My New Single Tier Strut Brew Rig

[BigTuna]

First off I have to give it up to 2 threads in which I got a lot of inspiration from.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/solid-strut-single-tier-build-400624/
and
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-single-tier-strut-brewstand-440287/
Both of these guys were very helpful and had great ideas.

I ordered all of the strut from www.strutchannelfittings.com They were awesome to deal with, especially since I had to return something and they gave me no hassle.

As for the build.. It's just the frame right now but soon I will be getting 3 1/2 bbl kegs and almost all of my equipment from www.brewhardware.com

When its finished it will have a chugger pump, cam and groove fittings, digital temp readouts, weld less bulkheads, a bottom drain mash tun plus some other nice stuff. I will post pic's of the build in progress, I'll just need the $$$ before I order everything. Waiting for my mustang to sell in order to fund the rest. Anyway, I'm pretty proud of the stand and can't wait for it's maiden voyage.

 

[BigTuna]

Ok So.. It's been a while since I first posted this thread. I finally sold my car and funded this project. I had a great time building it and definitely scoured the forums for ideas and help. The finished rig is a 10gal single tier keggle Herms System. I am still waiting to purchase about 50ft of 1/2 copper tubing to make the Herms coil. Once that's done I'll drill the holes in the HLT for the weld less compression fittings. Here's a look at the build...

 

[BigTuna]

A quick note... I found an awesome 5 port power switch on amazon for $15. It has the power ports on the "top" so I flipped it over.. Waterproofed it!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002DNUY8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[BigTuna]

A few more pics of the completed rig.

 

[JoshWithrow]

That is so... freakin'... awesome! I'm jealous! 1, at your handimannedness, and 2, your new toy Congrats, and great job!

 

[Daves69]

Looking good! I like the addition of the water filter! I was thinking about something like that but I was going to plumb it with copper so that it hung off the HLT, this way I could remove it but at the same time the burners would not harm it .


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[BigTuna]

Looking good! I like the addition of the water filter! I was thinking about something like that but I was going to plumb it with copper so that it hung off the HLT, this way I could remove it but at the same time the burners would not harm it .


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

I had the same idea but I tested the heat given off by the burner and I don't think it will affect the filter. Also, there will be cold water flowing through it most of the time so I think it will counteract any heat issues.

 

[HOPtuary]

How did you go about polishing the keggles?

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

How did you go about polishing the keggles?

It doesnt look like they are polished, just sanded....polishing produces a much different mirror/chrome finish.

Bobby_M has instructions in the Equipment forum...

 

[BigTuna]

How did you go about polishing the keggles?

Yeah, I didn't do the last step in his method of "polishing" However, I did use medium and fine coarse disks to make them a bit shinier. I bought a stick of polishing compound and whenever I would try to apply it to the polishing pad it simply turned to dust. That's about when I decided to give up and continue building the rig instead of beautifying the kettles. Do anyone know of a good polishing compound?

-Kevin

 

[BigTuna]

Also, I used a 4 1/2 angle grinder with Gator sanding disks. Started at Medium and then finished at fine.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Yeah, I didn't do the last step in his method of "polishing" However, I did use medium and fine coarse disks to make them a bit shinier. I bought a stick of polishing compound and whenever I would try to apply it to the polishing pad it simply turned to dust. That's about when I decided to give up and continue building the rig instead of beautifying the kettles. Do anyone know of a good polishing compound?

-Kevin

It will turn to powder a bit but it should stick to your polishing wheel quite a bit too..

I just used the #2 and #5 polishing compound made by Porter Cable..its what my Lowes sells

They have versions 1-5 of this

http://www.lowes.com/pd_329452-70-P...currentURL=?Ntt=polishing+compound&facetInfo=

Its opposite i believe of what Bobby_M's instructions are though...i think the #2 is the rough Compound and #5 is the final polish...you'd have to look at the package...

