Where did you end up with this project? I need to do some summer brewing and thinking about the same thing, by just adding a 2" foam box to the fridge large enough for a bucket or carboy. If you went ahead with the 1.7 fridge how large a chamber did you build and what temps are you holding?
I've currently got a 30qt SS brew kettle that I use 2 1500 watt heat sticks with, doing all-grain. It's not large enough to contain a vigorous boil though unless I turn off one stick, so I'm looking at upgrading to a 40 or 60 qt aluminum kettle to stay on the affordable side of things...
I've been checking this website also; I like the looks of these despite having the legs welded on. I really like having the pressurized top. Not sure anything's happening there though...
http://www.chicompany.net/conical-fermenters-257/?zenid=dbf67b16dde983df52c7ff2d4b3f8207
A friend of mine has one of those - they only sell thru eBay. He hasn't had any issues w/the 1/2 dump port. That would be my biggest concern but sounds like it's just a matter of dumping more often, before everything gels up. http://conical-fermenter.com/ is the other alternative - similar...
Have any of you with the 7.2 stainless conicals had any issues dumping trub with the 1/2" valve? Based on what ends up in my plastic bucket I'd think it could create problems, but maybe by dumping every day or so the trub doesn't condense as much?
Also, on the racking port, does the trub...
Not sure about overall design, but I think the basic calcs are as follows, assuming a conical with the desired 60 degree slope. I have a spreadsheet that by plugging in the radius and tank (cylinder part) height it will compute the total volume and size. Basically the radius drives the volume...
Is that the buy it now 7.2 one? I think the difference between that and the 7.3 one is that the dump valve is smaller (1/2" vs 3/4"), and the 7.3 has the tri-clamp fittings. Not sure if those are considerations for you.
By my calculations a 14.5 gallon fermenter would hold 4 gallons in the cone, which, allowing for trub, etc., would mean about 8" of headspace for the fermentation. If the wort is aerated anyhow, is there any reason to (or not to) add CO2 to the fermenter, either immediately after pitching or...
I'm close to purchasing a stainless conical and making 2 120v 2000w heat sticks so I can brew indoors. Then I came across the a couple of articles on brew-in-a-bag.
Now what I'm thinking is ...
Get a 14g SS conical w/thermowell, add 2 heat sticks, then BIAB. No lauter tun, mash tun, OR brew...
I currently have a 32qt SS turkey fryer kettle over propane - I do get scorching on the bottom. As I get ready to purchase a 7g stainless conical w/thermowell, I'm also in the process of shifting from propane to heat-sticks so I can brew indoors (cold Maine winter winds!), and the random...
I keep watching these on eBay. Haven't quite figured out why people bid them up higher than the web-site price; maybe it's the thrill of competition, but I digress.
I've got this internal debate going over whether to get the thermowell so I'm looking for input. I always ferment in my...
Thanks guys - you're right on all points. Just took me by surprise because that's the first batch in 3 years that did that to me. Lulled into a false sense of airlock security. Off to discover my next bad habit!
Huh; ok I feel like an idiot. This BSOM but the SG is at 1.016. Lid's tight and the airlock's tight, maybe a black hole under there? Either that or it all took off the first night and I missed the initial bubble gratification. I use buckets for primary so I couldn't see any action. Maybe...