SCARYLARRY
Well-Known Member
Making my wort chiller tomorrow. Was messing around with my copper and couldn't get it to form without kinking. I know someone will have something great for me.
First of all, if it comes in a coil, don't uncoil it.
What I used to make mine was a 10" cardboard tube used for pouring concrete footers. They're cheap and it was the perfect size for my pot.
+10 on the sakrete form tubes. They are great, inexpensive (about $7 at the Depot) and come in different diameters (6, 8, 10, 12in) to fit your kettle. Another little tidbit, drill a little hole in the tube to hold an end of the coil and secure it with duck tape - this is great if you don't have an extra set of hands to help coil the copper.
Another way is to fill the coil with sand. that will protect the walls from caving in as you bend it. Best way has been mentioned. Use a Corny, and if needed for the turns vertical, get a set of spring benders.
+1
Too much bending will work harden the copper and it will become brittle.
Yes but if someone is not capable of correctly working copper they sure as heck are not going to be proficient in annealing. Annealing 50' or even 25' of copper tubing with a torch would take forever.
I couldn't agree with you more if they had to anneal the whole coil but if there was one spot that was brittle from constant bending and had to be annealed I think it could easily be accomplished with a hand held torch pretty easily.
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