Recent content by pokey

Same website as the yard glass above....just scrolled down to this item. Damn, what a great invention. http://www.firebox.com/index.html?dir=firebox&action=product&pid=1388&src_t=lty&src_id=44

Yes - from what I have read, standard vinyl would be a mess at this temp. I got some of this after I made mine: http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/variant.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=7511&product%5Fid=8415&variant%5Fid=54036 Worked great on the first batch with the CFC. #2...

True there. I thought that the freezer isn't just integrated....it IS the cooling system. Do yourself a favor and don't mess with it much.

I think that most folks here are using something in the order of the 55,000 btu turkey burners. They will easily bring 3-4 gallons to a pretty quick boil.

This is a great idea - way to build some flexibility into the system. Where were you 4 months ago when I was buying coolers? How do you generate said vacuum? I have seen some threads here regarding using "wort wizard" type devices....any other easy way that I am missing?

I ordered one of the Perlick copycat faucets from MoreBeer. I don't know how nice the ventmatic ones are, but the Perlick "replacement" is pretty sweet. And 10 bucks cheaper at MoreBeer's prices. I am ordering another with my next order. http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=6495

One minor design improvement that I could offer up to this: use plastic snap clamps for the garden hose to barb connections instead of worm drive type hose clamps. I tried the worm drive ones first, but could not tighten enough to get rid of water leaks. The plastic snap ones don't allow any...

Just finished building my CFC per Cheyco's design (very, very easy!), and was wondering: how do all you CFC users sanitize, drain, keep clean, etc. your CFC? I have read about storing them with sanitizer solution in them, is this good practice?

I have used mine in milky-white state for many batches now without any negative effect. Still works fine.

Does anyone have any experience with these types of burners: http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=17247 From some searching around on the internet, they are called "impinged jet" burners, and are supposedly pretty efficient with high heat output. I just get worried by the "have a...

I am no machinist, but if you ever watch one of the custom motorcycle building shows on TV, they always use step drills to cut through sheet metal. Not sure all of those guys are what you would call "professional" at what they do, but it looks like it works really well. Something like these...

For now I am using a 9 inch long dial thermometer that I stick in the top of my 5 gal rubbermaid. It is the thermo that came with my turkey fryer setup, so the resolution isn't the best, but it provides good monitoring. I just drilled a tight fitting hole through the lid of the cooler. I use...

I had the same problem with the aquarium pump. Had to take it back and get the deep water one after realizing that a normal one only worked until a couple inches deep.

Uh-oh. I thought that the Listermann mashing manual that came with my sparge arm said to keep the water level just below the top of the grain bed. I can't find the manual tonight though, so maybe I read it wrong. Is 1-2 inches above definitely the standard? Does it really make a difference?

I got one at radio shack several years ago for around $20 - it is a combination temp and hygrometer, with max/min tracking for both. Works great - I have used it for monitoring temps in my fermentation room.