DIY Idiot has a question

Hey everyone....

I'm either going to buy or build a copper immersion wort chiller. Something like this:

http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19513

or this:

http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19515

Anyone have suggestions to one or the other?


I think I'll want to have a female garden hose end for my cold water in (if I build it, I think all that you can buy come like this). At this point I doubt I'll be hooking it up to a garden hose so I'll want the flexibility to attach it to my kitchen sink. To do that do I all need to buy is this part (or the equivilent)?

http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=15966

If that is the case, all I do is remove the aerator on the kitchen sink, hook up the part, hook up the hose and let her rip?

Thanks for helping the DIY Idiot.

Justin

uwmgdman said:

To do that do I all need to buy is this part (or the equivilent)?

http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=15966

If that is the case, all I do is remove the aerator on the kitchen sink, hook up the part, hook up the hose and let her rip?

Click to expand...

yes, and yes. you can find the adapters at Home Depot.

Have you priced copper tubing?? For me it was going to be more expensive to build one than to buy one. I'm all for saving a buck and having some fun building stuff, but... Just some food for thought.

mykayel said:

Have you priced copper tubing?? For me it was going to be more expensive to build one than to buy one. I'm all for saving a buck and having some fun building stuff, but... Just some food for thought.

Click to expand...

I haven't priced the copper yet. I'll build one if it is a fair amount cheaper, if it's close or cheaper to buy I'll buy one. By the sound of it, I may be buying one.

Find your copper on Ebay or craigslist. It's the only way to catch a break and make it cheaper to build.

Even with shipping?

Yes, even with shipping. I've gotten deals of 100' of 1/2 OD for $93 shipped. I'd imagine you could find 50' of 3/8 for around $50 shipped and that's enough for two chillers if you're doing 5 gallon batches.

If i were you... i would get the bigger one..

http://morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19521

you never know when you might start doing larger batches or using bigger brew pots..

I agree.. go for the 50' one. Even if you never do 10 gallon batches, you'll chill your wort in like 3 minutes.

I didn't build one as it would have cost me more to do so... or break even at the most.

I have been looking to build one of these too. I can't get copper any cheaper. I know I can get 100' on ebay...but I dont need 100'. The stuff from more beer is cheaper.

http://cgi.ebay.com/3-8O-D-50-ft-Re...6QQihZ004QQcategoryZ63902QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


http://cgi.ebay.com/1-2O-D-50-ft-Re...4QQihZ004QQcategoryZ63902QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

50' of 1/2"OD for under $60 shipped.


http://cgi.ebay.com/New-50-ft-roll-...5QQihZ014QQcategoryZ63902QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

50' of 3/8"

I made my own reverse-flow chiller for less than $25 but i had access to most of the copper it works really well it takes wort from about 180 degrees to around 75 to 80 degrees in 15-20 mins. Coiling it up is a job in it's self.... Good Luck!!

I built an IC for under $30. It's only 20', but I do partial boils and it's plenty.

They sell 20' of 3/8" copper tubing for icemaker hookups for about $20, and I attached 1/2" hose directly to the copper with hose clamps.