Recent content by auto4life

I hear ya, I bought an auber controller for my freezer before discovering the simplicity of a ranco. I could just as easily use the auber controller I've got collecting dust

What temperature to you run your hlt at and do you recirculate thru copper or stainless tubing?

Makes sense, I've already got one ranco for my ferment chamber and one pump ordered thru our matco tool vendor. I think I'll just add another pump and thermowell to that order and retrofit my ranco with a NO and NC plug. I too was concerned with cavitation but I'm glad that a little restriction...

Here is one i've been working on. Just replace the pilsner malt with 6lb extract and you should be pretty close. my #'s were way off because my temperature dropped faster than i expected and i didn't check to make sure conversion was done (first all grain experience) don't go crazy with the...

I'm wondering if its possible to use a ranco controller in tandem with two March pumps (one normally open and circulating thru the hlt inside a coil, the other normally closed and circulating the mash strait from the bottom to the top of the mash. The two pump inlets would be supplied by a Y at...

I think my biggest problem was temperature control. I lost way too much heat. I'll probably go back to my keggle once I figure out a temperature controller. But until then I'll simply with a cooler. Thanks for the advice everyone

I agree. Ordered a false bottom for my 10 gallon cooler today

Id call my first all grain batch of beer a successful failure. Despite wrapping my 15 gallon sanke mash tun in blankets I had a heck of a time maintaining temperature and ended up recirculating my wort while heating the mash tun off and on for around 75 minutes. I also tried putting a mesh...

I'm not planning on back to back brews... at least to start with

If it helps anyone the filter was a fleetguard HF7961 here is what it looks like pre disassembly

Update... just finished tig welding the fittings in my boil pot and wet tested. I put in 2 low fittings for false bottom and level gauge. Another a little higher for temperature probe and another at the top to recirculate wort thru during cool down (once I buy a pump). Constructive criticism...

This was the outside casing of a hydraulic filter for one of our trash trucks at work. I cut it off the body of the filter and flattened it then cut it to shape with a sheet metal break. I just finished my boil pot and wet tested it today. TIG welded the 1/2" SS fittings too.

I've been waiting on an 11 3/4 contoured false bottom but while waiting and thinking at work I came up with an idea for a flat 12 inch false bottom. I work daily with trash trucks and decided to cut off and form the outer shield steel on a hydraulic filter. The only hard part was flattening it...

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An update on my chocolate oatmeal stout. I ended up using cocoa instead of bakers chocolate because the folks at my local brew store said they thought the fat content in the chocolate might mess with the head/ retention. Recipe turned out ok but a little too bitter (I think its because I didn't...