1 bowl or 2 ?? That is the Question

[steveoatley]

Hey Guys & Gals

I am finally building my basement brewery – I know aren’t you all SHOCKED ! !!
A brewery in the Basement!!
Not like anyone else has EVER done that before 

And I have a conundrum.
For the Sink – 1 bowl or 2 ?

I have enough room for either – about 53 inches, to fit it in.
I can fit a 1 bowl with side drain board OR a 2 bowl with No drain board.
( 24x24 inch with 24 inch drain board ) or ( 2 – 24x24 bowls )
My Brew kettle is a EHERMS nightmare of 4 SS Vales sticking out, a sight glass & Thermometer – its big !

SO, to all of those who have gone before me, those of you Who have built yourself a Brewery already…

1 bowl or 2 ?

Do you have a Single, and really wish you had a Double ?
Or
Do you have a Double and really wish you had a Single bowl?
Is that Darin board really helpful??

I know, it’s not like we are curing cancer here, but this is a $$$$ Big investment in cash, and the sink is not something I can really Return after a few months of using it, and realizing I wish I had the other….

Thanks in Advance for your input!

Steve

 

[Homercidal]

I don't think I'd get much use out of 2 bowls for my brewing, but I'm ALWAYS putting something upside down to drip dry.

Of course, you left out an obvious 3rd choice, which would be to have 2 bowls and make or buy a cover for the second bowl that can act as a drain pan...

 

[steveoatley]

Of course, you left out an obvious 3rd choice, which would be to have 2 bowls and make or buy a cover for the second bowl that can act as a drain pan...

There is always one of yous guys
Given a choice between A or B, you ask for C


I had thought of that, but I would like an answer to my First question First!
S

 

[TX_Brewing]

There is also the option of one bowl that is longer eg. 24X36 to give extra room for your nightmare e-herms kettle. You could always sad a drainboard that sits on top for when you are done cleaning.

 

[steveoatley]

There is also the option of one bowl that is longer eg. 24X36 to give extra room for your nightmare e-herms kettle. You could always sad a drainboard that sits on top for when you are done cleaning.

TX

I can not find a Sink like you have described.
I am looking on ebay at these two.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/221791996723?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391151539620?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT

Steve

 

[TimmyWit]

Not as sexy as stainless but it's cheap and HUGE:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E82WV8K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[steveoatley]

Not as sexy as stainless but it's cheap and HUGE:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00E82WV8K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Thanks for the idea Timmy

But I SOLD a camera on Ebay so I could have money enough for a SS sink

Not gonna do it

If they made a SS steel sink like that, then yes, bigger is always better!

S

 

[TX_Brewing]

I would say go for the 2 bowl. If you decide you don't need both you can add a drain board. If you get the 1 bowl and decide you want 2, you are buying a new sink.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[Homercidal]

There is always one of yous guys
Given a choice between A or B, you ask for C


I had thought of that, but I would like an answer to my First question First!
S

Well, I DID answer your question first, and then suggested an alternative. (Which I feel is the still the best option.)

 

[LandoLincoln]

The only reason why you'd need two bowls would be to fill one with soap and water for cleaning stuff. Do you envision yourself doing that? I have a one-bowl in my brewery and I appreciate the divider not being there so I can easily put the carboys in the sink for cleaning.

 

[TheHappyHopper]

I picked 1 bowl, but I want to clarify:

1 bowl if it were going to be as large as possible (to easily fit the biggest piece of equipment that you will be washing).

If you are already set on 24"x24" bowl size (whether it is 1 basin or 2), then I would do what TX_Brewing mentioned above - go with 2 bowls and if you decide that you don't need the second bowl, add a drain board to it.

I brew in my kitchen with just a 5 gallon kettle and it is a pain to wash because we have a typical 2-basin stainless steel sink. One of these days I plan to tear it out and put in a single basin sink so it is easier to maneuver my equipment around while washing without making a huge wet mess. The second basin just houses a drying rack, which is mostly pointless since I end up using drying mats on the countertop because all of the equipment is too big to fit into the sink drying rack anyways.

