Build a relatively inexpensive Tri-Clover RIMS Tube?

[Sawdustguy]

I was thinking more of machining the whole ting out of one piece of 304. Inside threads isn't too difficult, but it wouldn't look as good as his, but functional.

Why bother? NPSM will mate with a NPT Female but you will have to use the washer that came with the element.

 

[klyph]

Why bother? NPSM will mate with a NPT Female but you will have to use the washer that came with the element.

I just built a rims tube with NPT female threads, and the threads bind before the gasket seats.

 

[ScubaSteve]

I just built a rims tube with NPT female threads, and the threads bind before the gasket seats.

So did you keep going or stop? I have 2 camco limelife 5500w LD elements, and a 1500w LD element. None of them will thread past the first few threads in a 1" coupler. Like you, there is no contact with th gasket.

How are people getting around this?

 

[paledragon]

I built the standard 1.5" nipple/tee/bushing rims chamber. The bushing where the element goes is aluminum instead of stainless. I also bought a 1" npt tap and threaded the bushing deeper until the element gasket sealed. Unless you've got the right equipment, I'm not sure you could manually do this with a stainless bushing. I just used a vise and a wrench.

P.d.

 

[Sawdustguy]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Here was my first RIMS tube with an 1" NPSM threaded element threaded all the way to the washer without modification.

Here is a picture of my new RIMS tube with the same element threaded all the way to the washer without modification. Seeing is believing.

I purchase my elements here: http://www.plumbingsupply.com/elements.html

 

[paledragon]

Getting an element and bushing to seal is a roll of the dice. Sometimes it works as sawdustguy showed, sometimes it doesn't. Out of 5 elements I have 2 fit into a bushing and 3 didn't.

P.d.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

Getting an element and bushing to seal is a roll of the dice. Sometimes it works as sawdustguy showed, sometimes it doesn't. Out of 5 elements I have 2 fit into a bushing and 3 didn't.

P.d.

Guess I won't be playing the lotto, I've used all my luck on elements...
I'm 3 for 3 with successfully installing into bushings.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Okay, I take it back I tried threading the element into a 1" coupler, and it wouldn't fit. THEN, I tried it in a 1.5" TC x 1" FPT fitting, and it threaded perfectly.

The only complaint I have is that the element will touch the inside of a 1.5" TC rims tube. I'm not convinced that it's going to burn the element out, so it should be fine.

 

[klyph]

So did you keep going or stop? I have 2 camco limelife 5500w LD elements, and a 1500w LD element. None of them will thread past the first few threads in a 1" coupler. Like you, there is no contact with th gasket.

How are people getting around this?

I'm just going to use thread sealant and hope for the best. Maybe a fat bead of silicone to fill the gap.

 

[Sawdustguy]

Okay, I take it back I tried threading the element into a 1" coupler, and it wouldn't fit. THEN, I tried it in a 1.5" TC x 1" FPT fitting, and it threaded perfectly.

The only complaint I have is that the element will touch the inside of a 1.5" TC rims tube. I'm not convinced that it's going to burn the element out, so it should be fine.

The 1500 watt should fit with no problem. Are you having trouble with the 4500 watt elements being too wide?

 

[ScubaSteve]

It's a 5500w! For the half of the element that folds back on itself, it touches the inner wall. Damn, I really don't want to replace this stuff

 

[klyph]

I put two bends in mine so that the centerline is between the fold. It fits fine in 1.5" pipe.

Rather than:
---====)

I made mine:
-\__===)

If that makes any sense.

 

[ScubaSteve]

Is yours a 5500w LD? I'm kinda scared to bend it.....but then again I've seen guys completely unfold them with no issues whatsoever.

 

[klyph]

Yes, 5500w LWD, it scared me a little how much force it took to bend, but it just needs 2 small tweaks to center it up.

 

[pickles]

I bent my 4500W HD element slightly and used it this past weekend in my BK and it worked great.

 

[klyph]

This is all it takes.

Fits into this quite nicely:

 

[ScubaSteve]

I bent mine and it's a pretty snug fit. The element pretty much fills the tube diameter completely. I'm pretty certain it's going to sublimate any fluid in there with the kind of energy that will be transferred I may refrain from using it to maintain mash temps and stick with doing on demand hot water and sparging. I will be doing BIAB so there will also be an element in the vessel where mashing takes place....kind of like a direct fire MLT but with more control.

