Any drawbacks to the Bayou Classic SQ-14?

[Glibbidy]

I'm researching a new burner for my setup and it looks like everyone who owns a Bayou Classic SQ-14 is pretty happy with it. Seems to be a very cost effective solution without having to build something.
For those that use it, have you noticed any drawbacks?

Anyone want to stear me away and suggest something else? Ideallu I'd like t spend less then 60.00, and keep in mind this will be a second burner. My king kooker already does a fab job.

BTW this will be used for 10 gallon batches

 

[hollowdp]

The only downside I can think of is that it's too short to rack into a carboy from unless you elevate it. I find that a cinderblock laying on it's side for each side of the burner does the trick perfectly.

 

[the_bird]

I've been using it for a while, and I like it better than the Banjo. Very easy to control the flame, and it seems to run a lot cleaner. Plenty big and robust to hold a keggle. As you know, I've just been doing five gallon batches, but it brings those to a boil quickly enough where I have no doubt it'll work well for 10 (I know lots of others use it for bigger batches).

Is this to be integrated into the Basement Brewery, or is this for a portable setup?

EDIT: You want to borrow mine and see how you like it?

 

[Glibbidy]

The only downside I can think of is that it's too short to rack into a carboy from unless you elevate it. I find that a cinderblock laying on it's side for each side of the burner does the trick perfectly.

Sounds like an easy enough work around. I already have cinder blocks in place so I can rack to my 14.5 gal conical.

Is this to be integrated into the Basement Brewery, or is this for a portable setup?
EDIT: You want to borrow mine and see how you like it?

It will be used mostly in the basement brewery, but also as a portable set-up for brewing and picnics. Seems to be a much more low profile unit then my king kooker.
I got to thinking about this after reading about Evan!'s double batch day. I figure I could brew up 20 gallons, and it would only add about 90-120 minutes to my brewday.
As far as borrowing yours, let me get back to you on that.

 

[McKBrew]

I have no complaints about mine other than having to move the brew kettle to fill the fermenter. Not a big issue with 5G batches in my aluminum pot, but 10G batches would be a challenge.

 

[c.n.budz]

I've been using the sq-14 for awhile and have no complaints about it. I will agree with the other replies that you have to put it on blocks if you want to siphon to your fermenter. The unit itself is nice, not very heavy yet plenty sturdy. I've brought mine to family picnics to use for cooking big pots of lobsters and other shellfish. I got mine for $45 including shipping off ebay, definitely worth the money IMO.

 

[ajf]

I have one, and a King Cooker. The SQ-14 is much more flimsy than the KC, but is probably adequate. The only real problem I have with it is the lack of a wind shield. On a couple of occasions, the flame has been blown out during the boil. (Only a problem on windy days.) One day, I'll get around to fabricating a wind shield for it

-a.

 

[MrFebtober]

I have one, and a King Cooker. The SQ-14 is much more flimsy than the KC, but is probably adequate. The only real problem I have with it is the lack of a wind shield. On a couple of occasions, the flame has been blown out during the boil. (Only a problem on windy days.) One day, I'll get around to fabricating a wind shield for it

-a.

Will a keggle fit on a King Cooker? I thought that one was ill-suited for keggles because of the circular base, but maybe i'm thinking of a different make.

 

[Glibbidy]

My keggle's fit just fine on my King Kooker. In fact the model I have could easily support something wider in diameter then a keggle.

 

[MrFebtober]

My keggle's fit just fine on my King Kooker. In fact the model I have could easily support something wider in diameter then a keggle.

Good to know. I must have been thinking of one of the other round stand cookers.

 

[akaryrye]

I just did my first all grain and first 11 gallon batch today with this burner, no problems at all getting 13 gallons to boil, and it boiled over easily at full throttle. Why would I need a bigger burner?

 

[RayInUT]

It works pretty well as long as there is no wind. I use mine in my basement. It's a walk out basement with a gazillion windows. I brew in front of an open sliding glass door and leave all the other windows open so I have no CO exposure and I do have a CO detector down there too. It works great for chicken wings too! I've done a batch of fifty or sixty wings with it and had no problem keeping the oil at 375* after putting in a whole sh1tload of cool wings in the hot oil.

 

[springer]

I hope you don't do wings inside the house.

 

[masonsjax]

I have an SQ-14 also and love it. I brew in the garage, so wind is not an issue. This thing is really easy on gas too, I think because it has a LP regulator, but heats up 7 gallons of wort in no time. I've been moving my kettle to the table for siphon, but the blocks are a good idea, I'll try that next time.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I like mine. And it will fill a bucket fermenter from my keggle without blocking it up.

