dope. I used this stuff without any problems: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100144191/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=thread+sealant&storeId=10051

Are you using pipe wrenches? I never have a problem with them slipping.

#2 Dial thermos are a little more resilient. Most can take higher sustained temps than their plastic counterparts. Personally, I'm going to be using digital on my MT and HLT to be as exact as possible. The alternative is to use all dial thermos to get temps in the ball park, then get the exact reading with a digital.

#3 Some people like to heat the mash water in the MT and the sparge in the HLT at the same time. A sight in the MT will let you measure properly in both vessels. Honestly though, I don't see significant benefits.

#4 Yes, based on your pot design, I'd put dip tubes on everything.

**Jeebas** · 09-26-2012, 08:00 PM

So I am hoping to brew my first AG batch (finally) this coming weekend. Having two kids, building a smoker, other around the house projects have kept me from it, but now is the time.

One of my main concerns is cleaning. Unfortunately the area where I am going to end up brewing will not have a sink and will be be a few rooms away from the kitchen. My initial take at a cleaning process is this:

Pre Brew Cleaning Method
(In kitchen)
#1 Unscented Dishsoap and sponge all kettles, rinse
#2 Return kettles to stand, fill up bucket with hot water
(In brewroom)
#3 Add some hot water and Oxiclean to BK, run through the pump and chiller (making sure to change out the hoses) back into BK
#4 Drain oxiclean water into a bucket
#5 Add some starsan solution to BK, circulate as in #3
#6 Drain into different bucket (use later for sanitizing fermenter)
#7 Use remainder of hot water to rinse

Does this seem like a decent process, am I forgetting something or overthinking this entirely?

acidrain · 09-27-2012, 12:28 AM

You should use the yellow (gas pipe) teflon tape on all your gas connections. Other than that, looking really good!

**Jeebas** · 09-27-2012, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by acidrain

You should use the yellow (gas pipe) teflon tape on all your gas connections. Other than that, looking really good!

Thanks - I sure did.

I just haven't had a chance to post any updated photos - the workshop has been a mess lately.

**stratslinger** · 09-27-2012, 02:33 PM

I wouldn't bother wasting the starsan, honestly... The boil is going to sanitize everything. Just make sure to crank up your burner to full and circulate your boiling wort through your chiller for the last 15 minutes or so of your boil and you'll be all set.

Full disclosure: pretty much all I do is rinse my stuff off, pre-brew. Post brew I'll clean out the mash tun with unscented dish soap, then cycle hot oxyclean solution for 15 minutes through everything else except the HLT (that only ever sees water, so it only needs to be drained and dried), then cycle hot rinse water for 10 minutes, then dry everything off and put it all away. If it's clean when it gets put away, it's going to be clean when it's taken out, with the possible exception of a little bit of dust that a quick rinse will take care of.