I think it's still touching slightly in a few places, but probably not enough to cause a massive failure.

 

[88Q]

Well, I got my RIMS TUBE setup from Derrin Yesterday...... it is sweet!

All I have to wait on now is the compression fitting for my thermocouple and I will be brewing RIMS style. A follow-up report is sure to come.

Now, What to brew?

 

[gmartin]

Back to the main topic of the thread - the triclover rims chamber.

Looks like a good idea to me, given problems with cleaning the original "for dummies" design.

Sawdustguy: I checked the KLG stainless site and they show the Tee's and the clamps, but no additional fittings. Also they say wholesale only, thought it seems like you can order off the site using any Paypal account. You sday you talked to "Kevin" - do they have the additional fittings you needed? Any trouble with not being a reseller?

Thanks - gmartin.

 

[Sawdustguy]

Back to the main topic of the thread - the triclover rims chamber.

Looks like a good idea to me, given problems with cleaning the original "for dummies" design.

Sawdustguy: I checked the KLG stainless site and they show the Tee's and the clamps, but no additional fittings. Also they say wholesale only, thought it seems like you can order off the site using any Paypal account. You sday you talked to "Kevin" - do they have the additional fittings you needed? Any trouble with not being a reseller?

Thanks - gmartin.

They will have everything you need. Simply call Kevin, tell him what you need and he will send you an paypal invoice. He will sell to anyone. KLG is by far the least expensive supplier of tri clover fittings around.

 

[klyph]

Are you sure they have the 1" NPS to triclover?

 

[Sawdustguy]

Are you sure they have the 1" NPS to triclover?

Their 1" NPT to 1.5" triclover will accept the NPS threaded element. That is how I got my RIMS to work. I believe Steve did the same thing also.

 

[hatfieldenator]

Okay, I take it back I tried threading the element into a 1" coupler, and it wouldn't fit. THEN, I tried it in a 1.5" TC x 1" FPT fitting, and it threaded perfectly.

The only complaint I have is that the element will touch the inside of a 1.5" TC rims tube. I'm not convinced that it's going to burn the element out, so it should be fine.

I'm having a 1" 1/2 coupler welded on to the side of a keg. Do you think this was a bad choice? Should I have had a 1" lock nut installed instead? I just thought it would be better for being able to build the electrical box out away from the keg wall. I was hoping that I could seal it with a combination of pipe tape and/or a gasket and then be able to build an electrical box around it for the connections.

 

[dunleav1]

Guy,
I just sent you a PM.
Thanks,
JD

 

[weirdboy]

I guess I am confused as to why a few flakes of grain is a big deal, since the only time you are using your RIMS is pre-boil. I mean, I have grain stuck in my MLT from 10 batches ago. I just CANT get it all out no matter how hard I try and no matter how many times I clean the thing. But, I don't really care that much because a couple flakes of grain is nothing compared to 10-20 pounds that I usually dump in there every batch, and it's all going to get boiled for an hour or more anyway.

 

[dunleav1]

I guess I am confused as to why a few flakes of grain is a big deal, since the only time you are using your RIMS is pre-boil. I mean, I have grain stuck in my MLT from 10 batches ago. I just CANT get it all out no matter how hard I try and no matter how many times I clean the thing. But, I don't really care that much because a couple flakes of grain is nothing compared to 10-20 pounds that I usually dump in there every batch, and it's all going to get boiled for an hour or more anyway.

Some of us are just more obsessive compulsive than others...

 

[Sawdustguy]

Some of us are just more obsessive compulsive than others...

+1 Thats exactly how my wife describes me.

 

[chrisdb]

This is all it takes.

Fits into this quite nicely:

poking around for a DIY rims tube.. how did this one go together? any changes if you were to do it again?

 

[ChrisMichels]

Would the 1500 watt uld element from plumbing supply fit in 1.5" tube?

 

[bodhi314]

hey klyph - sorry if this has already been covered - where did you get the fittings for the copper RIMS?

Do you know approximate cost?
Last question - how has it worked out?