 

[Whiskey]

It works pretty well as long as there is no wind. I use mine in my basement. It's a walk out basement with a gazillion windows. I brew in front of an open sliding glass door and leave all the other windows open so I have no CO exposure and I do have a CO detector down there too. It works great for chicken wings too! I've done a batch of fifty or sixty wings with it and had no problem keeping the oil at 375* after putting in a whole sh1tload of cool wings in the hot oil.

Here is a cheap and easy fix to the wind issue with the sq14, cost about 6 bucks.

 

[masonsjax]

Whiskey: I can't tell from the pics what that is, or how you went about attaching it. Could you elaborate please?

 

[harley03]

I have used one of these burners for several years with no issues at all. I think is is a great burner for the money

 

[Whiskey]

Whiskey: I can't tell from the pics what that is, or how you went about attaching it. Could you elaborate please?

Sorry about that...


It a "thimble wall adapter" they can be found in the heating and air section of Lowes, Home Depot, etc. Just had to cut a notch for the burners arm to sit in. The burner is holding it in, I have yet to permanently attach it.

Works fantastic.

 

[RayInUT]

I hope you don't do wings inside the house.

Where else would I do them??? I've used my SQ-14 in the kitchen on the floor to boil wort before when it got too windy on the deck. I do my wings in the basement though. I don't like to stink up the house with oil.

 

[Catt22]

I've been using an SQ-14 for several years now and I think it is one of the best burners available. I switched out the OEM regulator for an adjustable 0-10 psi model. That mod improved the max output considerably.

 

[springer]

Where else would I do them??? I've used my SQ-14 in the kitchen on the floor to boil wort before when it got too windy on the deck. I do my wings in the basement though. I don't like to stink up the house with oil.

Dude Hot oil open flame in the house?! Good way to burn the house down. I use mine to fry turkeys too but never in the garage or house

 

[kcinpdx]

I picked one up off Amazon last week for 39.99 including shipping due to a damaged box. It arrived in less than a week in perfect shape, except , of course, a slightly damaged box. There are deal out there to be had.

 

[golfguy819]

today, amazon has the SP10 marked down to $39.96 with free shipping. i was going to get that one last week when it was $54 and i'm glad i decided to wait.

however, the SQ14 has been marked UP to $66 now.

 

[zoomer67]

Love my Bayou Classic SQ-14, with water temp of 70 F (sunny FL), took me 1 hour to boil 11 Gallons in my keggle. Stand is pretty sturdy, I dragged it around with the 11 Gal. keggle on it. Things I like: it can hold my keggle stable, cheap, I usually do 5 Gal. so 55 K BTU's seemed fine, good flame control!

If I had a pot and not a keggle I might have went with taller one, making transfer to the carboy possible without moving the pot/keggle (I just happened to have an old metal chair in the patio... perfect height!)

 

[Catt22]

Before I bought a pump, I made some leg extensions for my SQ-14 from sections of black iron pipe. These simply slip over the existing legs. You can have the pipe cut to the desired length. I think I used 1-1/4" ID black iron pipe for this mod. Now I pump everything, so they are no longer needed when brewing, but I do use them to elevate the burner when I use it for cooking on camping trips and such. The sections of pipe can also be used for self defense around the home and at the camp grounds if the situation should call for it.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I purchased the SQ14 today for $39.99 plus shipping ($21.50) from webstaurant,com...Total: $61.49.

I should be here in 2 days.

 

[homebrewer_99]

crazy double post...

 

[azscoob]

Before I bought a pump, I made some leg extensions for my SQ-14 from sections of black iron pipe. These simply slip over the existing legs. You can have the pipe cut to the desired length. I think I used 1-1/4" ID black iron pipe for this mod. Now I pump everything, so they are no longer needed when brewing, but I do use them to elevate the burner when I use it for cooking on camping trips and such. The sections of pipe can also be used for self defense around the home and at the camp grounds if the situation should call for it.

Wow, thats heavy duty! using a length of gas pipe as a defence weapon!:rockin: I usually just carry my Taurus Judge loaded with winchester PDX1 .410 shotshells.

 

[Catt22]

Wow, thats heavy duty! using a length of gas pipe as a defence weapon!:rockin: I usually just carry my Taurus Judge loaded with winchester PDX1 .410 shotshells.

Don't get me wrong! I did not say that the pipe is my only self defense weapon. I keep my old 12 ga. Ithaca pump handy much of the time. I load it with #1 shot shells for general use. The barrel is a bit shorter now than it was when I used it for hunting, but not illegally so. The #1 shot sure can tear things up. I have some other firearms, but that's my favorite for defending the homestead.