Brewstand Build

[Sandbag58d]

So, I intend to take pics as this goes along to help others make their own plan. The problem is, I get involved and forget to take pics as I go. Here's the end of day one.
I'll do better tomorrow with the pics.

 

[Sandbag58d]

Coming together.

Doesn't always line up...

Ought to be a clean look when it done

Lot of grinding

To mount the controller

Nevermind the carpenter's square, I'm fairly sure there's not a right angle anywhere ...

 

[Sandbag58d]

Figured out a control box mounting solution. Thoughts?

 

[Sandbag58d]

Why, hello there BG14s! Yes, I'll put you on my stand tomorrow.

 

[jafo28]

Looking good so far!

 

[RLEster]

Good start, that's going to be a nice looking brewstand.

 

[Sandbag58d]

Thanks for the encouragement! I think it will be worth the work.

 

[Sandbag58d]

Almost done

Burners and pumps are mounted

 

[Sandbag58d]

Very close now! Waiting on a high pressure regulator.

 

[brewbama]

Very clean build. You are a craftsman.


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[Sandbag58d]

Very clean build. You are a craftsman.


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Thanks! It's a labor of love for sure. With a name like brewbama, you must be in Alabama. What part?

 

[kenh]

This is fancy compared to mine! I spent a few months gathering up old steel bed frames then I cut them up & used them to make my brew stand.

 

[Sandbag58d]

I saw that! A very resourceful solution that I considered seriously. In the end, I decided that I like the asthetics of the square tube.

 

[Sandbag58d]

Fire!

Couldn't resist a brew day even without an appropriate HLT...

Should be a good temp for Yooper's Dead Guy Ale recipe

 

[mswebb]

It looks like your pumps are mounted inlet down, does this cause you any issues? I would think that up would work best or horizontal at most to retain easy gravity feed and less chance of air blockage in the line.

 

[day_trippr]

It looks like your pumps are mounted inlet down, does this cause you any issues? I would think that up would work best or horizontal at most to retain easy gravity feed and less chance of air blockage in the line.

He has it right, you want the outlet of the pump above the inlet to prevent air from being trapped in the pump head which can prevent priming and/or cause cavitation mid-boil...

Cheers!

 

[Sandbag58d]

Inlet down worked like a champ. No issues priming them whatsoever.

 

[Sandbag58d]

For those wondering if they should take the plunge and buy a welder, just do it! I am generally handy but never welded a seam in my life before this. If you have the money and inclination, get a Hobart Handler 140 or something similar. It's a 120V flux core/gas welder that made the learning curve much less severe.
Now I'm searching for stuff that needs welding..

 

[jafo28]

For those wondering if they should take the plunge and buy a welder, just do it! I am generally handy but never welded a seam in my life before this. If you have the money and inclination, get a Hobart Handler 140 or something similar. It's a 120V flux core/gas welder that made the learning curve much less severe.
Now I'm searching for stuff that needs welding..

Totally agree. I bought a welder a couple of years ago, and do the same thing, what else can I weld? I built a BBQ smoker a couple of months ago, and will be starting a single tier in a couple of months.

 

[Sandbag58d]

Hmmm... A smoker may be in the near future.

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[Transamguy77]

Hmmm... A smoker may be in the near future.

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Then your brew days look like this!
OP nice job with the stand!

 

[herc1354]

I've built a system similar to yours, two things I've done to improve issues are

1- I remounted my pumps so the inlet and outlet are horizontal, the flow is Much better

2- I have my burners at 3-4" from the bottom of my kettles, this is very important if you are running low pressure LP.


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[Sandbag58d]

I've built a system similar to yours, two things I've done to improve issues are

1- I remounted my pumps so the inlet and outlet are horizontal, the flow is Much better

2- I have my burners at 3-4" from the bottom of my kettles, this is very important if you are running low pressure LP.


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Thanks for the input. So far, the pumps have offered no problems. Im brewing tomorrow so ill pay attention to the pumps. I am 4 1/2 inches and running HP until I automate the burners. Baby steps, ya know. Cheers!

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[herc1354]

Thanks for the input. So far, the pumps have offered no problems. Im brewing tomorrow so ill pay attention to the pumps. I am 4 1/2 inches and running HP until I automate the burners. Baby steps, ya know. Cheers!

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Yeah baby steps, good plan. I like my automation but....I need to fine tune it. The HLT burner which is automated does not seem to put out the heat that the BK burner does, both are BG14 burners with low pressure orifices running off the same 200k BTU low pressure regulator, only difference is the HLT burner is controlled by a honeywell valve, perhaps the honeywell valve is restricting flow.

Good luck, hope the brew day went well


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[brewbama]

(Inadvertently commented to wrong thread)

 

[Sandbag58d]

Yeah baby steps, good plan. I like my automation but....I need to fine tune it. The HLT burner which is automated does not seem to put out the heat that the BK burner does, both are BG14 burners with low pressure orifices running off the same 200k BTU low pressure regulator, only difference is the HLT burner is controlled by a honeywell valve, perhaps the honeywell valve is restricting flow.

Good luck, hope the brew day went well


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I think it did (2 brews since my last post). Pumps still worked well but I'll likely change orientation for comparison. I think the value of the RIMS is negated with an igloo mash tun although a hands off vorlauf is nice. I have a long way to go to get repeatable results but I can see this as a solid base.

 

[herc1354]

I think it did (2 brews since my last post). Pumps still worked well but I'll likely change orientation for comparison. I think the value of the RIMS is negated with an igloo mash tun although a hands off vorlauf is nice. I have a long way to go to get repeatable results but I can see this as a solid base.

Nice, it has taken me a few brews to get the hang of my system, I insulated my MLT so the HERMS coil is not always needed, but like you said hands off Vorlauf is nice, also the constant recirculating of liquid through the Grain Bed is good for efficiency...or at least I think it would be.

I'm very mechanical, so I'm always looking for ways to improve the setup....really think I like the engineering part of brewing more than brewing it self....not sure if this is good or bad. I'm really curious to know if you see any improvement when you rotate the pump heads, I for sure achieved better flow and absolutely NO priming issues, also when I disconnect the outlet hose sticky liquid no longer runs down the the pump head.


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