Sawdustguy
Well-Known Member
A lot of you have read my "RIMS for Dummies Thread (https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/rims-dummies-114997/) and built a RIMS Tube very similar to the one I had diagrammed in the thread. That tube seems to work very well in all aspects except one. It is a ***** to clean well. I have noticed that no matter how well I flush after a brew session, when I sanitize before a brew session, I always see a few flakes of grain flow out of the RIMS Tube. If you are like me, this is bothersome.
I remembered a post by Derrin, where he posted an image of a Tri-clover RIMS Tube that he welded up. He posted that the tube would be about $160 each. This seems like a reasonable price, but alas when I open my wallet, flies pop out. Even though I would love to buy one from Derrin, by necessity, I have to find a less expensive alternative.
I sent a few PM's to CodeRage to bounce a few ideas about RIMS Tubes off of him and with his help, I think I may have come up with something that would cost only about $110 if you bought everything new. You could save some coin if you caught some of the items on Ebay.
Enter the Tri-Clover RIMS tube. Mind you, I have just put this idea together and it's possible, almost probable someone had this idea before, so if I stepped on your toes or stole your thunder, I'm sorry. I have not tried it yet but based your feedback on the idea I wouldn't mind shedding some coin and being the first.
Below is a drawing of the RIMS Tube. There is no welding and anyone with the proper parts can make it in five minutes. I plan to use a Chromalox 1500 watt, 120 vac, low density, 7 3/4" element and 4" temperature sensor. If you need a longer tube you could add a 1.5" Tri-Clover Union or another 1.5" Tri-Clover tee in the middle with a 1.5" Tri-Clover Plug to be used as a drain. It consists of two Tri-Clamp tees, some 1.5" Tri-clover to 1/2" FNPT adapters, a 1.5" Tri-clover to 1" FNPT adapter and some 1.5" Tri-Clamps and gaskets. I priced it out with brand new parts from KLG Stainless and it comes to roughly $110 but it is extremely easy to disassemble and clean. What do you guys think?
I remembered a post by Derrin, where he posted an image of a Tri-clover RIMS Tube that he welded up. He posted that the tube would be about $160 each. This seems like a reasonable price, but alas when I open my wallet, flies pop out. Even though I would love to buy one from Derrin, by necessity, I have to find a less expensive alternative.
I sent a few PM's to CodeRage to bounce a few ideas about RIMS Tubes off of him and with his help, I think I may have come up with something that would cost only about $110 if you bought everything new. You could save some coin if you caught some of the items on Ebay.
Enter the Tri-Clover RIMS tube. Mind you, I have just put this idea together and it's possible, almost probable someone had this idea before, so if I stepped on your toes or stole your thunder, I'm sorry. I have not tried it yet but based your feedback on the idea I wouldn't mind shedding some coin and being the first.
Below is a drawing of the RIMS Tube. There is no welding and anyone with the proper parts can make it in five minutes. I plan to use a Chromalox 1500 watt, 120 vac, low density, 7 3/4" element and 4" temperature sensor. If you need a longer tube you could add a 1.5" Tri-Clover Union or another 1.5" Tri-Clover tee in the middle with a 1.5" Tri-Clover Plug to be used as a drain. It consists of two Tri-Clamp tees, some 1.5" Tri-clover to 1/2" FNPT adapters, a 1.5" Tri-clover to 1" FNPT adapter and some 1.5" Tri-Clamps and gaskets. I priced it out with brand new parts from KLG Stainless and it comes to roughly $110 but it is extremely easy to disassemble and clean. What do you guys think?