Who needs a blichmann? When you can build a Bradford!!!

benbradford · May 10, 2012

I have been thinking about why the heck my keggles have to look like kegs that I chopped apart, even if they do look kind of cool in an industrial kind of way.

This is what i came up with a couple of months ago, but finally worked on today.

benbradford · May 10, 2012

And final shot with the dog checking out my work

H-Balm · May 10, 2012

very presentable.

Any reaction to the wood when heated?
React okay, or TBD?

benbradford · May 10, 2012

I am all electric, so nothing gets over 205 degrees (high elevation). The wood also acts like insulation on the tanks. Gonna do all 4 (ya my system is a 4 tank 3 pump herms system) tanks like this, and they will look sweet when plumped with ball valves, herms coil, thermometers, sight glasses, etc. I am stoked.

passedpawn · May 10, 2012

Looks great, but I wouldn't do anything to make mine heavier. My back aches just looking at that!

benbradford · May 10, 2012

4 pine 1x4's dont weigh much... actually, cutting the top off, and adding the wood may be a wash... not really, just wishfull thinking...

outside92129 · May 10, 2012

Looks nice! I found this on the 'net for wood:

The R-value for wood ranges between 1.41 per inch (2.54 cm) for most softwoods and 0.71 for most hardwoods. Ignoring the benefits of the thermal mass, a 6-inch (15.24 cm) thick log wall would have a clear-wall (a wall without windows or doors) R-value of just over 8.

benbradford · May 10, 2012

So 3/4 inch has a value of 1.06?

landshark · May 11, 2012

How are you going to mount the heating element around the wood? Are you just mounting w/ a larger diameter hole in the wood to allow for your heater electrical enclosure?

horseinmay · May 11, 2012

You are my hero. I dreamed of this months ago, but haven't built it yet. You go guy!

ajwillys · May 11, 2012

Breaker Brewing Company's first brewhouse was three 55 gallon stainless drums wrapped in wood just like this. Direct fired. Looked great!

http://www.breakerbrewingcompany.com/

benbradford · May 11, 2012

Gonna have to tear it down to drill for elements and valve... Holes will be slightly larger to accommodate

harrybaules · May 11, 2012

That's tits dude! Great job. It will look even better as it ages.

conpewter · May 11, 2012

Looks great! Where did you get the materials for it, giving me ideas! (dangerous you are...)

benbradford · May 12, 2012

I used 4 1x4 pine 8 foot boards that i cut into 19" peices and then ripped 5.5 degree angles on both edges before splitting the board at a 5.5 degree angle down the middle...

Only needed 3.5 boards to make about 32 peices..

Used an 8 foot peice of 1/4 inch all thread that i cut in half and then used a cable tension peice and a peice of 1 inch bolt to fasten...

Total cost was about $32

KingKegII · May 13, 2012

Very cool, and different from most keggles you see. Can't wait to see the final product with everything plumbed in.

Cheers.

l3asturd · May 13, 2012

I'll also be watching this

conpewter · May 13, 2012

Very cool! Thank you for the material list and angles

Wolfbayne · May 13, 2012

Subscribed to this for finished project. Great look and thanks for material list and cuts. Good luck on this!

deadboy · May 16, 2012

Yeah, I'm looking to do something similar for my electric keggle. Very eager to see the end result.

stamandster · May 16, 2012

Awesome! where'd you pick up the cable tensioners?

starsailor · May 16, 2012

stamandster said:
Awesome! where'd you pick up the cable tensioners?

Looks like a std turnbuckle with the RH thread end threaded directly onto the threaded rod that's wrapped around the wood.

benbradford · May 25, 2012

yup...standard turnbuckle with the right hand threaded end onto the all thread... Shoud be finishing two more tomorrow...

benbradford · Jun 13, 2012

Here is the update with three of them finished, stained, and plumbed... I did the stand also, and am finished with the exception of adding a few valves and male quick disconnects to the system. I may be adding a bleeder valve at the bottom of the stand to get the pumps to prime better also... The fourth vessel idea is probably shelved for the near future

logdrum · Jun 14, 2012

Awesome!

PLOVE · Jun 14, 2012

passedpawn said:
Looks great, but I wouldn't do anything to make mine heavier. My back aches just looking at that!

Exactly what I was thinking. Looks really cool though. What do you do about about stuff (grain, wort) that gets between teh wood and your keggle? Cleaning the inside of these kegs can be difficult enough. Not sure I'd want to be starting my own bio-garden on the outside as well . . . . Still - looks really cool :fro:

benbradford · Jun 14, 2012

Ya, might have to fill in the gap with silicone or something

Why is everyone worried about weight? Added maybe 8 to a 20lb vessel... Not an issue

BeerBrewBob · Jun 14, 2012

Any thought on staining the wood? It may not look better or worse, just curious if you thought of any Burn-In or staining type additives?

Looks great though!

benbradford · Jun 14, 2012

It is stained with a light cherry stain... Kind of like it looking like a red oak or something as it is.... Thanks for the compliments, I am really pleased so far

Who needs a blichmann? When you can build a Bradford!!!

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