I typically have a hard time visualizing sheet in terms of gauge so I got myself a sample pack. 24 gauge is .024" and from the 4" square piece I have seems like it would be pretty hard to bend into a 18" diameter tube. I also have a .018 which is 26 gauge and I THINK I could get the bent around a corny keg. I'd venture that even 28 gauge would still be sturdy enough but it's pretty hard to find. The 16 gauge aluminum I used was pretty hard to bend and aluminum is much more soft than stainless.
Bobby_M said:Oh, my sample pack is stainless 304.
22gauge aluminum should be just fine. Thin enough to bend, thicker than aluminum roof flashing. I think a 18" x 56" piece would be good. You want it to overlap a bit on the seam and not be butt-jointed.
Bobby_M said:Not exactly cheap, but man I'd be tempted to go with the aluminum tread plate. How badass would that look?
I just looked thru all 14 pages and I gotta ask:
Would it not be easier to just have a HERMS coil in the HLT like in the Electric Brewery HLT?
To save a lot of money you could just use copper instead of stainless.
Is direct fire RIMS better than HERMS as far as for making beer, keeping temps???
Just wondering since I plane on building a version of the electric brewery HLT to use with my setup except not electric. Seems a cleaner easier to maintain option than trying to insulate my MLT. Just making sure I am not missing something?
Hot Liquor Tank
But isn't there a danger of scorching in the direct fire MLT?
To me I like the simplicity of the HERMS coil even without automation. Prefer firing up the HLT a few times to wrapping insulation or making covers. Also I like only to have two burners to worry about buying, installing, plumbing etc. But that's just me. Not saying any way is wrong or right.
^^ What do you use to automate the temperature of the HLT water for 60 minutes?
The whole point of a HERMS is automation of temperature control..which requires a lot more than just the coil in the HLT. You need temperature probes and a control panel that is taking in their readings and turning on/off the heat source for the HLT.
Nope. If i'm maintaining temp, then basically I have a pilot light on the HLT. The only time adjustments are made is when I'm ramping up. in that case, i pilot light the MT as well as UP the burn on the HLT.At least from what I understand, if you tried to do a HERMS without automation then you would be firing up the heat on the HLT to keep the water at your target temp throughout the mash, and since the mash with all the grains and larger volume of water would hold heat better than just a kettle of water, it would require more work to do that.
And the problem with that is? It is less cumbersome for me, I apply only the energy I need, and I can change things at will.The insulated direct-fire MLT is just a glorified cooler-mash system that allows for manually applying heat when you need it to hold your temps instead of doing calculated infusions of more water if you need to raise the temp..
HERMS would be easier..but A LOT more expensive. I think it's safe to say that just about anyone on this site would prefer a HERMS system if cost and set-up wasn't an issue.
You're right there is definitely not a wrong or right way to do this...but I've personally never seen a HERMS system that wasn't automated to some degree, and IMO having a HERMS with no automation defeats the purpose of it to begin with.
For me? 3 burner copper coil HERMS was the way to go. YMMV.
If you order from www.metalbytheinch.com, give them a call. They bent mine to desired circumference (which resulted in cheaper shipping) and were very helpful determining best thickness. I was very impressed with their services.
Man this thread got off topic in a hurry!
Do you have a link to your build? Or, can you post up some photos of your system? I would like to see this, as I am still in the planning phase of my brew rack.
If you order from www.metalbytheinch.com, give them a call. They bent mine to desired circumference (which resulted in cheaper shipping) and were very helpful determining best thickness. I was very impressed with their services.
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