[mariojr]

Looks like your PMBS is increasing in value! You may need to change the name.

[r8rphan]

Originally Posted by mariojr

Looks like your PMBS is increasing in value! You may need to change the name.

Naw, I'll just change the meaning!

Originally it was a brew stand that a poor man can afford to build... Now it's becoming a brew stand that ensures you remain a poor man!


The funny thing is, that I measured it out and there's just enough room to get three keggles on there.. So this could go on forever!

Gonna try and put the brakes on for a while after the chiller is built and functioning.. with the exception of a wooden box to store all the small stuff, and a 6" high drawer that will sit under the burner to store all the hoses, I plan on just doing some brewing for a while... Especially seeing as I still need to buy a at least a couple more cornys and a bigger CO2 bottle...

I have another hobby that needs attention for a while.. and the goal of that one is to actually 'make' money..

Not to mention that I may have an expensive vehicle issue coming up (transmission)...

[r8rphan]

BTW.. I have enough plywood left over from the original build to build the chiller box, the drawer and the storage box (when I add in a few scraps I have laying around).. I still have a 2' x 4' piece and a 4' x 4' piece left over from the original build...

[r8rphan]

Okay, here's where I was last night (took pics this morning)..

All the dry fitting is done except for the plumbing hook ups to the outside world...

[r8rphan]

And here is where I am now, as of about 30 mins ago...

The main chiller is all soldered.. Only the very beginning and end is not soldered.. I first need to cut and dry fit all the ins/outs to the outside world...

The chiller allows for exactly 30' of cooling water in contact with tubing carrying wort...

But I'm relieved that the bulk of the plumbing work is behind me..

[gswartley]

That is one cool CFC!!
If I were building it I would defiantly have it where it could be seen.
All that work would be shown off on my brew rig.

Looks great man.

[r8rphan]

Thanks! I have most of the ins/out dry fitted now.. After I finish a few non-related things I gotta do, I'm gonna solder them up, and go get a few odds and ends I need... Then hopefully I can test for leaks tonite, and build the box tomorrow.. Paint Saturday, and Brew Sunday!


Copper looks like crap after a while due to oxidizing, so there's little point in even trying to leave it visible.. Not to mention, any attempt to do so, would hamper the 'practicality' of the PMBS.. which is one of the main priorities...

I can always show a 'picture' to anyone who is curious.. And then they will see the 'new and shiny' version...

Besides, I think it will be kinda cool to 'hide' everything, and make people wonder.. "What the heck? How does it work?" Especially those who somewhat understand the brew process (ie, the need for chilling the wort)...

[r8rphan]

Well, things went fast and well today ... 'until' it came time to sweat in the ball valves... CHEAP CHINESE CRAP FROM LOWES!

You know, more and more the discount is just not worth it...

I put heat to these things and before they were hot enough to melt solder, they came apart... I'm not sure how they were fastened in the first place, except that mnaybe they wer press fitted on either side of the silicone gasket.. ..

Whatever, I used some quality FIP ball valves purchased from a local wholesale house in their place...

So, after that two and a half hour fiasco... I finally have completed the PMBS CFC unit! I wasn't able to test it under pressure yet, as I ran out of time.. and need a couple doo dads.. but as long as I don't have any leaks anywhere near them dang ball valves.. I'm cool...

So here it is.. next I need to build the cover for it, and then get the fittings/adapters to build the hoses to put it to good use..

The other ball valve, that currently isn't connected to anything, will be for general purpose water, and will eventually be plumbed through a filter so that I can use it to fill the HLT/BK with water...

It doesn't need to be any more finished than it is for now though...

[r8rphan]

YAY!!!!!

No Leaks!!!



Cut most of the plywood pieces I need for the enclosure.. just need a few hose fittings and what not, then I'm off to the races..

[Conesus_Kid]

I love this build! You're making me rethink my idea for a poor man's brewing tree. A single rolling cart using buckets for wort collection is a lot more practical and a lot less expensive!