Brew Stand - unistrut or angle iron

[swanwick]

I love to tinker with my brew set-up, but I am not the type who has every tool, saw, etc... to build stuff.

I eventually stumbled upon a picture of an angle iron brewstand and thought, "that's what I need!". So, I set out trying to learn about the materials/process to build it. It took quite a while to assemble the info so I am hoping a new thread might be helpful to others in the same boat.

The angle iron and unistrut are especially appealing because there is no welding required. Also, for that same reason, the stand is extendable, parts can be replaced, etc... without much challenge

There are two main threads on HBT with a zillion posts each. Very hard to parse to get summary info, but lots of gems embedded.

• https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-weldless-build-using-strut-363128/
• https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/weldless-brew-stand-174224/

I zoomed in on the unistrut as a better option than the angle iron. Here are two great choices for buying it

• StrutStands.com - Builds kits for 2 and 3 burner stands. Currently all galvanized, but says will customize for stainless. Offers burner attachments also
• strutchannelfittings.com - offers kits including one with stainless on top or you can just buy your own materials and design your own. Current kit configuration doesn't look like it has anywhere good to attach pumps.

I hope this helps, please reply with more good summary info.

 

[OneImpBrewery]

I built a unistrut brew stand and could not be happier with it. Did the initial design in Sketchup to see how it would fit in my brew space work out any flaws in design. Designed in my pots and everything to be sure. Ordered all the adapters and connectors from strutchannelfittings.com and picked up the strut at a local Lowes for around $18 a stick i believe(no shipping costs). Also needed a metal cutting disc for the chop saw ($4) and then I was on my way. Perfect size for my system and not to bad for the price. Very easy to work with and holding up great after a year of use.

-Imp

 

[wilconrad]

I would add extruded aluminum framing to the list of weldless stand options. I built my stand out of it and have been very happy with it (link to build is in my signature, if you're interested).

 

[Stealthcruiser]

wilconrad, I looked through your thread there, and was wondering how the extrusion is holding up in the burner areas, where they might be seeing a major dose of heat.

Had any issues with it?

Any of it getting soft, or even brittle in these areas?

Thanks.

 

[Soundcameraspeed]

I built this contraption out of unistrut and it works great. I have used unistrut for years because of the line of work I am in so it was the first thing I thought to try. I investigated other options because at the end of the day the unistrut option isn't the cheapest but it won out for several reasons.

1) I was used to working with it.
2) I didn't need to weld it. I can weld I just don't own the equipment and didn't want to go through the hassle of borrowing it.
3) It is can be adjusted if it the build wasn't just right.
4) It can grow in size if my batches grow larger.

Ultimately it was numbers 3 and 4 that made the final decision for me. I am always modifying and tweaking with things and I plan to brew to bigger batches in the future so the ability to unbolt and move the stuff around was a huge plus.

The more and more I brew with it the more I want to add on and the unistrut makes it easy to do that. I have added spoon/paddle holders, pump brackets, switches, a chiller holder and other stuff with off the shelf unistrut fittings or simple stuff from Home Depot without having to majorly modify the stand. Also one thing I never even considered was the fact that the unistrut I used is magnetic and that has come in handy too. I have digital thermometers, work lights and other nick nacks that are magnetic and latch on wherever I need them.

 

[wilconrad]

wilconrad, I looked through your thread there, and was wondering how the extrusion is holding up in the burner areas, where they might be seeing a major dose of heat.

Had any issues with it?

Any of it getting soft, or even brittle in these areas?

Thanks.

I had this concern as well, so I built some drop-in angle iron sections that fit into the burner locations to shield the aluminum from direct heat. I painted them with high-temp header paint and they've held up well. The aluminum shows no sign of any ill-effects from the heat after about 15 batches. No drooping, cracking, discoloration, etc. Seems to be holding up well!

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Cool!
I have some fairly stout extrusion that I scrounged from some LARGE office cubicle walls, and it's stashed in my rafters.

I have been eyeballin' it it in regards to a brewstand, just not settled on whether I want a single tier, or an all gravity fed setup.

 

[wilconrad]

Nice, sounds like a good find!

One piece of advice when working with this stuff: cut it with a toothed non-ferrous chop saw. I tried cutting it with a standard abrasive type saw for steel, no dice. The local hardware store had a toothed saw for cutting aluminum window frames and it cut this stuff beautifully with nice clean edges. They made all the cuts for me for a few bucks.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Yup, we use a carbide toothed blade for cutting it here at work.

The chips can hurt like hell when they hit ya', but nice, beautiful cuts!