DVilleBrewing
Active Member
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2014
- Messages
- 36
- Reaction score
- 3
So, was really sitting on the fence, should I get another fermenter. Just for reference, I own a Stout 14 gallon, and a Brewers Hardware 15 gallon, non jacketed. I also work 1 day a week at a 25bbl brewery, so am familiar with both the homebrew,mand professional side. Seduced by a good price from a vendor, pulled the trigger on the above fermenter. Arrived, and when I opened the box, and unpacked, was disappointed to say the least. I will list my observations:
--Tall and narrow, all the fittings crowded together. The pic on SS sight show, by there own admission the pic are of the 1/2 barrel and one barrel.......now I see why
--Very light stripped, lighter than my other 2 fermenters stripped....SS does not list a thickness anywhere...mmmm
--Racking arm. Non existent. Just a dip tube really. Press fit in a dedicated butterfly valve. Which brings to next issue.
--TC fittings. Claim to be 1 1/2 TC. The only 1 1/2 is the bottom dump, the rest are all 1" TC.
That being said, you cannot use a Stout or Brewers Hardware racking arm, which are true 1 1/2 TC
--The finish is almost brushed stainless, very grainy. Nowhere near the polish of the Stout or BH
--Neoprene jacket. Cannot be removed with out removing EVERYTHING including unbolted the 4 feet. A real hassle cleaning!
-- And finally, the last straw, the reason I sent it back for a refund. The top TC for the blow off cane was welded crooked. Glaring so. Enough that in trying to bolt the cane to the side bracket, the top buckled slightly. Contacted SS supporters, and Ss Chadwick responded that is hand welded, just bend it, it will be ok. Bend it! On a $1000 plus item! Hand welded or not, no excuse for a crooked item. I wrote him back, saying this is not a satisfactory response, and I was not happy.....no reply! That was was deciding factor in returning this item.
Hope this long post helps some people in their purchase decision. Just my own experience. Have included a few pics, though the crooked TC looks much worse in person.
--Tall and narrow, all the fittings crowded together. The pic on SS sight show, by there own admission the pic are of the 1/2 barrel and one barrel.......now I see why
--Very light stripped, lighter than my other 2 fermenters stripped....SS does not list a thickness anywhere...mmmm
--Racking arm. Non existent. Just a dip tube really. Press fit in a dedicated butterfly valve. Which brings to next issue.
--TC fittings. Claim to be 1 1/2 TC. The only 1 1/2 is the bottom dump, the rest are all 1" TC.
That being said, you cannot use a Stout or Brewers Hardware racking arm, which are true 1 1/2 TC
--The finish is almost brushed stainless, very grainy. Nowhere near the polish of the Stout or BH
--Neoprene jacket. Cannot be removed with out removing EVERYTHING including unbolted the 4 feet. A real hassle cleaning!
-- And finally, the last straw, the reason I sent it back for a refund. The top TC for the blow off cane was welded crooked. Glaring so. Enough that in trying to bolt the cane to the side bracket, the top buckled slightly. Contacted SS supporters, and Ss Chadwick responded that is hand welded, just bend it, it will be ok. Bend it! On a $1000 plus item! Hand welded or not, no excuse for a crooked item. I wrote him back, saying this is not a satisfactory response, and I was not happy.....no reply! That was was deciding factor in returning this item.
Hope this long post helps some people in their purchase decision. Just my own experience. Have included a few pics, though the crooked TC looks much worse in person.