3 tier before going single tier

[vahunter1819]

been brewing all grain for a while now but looking to build a brew stand to make things easier. Initially was thinking a 3 tier wooden gravity build but you guys and your sweet single tier setups got me jealous and now im thinking single tier. im not a handy guy, welding, mounting burners, etc honestly scares me. building a wooden stand seems to be more within my realm. Plus, a wooden 3 tier would be much cheaper. I was curious to see if anyone did the 3 tier setup for a while before moving up to single tier?

 

[BlueHouseBrew]

Another option, and what I use, is a 2 tier setup. I have my HLT and BK on the ground on burners. The MT (cooler) is between them on a wooden stand. I gravity drain from the MT to the BK, and pump to the MT from the HLT. This simplifies things a bit, because it only requires one pump, and doesn't require nearly as much fabrication. It's also nice, because unlike a three tier setup, everything is still at a manageable height. (Not as much of a bling factor, though.)

 

[kh54s10]

Here is my 3 tier. I have since turned it around so that the BK is next to the sink for cooling the wort. I have also plumbed a line through a filter to the HLT so I only have to open a valve to fill it with water.

HLT on a turkey fryer burner, MT - Rubbermaid cooler with braid, BK on a Bayou Classic SP10.

I have no plans to go single tier unless I can go inside with all electric.

Added: I do only 5 gallon batches (batch sparging) and have no plans to go larger. I use a step stool to stir the mash. That is the only thing I need the stool for.
The mash tun is at a very easy height to remove for dumping into the compost pile and with a 5 gallon batch it is not very heavy after being drained.

Saves the cost and trouble of using a pump and switching the hoses around.

 

[user 204491]

Hey, I was in your same boat, and I'm now completely done migrating from a 3-tier gravity fed system to a single-tier, single-pump setup. I've actually got a thread (https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=530054) where I asked a lot of questions and got a lot of useful answers. There's diagrams and parts list, and I'm hoping to break in my new rig and post pictures back to that thread this weekend!

Please take a look, and I'm happy to answer any questions I can!

One thing, I'd recommend using Regency wire shelving to build your brew stand. It's reasonably priced, is commercial quality, and so dead simple that even I could put it together. I used this both for part of my 3-tier setup and my entire single-tier.

 

[Gonefishin]

I went with a 3-tier because I did not want something else to clean (pumps/lines etc.). I am overly cautious with my cleaning and it takes a long time already. Besides I have been brewing gravity for ever with ropes/ladders/rigged up stands and what-not. So why not stay with what works (only stable). Here is a pic of my brew area with the HLT up high, gravity to my MT and BK's and then Gravity to my fermentors. My MT is the black rubber coated keg and it is actually attached to a pulley that I use to raise it above the BK's for sparging. I had a guy weld it it all up for about $200.00, including the steel. Good luck and let us know what you come up with.