The key is to really push down on the grinder, if you just do a small bit and push down quite a bit until it starts to slow down the grinder you'll see that area turn to a mirror finish almost instantly...keep going a bit apply more polish and continue

 

[Daves69]

You did sand down the lip where you cut the top out right? In your pics it still looks pretty rough, I figured they were just old images?

 

[BigTuna]

You did sand down the lip where you cut the top out right? In your pics it still looks pretty rough, I figured they were just old images?

Haha, haven't done that yet. I just got a thick sanding disk so I'm going to tackle that this weekend.

 

[BigTuna]

It will turn to powder a bit but it should stick to your polishing wheel quite a bit too..

I just used the #2 and #5 polishing compound made by Porter Cable..its what my Lowes sells

They have versions 1-5 of this

http://www.lowes.com/pd_329452-70-P...currentURL=?Ntt=polishing+compound&facetInfo=

Its opposite i believe of what Bobby_M's instructions are though...i think the #2 is the rough Compound and #5 is the final polish...you'd have to look at the package...

The key is to really push down on the grinder, if you just do a small bit and push down quite a bit until it starts to slow down the grinder you'll see that area turn to a mirror finish almost instantly...keep going a bit apply more polish and continue

This is the stuff that I got. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0009SW592/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Perhaps I'll try the porter cable one...

 

[BigTuna]

So, I've brewed on the new rig twice. First batch was a 5gal american wheat - nice and cheap. Next two were 10gal Pale Ale recipes. I brewed the same pale ale twice on different occasions because I miscalculated my efficiency the first time around. I used to get between 70% and 75% on the old rig. I am now getting around 87%! So this rig, after initial purchase, is actually saving me money! I recirculate my mash and double batch sparge. The addition of the sight glasses are extremely helpful. I can't believe I used to brew without them.

Here's a shot of it in action. Not really a great shot though, it was darker in the garage than the backlight from outside.

 

[Daves69]

Jealous! I wishing it was not 100 degrees in FL. I don't brew during the spring/summer months :-( to hot!!

Looking good though!!

 

[BigTuna]

Jealous! I wishing it was not 100 degrees in FL. I don't brew during the spring/summer months :-( to hot!!

Looking good though!!

The only issue I have with the summer in New England is fermentation control. I have no room to build a ferm chamber so I let the fermenters chill out on my tile kitchen floor. It's about 67deg in here right now. That's a bit warmer than i'd like but whatever, this beer has fermented at higher temps and hasn't affected the flavor.

 

[viafax999]

That web site is actually www.stRutchannelfittings.com
They are somewhat pricey. Home depot sells the same stuff for <$21 per 10 ft length and you can typically pick it up in store

Why didn't you fit the casters? Will they not attach to the strut? I have a set of 4" industrial caster 1/2" screw fitting attached to my 17.5 gallon fermenter, makes it easy to move (carefully). Was thinking of building of building a stand somewhat like yours using strut and intended to use another set of those casters to be able to move it easily when not in use - They are $20 for 4 in Lowes - strangely in the shelving section!

 

[BigTuna]

Why didn't you fit the casters? Will they not attach to the strut? I have a set of 4" industrial caster 1/2" screw fitting attached to my 17.5 gallon fermenter, makes it easy to move (carefully). Was thinking of building of building a stand somewhat like yours using strut and intended to use another set of those casters to be able to move it easily when not in use - They are $20 for 4 in Lowes - strangely in the shelving section!

I ran out of the nuts and haven't ordered more. I guess I didn't count correctly

I also bought non-locking casters so that was my second mistake. I sent them back and got them replaced but then realized I didn't have the nuts to mount the brackets. I went to HD and asked for the nuts and they looked at me like I had 8 heads. That's about when I gave up.

I almost never brew alone so it's usually not a problem. I don't have to move it far to brew so I haven't made this a priority.

*** Also, thanks for noticing the mistake in the URL that I provided. Must have fat fingered that one!