Hey guys,
Wanted to share my (What I think of as unique) AG setup. My background - did 3 all extract brews, and decided to just go for it, after reading a few good books (How To Brew, Clonebrews, Designing Great Beers, Brew Like A Monk). I'm the sort of person who loves to read all I can about something, then just jump in for it.
I started with a 70Q Coleman Extreme cooler from WalMart. Being December, I couldn't find these in store, but you can order them off their website (And if you're not in a rush for it to get there, they'll ship it for less than $1). Why 70Q? In case I ever get crazy and want to do 10 gal batches. Cost - $36.
For whatever reason, I found myself enamored with the idea of using mesh tubing vs copper pipe or CPVC. So after much time at Home Depot, I picked up a 2 pack of 60" washing machine hoses, and decided I would use these for my piping. Cost - $16.
So why 60" washing machine hoses? I wanted to use both, and run them in a loop from the end of the cooler to the end and back (See the pic below if you can't visualize that). The Coleman cooler is about 25-28" from one end to the other on the inside (I'll admit, I didn't measure... Used the old "It's a bit longer than my arm" method), but this ended up being the right size.
Now, how to hookup the hoses? I needed enough parts to put together a manifold & bulkhead fitting with 4 inlets, and an outlet for the bulkhead, feeding into a 3/8" ball-valve. This took a bit of creativity, and some research as I know nothing about plumbing. But I ended up with the right components after about an hour at HD comparing all the parts. Cost - about $50.
I also needed some larger washers fit to the right size for the fittings, and some rubber washers and o-rings, which I had a hard time finding at HD, so I went to my local TrueValue (Who unfortunately didn't have all the fittings, hence starting at HD), and picked up all those bits for about $5.
The last steps before assembling it all where to strip the rubber piping from the dishwasher hose, and then reinforcing it with 14g wire - I wanted to use 1" mesh hose originally, but could only find 18" lengths, which were pricey. So I went with the 5/8" and reinforced it (Just in case! Or if I want to do a 10 gallon batch).
The results were quite good - I brewed my 4th batch of beer ever out of the mash-tun with great results (I think! It's still fermenting, but the OG was spot-on per BeerSmith - 1.074 for a Belgian Strong Ale) - only real mistake was I didn't recirculate til I had clear wort running out - newbie mistake. I'll keep you guys posted on the brew, but wanted to share.
List of fittings used:
Center section - 3 x 3/8 female Ts, 3 x 3/8 1" nipples (two to connect the 3 Ts, one to run out through the bulkhead)
Connectors - 1 5/8 to 3/8 reducer to connect to one part of the T, with 5/8" compression fitting, and a 3/8 to 3/8 compression elbow
Inner Bulkhead - Large washer (Can't remember the size, took the fittings into TrueValue to get ones the fit over), o-ring, then snug fitting rubber washer
Outter Bulkhead - a few orings to help snug up the inside, rubber washer, o-ring, then washer, 3/8 female to 3/8 male, 3/8 ball-valve, then 3/8 male to 3/8 barb
Thanks and good brewing!
Wanted to share my (What I think of as unique) AG setup. My background - did 3 all extract brews, and decided to just go for it, after reading a few good books (How To Brew, Clonebrews, Designing Great Beers, Brew Like A Monk). I'm the sort of person who loves to read all I can about something, then just jump in for it.
I started with a 70Q Coleman Extreme cooler from WalMart. Being December, I couldn't find these in store, but you can order them off their website (And if you're not in a rush for it to get there, they'll ship it for less than $1). Why 70Q? In case I ever get crazy and want to do 10 gal batches. Cost - $36.
For whatever reason, I found myself enamored with the idea of using mesh tubing vs copper pipe or CPVC. So after much time at Home Depot, I picked up a 2 pack of 60" washing machine hoses, and decided I would use these for my piping. Cost - $16.
So why 60" washing machine hoses? I wanted to use both, and run them in a loop from the end of the cooler to the end and back (See the pic below if you can't visualize that). The Coleman cooler is about 25-28" from one end to the other on the inside (I'll admit, I didn't measure... Used the old "It's a bit longer than my arm" method), but this ended up being the right size.
Now, how to hookup the hoses? I needed enough parts to put together a manifold & bulkhead fitting with 4 inlets, and an outlet for the bulkhead, feeding into a 3/8" ball-valve. This took a bit of creativity, and some research as I know nothing about plumbing. But I ended up with the right components after about an hour at HD comparing all the parts. Cost - about $50.
I also needed some larger washers fit to the right size for the fittings, and some rubber washers and o-rings, which I had a hard time finding at HD, so I went to my local TrueValue (Who unfortunately didn't have all the fittings, hence starting at HD), and picked up all those bits for about $5.
The last steps before assembling it all where to strip the rubber piping from the dishwasher hose, and then reinforcing it with 14g wire - I wanted to use 1" mesh hose originally, but could only find 18" lengths, which were pricey. So I went with the 5/8" and reinforced it (Just in case! Or if I want to do a 10 gallon batch).
The results were quite good - I brewed my 4th batch of beer ever out of the mash-tun with great results (I think! It's still fermenting, but the OG was spot-on per BeerSmith - 1.074 for a Belgian Strong Ale) - only real mistake was I didn't recirculate til I had clear wort running out - newbie mistake. I'll keep you guys posted on the brew, but wanted to share.
List of fittings used:
Center section - 3 x 3/8 female Ts, 3 x 3/8 1" nipples (two to connect the 3 Ts, one to run out through the bulkhead)
Connectors - 1 5/8 to 3/8 reducer to connect to one part of the T, with 5/8" compression fitting, and a 3/8 to 3/8 compression elbow
Inner Bulkhead - Large washer (Can't remember the size, took the fittings into TrueValue to get ones the fit over), o-ring, then snug fitting rubber washer
Outter Bulkhead - a few orings to help snug up the inside, rubber washer, o-ring, then washer, 3/8 female to 3/8 male, 3/8 ball-valve, then 3/8 male to 3/8 barb
Thanks and good brewing!