This is my first post on HBT.
I've been lurking for quite some time, mostly in the DIY forum.
I've been brewing since 1995 usually 10 gallon batches using
different arrangements of 3 tier systems based on everything for
saw horses to step ladders and often hanging kettles from the 2x6 beams
on my patio cover with a come-a-long. I got to give major credit to all
the contributors around here, it really fuels the imagination. I've never
shy about getting in over my head in a project and it's nice to see that
there are a bunch of people just as crazy as I am.
After finding HBT and fueled by "cubicle fever" I have finally made a formal brew stand and here it is:
It's far from complete, but I had to brew so we put it to work last weekend.
It's kind of like a Brutus 10 but low profile so the kettle tops are at working
level rather than the burners like most others. It has 2 10 inch cast burners
converted to 11" propane controlled by Honeywell intermittent units. It has
2 Auber process controllers and 2 March809 motors and Chugger heads. Its
nice that you can get replacement heads for when you drop the box and
break off the plastic pipe fittings like I did. Under the center area where
most systems put a third burner for direct fire of the MLT I put the propane
bottle, water filter and control box with pumps. I plan using it as a HERMS
with the hex in the HLT so I should only need 2 burners. We did a direct
fired mash and just had to slide the kettles around a bit since the HERMS coil
was not ready yet.
Burner automation is working with the Auber units and the pumps can be set
to manual on/off or float switch on/off. I need to build the herms coil, tune
the propane orifices, change the pump fittings for easier use... the to-do list
is pretty long, but even in its current state it was a joy to run and produced
this:
The carboys are not filled equally due to drunkenness, its going to happen.
I'll get some more detailed photos when things are more finalized.
-Pete Sullivan