 

[steveoatley]

Happy Hopper

here is a pic of the 10 gallon EHERMS pot
It is a monster! Not gonna fit in a kitchen sink !
Thermometer port
Sight Glass
Whirlpool port
2 - Herms ports
Out valve

I still have not added the Boil Coil or the Temp probe port
So two more holes to drill in this thing!

It needs a big sink to clean - 24x24 is just big enough
I can not find any sinks bigger 30x36 ?

Bigger are MOP sinks, and are Floor mounted

S

 

[steveoatley]

Thanks to EVERYONE for their input !

This is why I did a poll, and asked for opinions !

Design by committee right ! Start out trying for a Horse, and you get an Elephant.

I am torn, and need to make a decision soon..... shipping on this is like two weeks.

Homercidal - I was just pulling your leg - have you seen a drain board like you suggest ?


Steve

 

[TheHappyHopper]

Happy Hopper

here is a pic of the 10 gallon EHERMS pot
It is a monster! Not gonna fit in a kitchen sink !
Thermometer port
Sight Glass
Whirlpool port
2 - Herms ports
Out valve

I still have not added the Boil Coil or the Temp probe port
So two more holes to drill in this thing!

It needs a big sink to clean - 24x24 is just big enough
I can not find any sinks bigger 30x36 ?

Bigger are MOP sinks, and are Floor mounted

S

That's legit. Almost 2 legit.

If I were to build a dedicated brewing space, I might consider something like this: 100 Gallon Water Tank Sink

 

[steveoatley]

If I were to build a dedicated brewing space, I might consider something like this: 100 Gallon Water Tank Sink

That is a COOL sink, and I would go that route
If I were decorating like GROSSY- he has his keezer built in, that is more like a Bar build.....

The rest of my basement is going to go more Up North Cabin - Log Pine theme

But I want the brewery to "look" more like - Science **** happens here
FRP on the walls, floor will be poly sealed, drain in the floor

BUT we get off Topic.......

TWO sink or Not to SINK, that is the question..........

 

[rekoob]

I can not find any sinks bigger 30x36 ?

I would do that, or bigger if you can find it.

I also don't know if I would count out the floor mounted "deep" sink. If you don't like the look of it you could always make a cabinet front for it.

 

[PlexVector]

I have a 36 inch wide sink in the kitchen which has a low divider in it, so it serves as both a single wide sink or two smaller sinks depending on how you use it. Most of the time the right side serves as a recessed drain board, but if I need larger that works too. So my answer would have to be "C: All of the above."

Similar to this:

 

[Homercidal]

Homercidal - I was just pulling your leg - have you seen a drain board like you suggest ?


Steve

Nope, I just thought about it in my head. We have an HDPE plastic cutting board that goes over one half of the sink in our RV. It was a thought based on that.

I think a drain board could be easily made with a piece of scrap SS, maybe a mesh of some sort.

It could also be made of plastic, for all that.

 

[PlexVector]

Okay, just looked at the two links to what your choices are. Sorry, somehow missed that earlier. I'm sticking with 2 sinks. The reasoning is you can balance your pot upside down on the divider with one hand (or rig a support for handless) and spray up into the pot with the other with all the water falling directly down into both sinks. Less splatter and faster draining/drying. Also, another way of looking at the two sinks is as a single sink with a recessed side board.

 

[steveoatley]

PlexVector,

I kinda like that idea.

And I'm thinking about longs soaks, in the 2nd bowl - that skunky old carboy - LandoLincoln mentioned that too

I just need some one to MAKE a removable 24x24 inch drain board.
Like What Homeridal is saying.

made out of the same SS as like a False Bottom, with the little holes or slots
And big enough to cover one side of my 24x24 sink


HMMMMmmmm who could make such a thing ?

Steve

 

[PlexVector]

PlexVector,

I kinda like that idea.

And I'm thinking about longs soaks, in the 2nd bowl - that skunky old carboy

I just need some one to MAKE a removable 24x24 inch drain board.
Like What Homeridal is saying.

made out of the same SS as like a False Bottom, with the little holes or slots
And big enough to cover one side of my 24x24 sink


HMMMMmmmm who could make such a thing ?

