Super Simple 15G Plastic Conical

**Squeeky** · 10-24-2011, 01:57 PM

I have been splitting my 11G batches in two fermenter, too many times. I have been waiting for scratch and dent brewhemoth as the wife wont approve the $400+ purchase. My main reasons for the conical are:

1. Collect and wash my yeast easier

2. Pulling wort off yeast bed (didn't secondary prior this should really help)

3. Not have to split batch into two fermenters

4. When I do a ferm chamber, a simple temp controller on fridge will easily work.

For those reason I'm going to build one out of plastic for now. I have read many of the threads on HBT and just wanted to have everything in one thread for others. It's as simple as 4 parts.

1. Ace Roto-Mold 15G Inductor Tank Full Drain (Model INFD0015-19)
I chose this model as it has 1-1/2" FPT on bottom and large 12" openning on top.

SpraySmarter.com $70 shipped

2. 1-1/2" Stainless Steel Closed Nipple
Allows you to connect FPT Ball valve

Grainger $10, can be found on ebay for $8 shipped

3. 1-1/2" Stainless Ball Valve
Could go 3-piece, but doing this on a budget

Ebay listing for $15 shipped Found someone who has 3-piece on ebay for $30 shipped, may spend the extra $15.

4. 1-1/2" PVC yeast catcher
Based on SpottedDog's design, screws into ball valve.

Haven't actually priced but I would assume $5 in parts from Lowes or HomeDepot

Stand will be made from scrap wood, nothing too exciting 4 legs and a sheet of wood with a large circle cut out.

Thanks everything for under $100 shipped. I will be pulling the trigger later today on all the items, but I wanted to get others opinions first. No need for a pickup side port as I've got the yeast catcher.

Squeeky

**FSR402** · 10-24-2011, 04:11 PM

Myself I would either add a 2nd port for racking or plan to drain thru a filter. You wont get all the yeast and trub out so you will get some when racking.

**Mrott** · 10-24-2011, 04:57 PM

if this would work then that would be quite interesting especially considering models of scale considering the 85 gal is only $140 and shipping is roughly $30. So a 2 - 2.5 bbl fermentation tank for $170 shipped with then just some minor modification ($200-$250 total?)

I think the biggest concern I would see would be to ensure it's food grade and wouldn't impart any off flavors. The last thing you'd want is to have everything fermenting only to realize it tastes like sh*t due to the taste of the polyethylene.

2ndstage · 10-24-2011, 05:23 PM

One thing to note about that tank is that the stand does not come with it. I just got off the phone with them to check on the plastic type and he told me that it is separate. They do have another model that includes plastic legs but it only seems to go down to 35 gallon as the mininum size. Just FYI incase you were needing the stand for your design. Not too hard to come up with one on your own really.

**Squeeky** · 10-24-2011, 05:38 PM

yeah the plastic is food safe. just like using a bucket. the type of cleaner used is the only concern.

I mentioned building a simple stand out of wood.

audger · 10-24-2011, 05:46 PM

the difference between food grade HDPE plastic, and non-food grade HDPE plastic (substitute "HDPE" for any other type of plastic), is the amount of other chemicals or contaminants (plasticizers, mould release agents, BPE...) contained in the plastic.

weather that matters to you is your own choice, but
those are not food grade.

**Squeeky** · 10-24-2011, 06:11 PM

well techinically I wrote "food safe", but if I miss informed I'm sorry. I will atleast state that several members have used exact tank, without offputting any flavors/smells.

I understand this will not be the quality of a SS conical, but it's also 1/5th the price.

Guess42 · 10-24-2011, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audger

weather that matters to you is your own choice, but
those are not food grade.

Per US plastics I believe these are in fact food grade safe.

VanHorneDog · 10-24-2011, 06:20 PM

ive seen these other places where they are food grade, but if i am not mistaken a bit more expensive?

if they are cheaper ones they could be because they were rejected for food grade.

**Squeeky** · 10-24-2011, 06:43 PM

Actually the model sold at spraysmarter is the same as that sold at USPlastics. Den Hartog is the parent company of Ace Roto-mold. Both meet FDA regulations upto 120 degrees (no ferm temps that high). I've been planning this project for several months so I'm rather confident everything is the cheapest I can find it and food safe.

Cleaning would require a PBW soak, rinse, starsan spraying.