Recent content by rickert76

The gift was a success. I think he was a little overwhelmed but happy. he definately wasn't expecting all of it. He ended up with the Blichman pot, my 50' homemade wort chiller which i am so proud of, the homemade mashtun, and a new growler ect for doing yeast starters, topped it off with some...

Wish I would have know it was okay to have the ends curved down outside the kettle before. That's how it was on accident so I try to straighten it and now it doesn't look as pretty. I just hope its functional. Here are pics of what I have completed so far. I did have a leak when I tested it but...

HaHa! I haven't taken a picture but I will. I had to construct it and leave it elsewhere so that he doesn't find it. THis stuff is not exactly the easiest stuff to hide. My plumber cousin let me borrow his pipe bending tool which helped immensely! Like I said, just one issue at the very end. I...

Ha! I won't be brewing with him unless he decides to brew up a batch of rum and coke. This hobby is all his. I occasionally help him siphon and bottle but that's as far as it goes. I will take some pics of the stuff when it's all done. I'd like everyone's opinion on the wort chiller. I had a...

Latest update...I now have a shiny Blichmann 10 gal pot ready for all grain and a 50' immersion wort chiller made by yours truly and I think it turned out pretty well if I do say so myself. I have all the parts to convert the cooler to the mashtun and then his Christmas present will be...

Well, now I'm back to debating the wort chiller, DIY or buy? Looks like 50' chillers cost around $100 but you can get 50' of copper for $45 plus the fittings (maybe $10 total) or buy a 25' around $60-$70. So buy a 25' premade for the same price as making a 50' possibly wrong?? What a dilemma! I...

Not sure what a Keg system consists of. He currently does 5 gal extract batches. He has a 5 gal pot that he makes it all in on the stove top, has the 5 gal plastic buckets and a glass carboy for fermenting. He has never "cooled" anything with special equipment other than throwing ice cubes in it...

Thanks for the tip. I will definately check into that. I do know a plumber but I doubt he wants to give up his time to help me. Do you think that the PSI of copper has anything to do with how thick the coil is? I did see some PSI ratings on the Lowe's website and wondered if that would make a...

That sounds like a pretty smart idea. I guess I will do that but that means now I will have to figure out how to make 2 instead of just one...and figureout how to cut copper :( i assume there is a tool for that?

OK, here's my quick update. I am getting my blichmann this afternoon and I did get the stainless ball valve, etc from my LHBS and i went to Lowes to pick up parts for a wort chiller but it seems as if my local stores only carry 20' or 50' copper coil. Is 20' going to be enough?

One more thing, my local home brew store had a kettle valve and screen for around $35 to convert my cooler to a mash tun. It would cost more than buying the individual parts but it would be all stainless steel instead of brass fittings.

Here are a couple pics of the Mash tun. And here is a youtube video he made of him brewing beer. I don't know how old the video is so the equipment may not be in the same condition as in the video. http://youtu.be/J_ZsAIlIEIo

Someone help me out please. I do not have the Blichmann yet but according to their website, the pot is 16.5" tall. So far most of the immersion wort chillers I have found run about 15" tall. Will these wort chillers work in the pot? It's my understanding that the top of the wort chiller needs to...

I've looked at that Mash tun set up. Is this what you use? Have you had any trouble with your mesh supply line crushing under the pressure of the grains?

Definately!!