Steve

Look for SS sink racks. Would it be okay if it sat in the sink? It provides a flat surface in the sink for items to drain through. probably doesn't have to be exact fit. http://www.us.kohler.com/us/Sink-Ra...94888069#id=filters&startIndex=20&scrollTop=0
The other place to look may be restaurant kitchen supply for something that may fit on top.

 

[PlexVector]

PlexVector,

I kinda like that idea.

And I'm thinking about longs soaks, in the 2nd bowl - that skunky old carboy

I just need some one to MAKE a removable 24x24 inch drain board.
Like What Homeridal is saying.

made out of the same SS as like a False Bottom, with the little holes or slots
And big enough to cover one side of my 24x24 sink


HMMMMmmmm who could make such a thing ?

Steve

Bingo?

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/tru...oIV8kFgDEwJgQKUqyfU4nQAJ8WDzXhLWMrxoC6SXw_wcB

And this guy understands Homebrewers for sure:
http://arborfab.com/

 

[mmient]

I went with one large sink. It can easily hold anything I am cleaning..

http://www.homedepot.com/p/BigTub-U...rGITpk6X1Ym5YZLN4NDz9RoCOMfw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[steveoatley]

Bingo?

http://www.webstaurantstore.com/tru...oIV8kFgDEwJgQKUqyfU4nQAJ8WDzXhLWMrxoC6SXw_wcB

Great idea BUT

Its $205 bucks!!!

I am only paying $550 for the sink.....

S

 

[PlexVector]

Great idea BUT

Its $205 bucks!!!

I am only paying $550 for the sink.....

S

Well, you didn't give us a budget...
The other end of the scale would be a large cookie sheet and drill your own holes.

 

[b-boy]

I'm just planning for my new setup. I'm moving in a few weeks. I've been looking a CL SS restaurant sinks. Right now I use my basement utility sink, which is great.

Going forward, I'm planning on getting a double sink, as long as the sink is large enough to handle my 15 gallon pots. If not, I'll just go with a larger single unit.

I like the double for a few reasons:

• Easy to soak bottles and equipment in one side and still have another sink to use.
• When I do starters I usually use the sink for an ice bath to cool my starter. I have to use a lot of water to fill it high enough to cover my flasks. Again, I can do this while still having a sink.

 

[Homercidal]

Gee, I can often find a few SS sinks at the scrapyard. I don't really have a sink in my garage for brewing, but it might be worth it to install one. The sinks at the scrapyard are usually pretty small, but I bet they would work alright. I'm currently using the garden hose to rinse my equipment off in the yard. A drain rack of some sort would be nice. A sink with a sprayer would be even better.

 

[steveoatley]

I like the double for a few reasons:

• Easy to soak bottles and equipment in one side and still have another sink to use.
• When I do starters I usually use the sink for an ice bath to cool my starter. I have to use a lot of water to fill it high enough to cover my flasks. Again, I can do this while still having a sink.

Good points b-boy, I had not though about the chilling the starter flask

This is why I ask for opinions

I am currently brewing in a Garage, with only a garden hose for water.
I am currently building this Basement Brewery, I only have 2 walls up
If I had a chance to brew in this space a couple of times and find my "flow"
Work flow, I could probably make a good choice on my own
I am just trying to work out any bug before I drop serious dough on a sink...

Thanks to everyone for their input. I do appreciate it.

S

 

[PlexVector]

I use a single utility sink in a detached garage. I have a brass Tee with little valves that split the faucet output so one has the potable hose that runs to the front where I fill kettles and rinse, etc. the other side of the tee is so I can do things at the sink as needed. It would help if I had two sinks and two faucets, which would cut down on the back and forth sometimes. I use utility buckets as the extra sink, which is not ideal, since the sink has to stay clear for dumping. Even if I put a spigot under the sink for the hose, which I'll do one day; two sinks would still be my preference.

 

[heckels]

There is also the option of one bowl that is longer eg. 24X36 to give extra room for your nightmare e-herms kettle. You could always sad a drainboard that sits on top for when you are done cleaning.

This for sure. Mine is 36" wide and LOVE it! I bought a dish drying rack that fits inside when I want to let something drip dry.

Can't tell you where it came from originally, I bought it used.

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