Cervesarius
Member
All,
I'm saving for a wedding, so my funds are tied up and brewing dollars are hard to come by. I am trying to make the leap from extract to all grain on a budget. a tiny budget.
As I was walking through WalMart a few days ago I came upon an IMUSA 32 Quart tamale steamer that has been referenced in other threads. This is the exact same one: http://www.target.com/p/imusa-32-qt-aluminum-tamale-steamer/-/A-10910892
My plan is to buy two of these pots. I would use one as a boil kettle and one as a MLT.
On the MLT, I have seen that Blichmann BoilerMaker's use a "button louvre" on their false bottoms. My thought process is that I could make the strainer part of the above pot into a similar false bottom. I would do this by shunting up led free slugs just barely above the strainer's holes. I would then solder them into place with a led free high strength/melting point solder. After that I would put a weldless ball valve assembly below the pot's indentation. Viola, a MLT.
I would also plan of making an insulation wrap for it from any hot water heater insulation they have at WalMart as well. I am pretty sure I can do this all for ~$30-35. Not bad for 32 quart MLT.
I would appreciate any suggestions. I am wondering if the solder is a feasible bonding agent for the slugs? I suppose I could put the ball valve above the strainer and feed a pipe from the valve to below the false bottom? I know these pots are somewhat flimsy, but hey, I'm on a budget. Anyone ever tried a similar approach before?
Slainte
I'm saving for a wedding, so my funds are tied up and brewing dollars are hard to come by. I am trying to make the leap from extract to all grain on a budget. a tiny budget.
As I was walking through WalMart a few days ago I came upon an IMUSA 32 Quart tamale steamer that has been referenced in other threads. This is the exact same one: http://www.target.com/p/imusa-32-qt-aluminum-tamale-steamer/-/A-10910892
My plan is to buy two of these pots. I would use one as a boil kettle and one as a MLT.
On the MLT, I have seen that Blichmann BoilerMaker's use a "button louvre" on their false bottoms. My thought process is that I could make the strainer part of the above pot into a similar false bottom. I would do this by shunting up led free slugs just barely above the strainer's holes. I would then solder them into place with a led free high strength/melting point solder. After that I would put a weldless ball valve assembly below the pot's indentation. Viola, a MLT.
I would also plan of making an insulation wrap for it from any hot water heater insulation they have at WalMart as well. I am pretty sure I can do this all for ~$30-35. Not bad for 32 quart MLT.
I would appreciate any suggestions. I am wondering if the solder is a feasible bonding agent for the slugs? I suppose I could put the ball valve above the strainer and feed a pipe from the valve to below the false bottom? I know these pots are somewhat flimsy, but hey, I'm on a budget. Anyone ever tried a similar approach before?
Slainte