Thanks BrewBeemer for the inquiry...
Maybe I didn't clarify enough... The goal is to spend as little as possible, and ultimately have a barebones, stand-alone, full-on 15-20gal capable AG setup that can be modified as I proceed with my experience and wants, and I won't have to ditch as I grow.
Do I have skills to weld?
No.
Did I just find a friend who knows someone who welds?
Yes.
Do I want to learn to weld?
No.
Do I mind drilling holes?
No.
Do I mind putting blood, sweat, and tears into a new AG rig?
No.
Just looking for opinions of optimal setup, equipment, and layouts right now... I suppose I've evolved a bit from the OP. I've gotten some great ideas thus far... and always on the look out for more.
/this remains the greatest online community, btw
Billy; you just answered a lot of questions I had on your build.
If you do 90% of the labor including getting everything ready for
your welder so that he does not have to jig and hold parts and kegs
together this will save the welder's time. This is also 75% of the PITA
for the welder not the welding process. This way less labor and money
spent at the welder. Yes you can make your brewery come in within a
price range you can live with and afford. You can't have it all for nothing
unless you know of a big sucker of a friend which isn't right to use as one.
And yes take your time and look at manufactured brewing units, sneak in
their show room floor area and take measurements while collecting ideas.
Use many different manufactures of brewing rigs and use what part of their
system you like. With this you should be able to collect enough ideas to have
a direction to aim at in your build. You can keep the costs down for now and
later add automation later. A BCS-460 would be my first must have item as well
a supply of corny's and 15.5 gallon kegs. Get the hard to get items now
the regular items as the budget fits. This is how i'm building my next system.
hang in there plus check other bier forums for ideas also. I'm in the same boat collecting parts.
I have collected a Baldor industrial motor w/gearbox for the Monster Mill 3-2.0, stir motor for the prop in the HLT, BCS-460, 24 corny kegs 1 coke, two 7.75 gallon kegs, sixteen 15.5 gallon kegs, six computer fans with a ECROS speed control for the yeast starter with stir bar, four 20# Co2 bottles, one 150 cu/ft Argon which will become the Nitro stout mixed gas bottle, regulators and gauges. My rat packing collection to start with. Plasma, Tig and Mig, lathe and Bridgeport mill in the shop at home. bad back has me stopped dead in the water on the surgery mend. It can be built within a limited price range, keep an eye on craigslist and ebay for deals when they pop up.
Good luck with your parts hunting, that is half the fun of the build. cheers.