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The valve on a kettle will get over 180F so sanitation is not an issue. The valve may be gunked up after many uses and no cleaning, but nothing is living in it.

Kai's kit prices are quite reasonable for what you get. It's all the little details and the 150 or so trips to the store for small parts, and the hours on the internet trying to figure out what you need and if something you found will even fit. Kai's site doesn't typically specify part numbers...

A paint strainer bag is fine for filtering, but as stated, only when you plan to introduce oxygen. They work well as dry hopping bags as well, and in that case you are not pouring beer through them. One note on contamination/infection, a mesh bag is a perfect way to contaminate your wort even...

The "Blichmann" burner is just a banjo burner in a fancier frame than the Bayou Classic offerings, which are the same burner casting. I've been using them for years to not only brew beer, but do all kinds of cooking. If you want an extra burner you can't go wrong with the KAB6 from Bayou, or the...

Here is the first of them tonight...

For mine, I didn't have open ends as I did the bottom square as 45 degree angles, but I tacked a small plate at the corner, drilled a 1/2" hole, then welded a 3/8" nut over the hole to be able to use threaded stem casters. This made the rack able to be leveled at any time.

I built mine similar to those shown here, and the only issue I found was that the diagonal pot supports in combination with the sidebars essentially seal off the bottom of the kettle and do not allow proper combustion using the banjo burners. Tonight I'm going to install some 1/2" round-bar...

After using a number of pumps from small "pond pumps" like in the links above (useless) to the current 1/2HP submersible from Harbor Freight, I can definitely tell you that bigger is better and the little pond pumps are not efficient and don't have the power to push through hoses and chillers of...

I've been using twin plate chillers for years now due to the hot ground water in Florida most of the year. The first one uses tap water, and the second is fed by a 1/2hp submersible pump in a ice water bath. I just added tri clamp sanitary fittings for the current configuration as I wanted a...

I've preached the gospel of using large cornies for fermentation for years :rockin: I run 7 of them currently (4-15gal, 3-10gal) and have never had an issue. You may not be able to "secondary" in the same container, but there is little danger of contamination during racking between cornies...

I'd assume if you add enough k-meta to kill the lacto that it would also kill the yeast no matter how long you waited after the k-meta application. I don't think it dissipates. Easiest way is to just bring the wort to a boil or near boil again and kill the lacto. Anything over 180 should be fine...

The absolute best is the Bayou Classic KAB-6. It has the proper frame to hold the keg kettle safely, and it has the extra firepower when you need it, and that is more than the other "KAB" series products. I own a number of burners (SQ-14, KAB-4, KAB-5, KAB-6) and have used others. All of these...

+1 Don't try and solve a problem that doesn't exist. Mashing is just giving the grains a warm bath to facilitate the action of enzymes, not cooking them.

Both look pretty good with limited tearing of the husks that Corona mills are famous for. I think you are on the right path.

1. I buy everything I can from the local shop if they have it in stock. In my case that means bulk base malts, common grains, yeast, hops, bottle caps, some chemicals, and adjuncts. If the shop across town has something the close one doesn't, I may drive over. I also suggest to the local shop...

Pasteurization is a heat process that kills organisms and has nothing to do with clearing chemical contaminants. All you'd have would be warm chemicals.

+1 No pesticide chemical thatI've ever heard of has the power to infuse into stainless steel. A good cleaning and fresh seals and I would be fine with it. It's not like we are talking about plastic fermentation vessels :-)

I own a SQ-14, KAB4, KAB5, and KAB6. The KAB6 has been my favorite, and I use large kettles and also keg kettles, and use them for cooking as well as brewing. The KAB6 has a larger heat output than any of the other KAB models. I think that is only due to the air vent, regulator, and possibly...

Just got my RIMS tube from Derrin at Brewers Hardware, and it is as everyone else has said, excellent. Shipping was lightning fast as well. Added a 4500w 240v ultra low density element (running with 120v) from the hardware store ($18) and connected my Ranco ETC 111000 controller. Brewed the same...

As stated previously, worry more about the grain bill and mash temp, all the yeasts will work fine, and I prefer the Irish Ale for my oatmeal stout.