Commonwealth

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Amigos and brewing afficianados,

I am wondering if anyone has experience or comments on using round stock tubular steel instead of the square for a single tier frame? I live in an area rife with dairy industry and have a line on some scrap stainless tubing but it is round. I would think cutting the ends that butt up to another round tube would be far more complex than a straight cut. But other than that any reason you should or shouldn't substitute round?

It seems the primary concerns are of diameter and gauge so that the stand can remain stable and support the weight of your brewing ware, water and grain.

Any thoughts are welcome.

OneHoppyGuy

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Like you mentioned, it's the cutting/fabbing that will be the challenge. Look at equipment designed for making chromoly roll cages. They make jigs and cutting devices designed for round tube.
If the tube is a minimum .06 (+-1/6") you're good to go. The one other challenge is welding stainless. You will need the right equipment.

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rekoob

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+1 on what OneHoppyGuy said.
I considered round when I was getting ready to make mine as I had a friend that had some scrap laying around, ended up going with 2x2 instead. Now I am talking mild steel, if you can weld SS then it might be worth it to do it.

sullivap

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I used round tubing. I had access to a JD Squared Model 3 bender:

https://www.jd2.com/t-bendercomparison.aspx

and that allowed me to make a stand fairly easily using techniques similar
to roll cage fabrication for buggies/jeeps, take a look:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/show-us-your-sculpture-brew-rig-46578/index103.html#post2444825

Where it becomes extra work is notching stock to add cross members. With
square tubing is just a simple chop, with round tubing a notcher is helpful, I made a simple notcher with my drill press an a hole saw.

-Pete

OneHoppyGuy

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1.75 Legs, 1x2 top rail, the balance in 1x1... all .065

BTW: We are now selling this frame for $399.95

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RazzBarlow

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If you like the look of round tubing or that is what you have available, then I say go for it!

I'm tempted to make a brew stand out of 1/2 inch square tubing just to prove it can be done!

Most of the ones I see on here seem like they were designed to have a Kenworth parked on top of them.

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Commonwealth

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Thanks to all for the input. There is a local metal recycler who has 2" diameter, 1/16th wall, 304 grade stainless priced at $0.85 per lb. He claims this works out to something like 1/8 the price comapred to new material. How does that sound for a metal choice? Strong enough? He also had some 1/8th wall, 4" pipe but only has two 10 foot sections (priced at $1.20 a lb) So i could use those for the pot support surface aka "table top," as it seems to me the long horizontal spans that the vessels and their contents rest on would need to bear the brunt of the load.

A welder i am not so I'm considering paying a fabricator to build it for me and not so worried abot complicated cuts. I found a local guy with reasonable rates who I'll get a quote from. I've also found a local club with member access to a plasma cutter and a stainless capable welder that soundedlike an interesting way to learn welding.

Any thoughts on that 1/16" wall, 2" pipe?

OneHoppyGuy

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Awesome!! It will look great!

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Brewright. All Rights Reserved. We reserve the right to brew and to help you brew. To protect the brew and defend the brew. To make the brew and drink the brew.

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OneHoppyGuy

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You can build a brewstand out of toothpicks with enough of them. Water weighs aprox. 8lbs/gallon. 3 kettles w/10 gal. each = 240 lbs

Take a look at the materials MoreBeer, Sabco and BrewSteel use. Do you think we would use more than needed if we are trying to control costs?

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Brewright. All Rights Reserved. We reserve the right to brew and to help you brew. To protect the brew and defend the brew. To make the brew and drink the brew.

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day_trippr

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It'll likely work just fine for the top level, but .062" thick SS tubing would be pretty unforgiving material to learn to weld on...

Cheers!