I have picked up some copper tubing to build a DIY immersion wort chiller. In looking at some plans and commercial products online, I noticed some run coils all the way up from the base, but other leave a gap. Is leaving the gap an attempt at not cooling the bottom of the kettle, but only the hot wort? Any comments on if creating this gap is worth it?
Second, I have never used an immersion cooler, but from the looks of most, I would think they might tip fairly easily (too heavy from the tube connectors). Is this the case? Would it make sense to make the lower coils wider than the upper coils?
Also, on strength of the chiller. I thought it might be worth running the inlet and outlet tubing flush but perpendicular to the coils and possibly tacking them in place with solder to make it more solid. Would that make any sense to add some strength in holding its shape?
Second, I have never used an immersion cooler, but from the looks of most, I would think they might tip fairly easily (too heavy from the tube connectors). Is this the case? Would it make sense to make the lower coils wider than the upper coils?
Also, on strength of the chiller. I thought it might be worth running the inlet and outlet tubing flush but perpendicular to the coils and possibly tacking them in place with solder to make it more solid. Would that make any sense to add some strength in holding its shape?