DIY Counterflow Chiller - Jaded Cyclone Clone

[rkhanso]

I used a grinding stone on a Dremel. It took patience.

 

[ancientmariner52]

Just miked a piece of 1/2" ridgid copper pipe. The OD is 0.625" (5/8"). Copper is rather soft, so a 5/8" hand reamer should go through it like butter. They run about $15 US on Ebay for the cheap HSS imports, which should last a lifetime on copper.

 

[HopHeavy]

Thanks guys! If I ultimately decide to give this a go I will probably try the hand reamer, if only because I have been less than impressed with my dremel work in the past.

 

[ancientmariner52]

I just remembered rule no.1 for reamers. NEVER turn a reamer backwards! The cutting edges will usually break right off.

 

[rkhanso]

A warning to anyone trying the Dremel method...

Wear a good, thick leather glove in the hand that holds the reducing Tee. It gets hot!
Or, put it in a vise when grinding the stops/nubs off and don't worry about it.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

There was mention of using PVC for the shroud, and that was the route I plan to go.

I plan to copy one seen in "Zymurgy" mag, I believe it was, a few years back, but I can't find it now!

To the best of my recollection, it required no soldering anywhere near the PVC, but only for any couplings / fittings you wished to have on the wort inlet and outlets.

It did require: some close tolerance holes for where the copper passes through the PVC shroud elbows, and they were epoxied in place, methinks.

All wort runs , were straight copper runs, ( as above), and easily brushed out after removing the silicone loops.

 

[helterscelter]

There was mention of using PVC for the shroud, and that was the route I plan to go.

I plan to copy one seen in "Zymurgy" mag, I believe it was, a few years back, but I can't find it now!

To the best of my recollection, it required no soldering anywhere near the PVC, but only for any couplings / fittings you wished to have on the wort inlet and outlets.

It did require: some close tolerance holes for where the copper passes through the PVC shroud elbows, and they were epoxied in place, methinks.

All wort runs , were straight copper runs, ( as above), and easily brushed out after removing the silicone loops.

I believe you are correct. There is one on byo. Here is a similar one from the electric brewery

http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=296442#296442&sref=tapatalk&subID=tapatalk

I dunno if going pvc is worth it. Maybe. It would be interesting to see similar builds side by side death match style

 

[RyanTheBeerMan]

I finished the chiller yesterday and gave it a pressure test with the garden hose outside (I haven't bought the silicone tubing yet). It leaked - I discovered that I forgot to solder one of the joints on 2 reducer Tees. I corrected that and tested it today. It doesn't leak now!!! Nice. (Top picture - note, the water you see on the ground is from the cheap quick-release on the hose, which will be replaced. The chiller is not leaking now.)

I have about $35 into mine so far (I used recycled 1/2" and 3/4" pipe). I still need to buy the silicon hose and whatever fittings I want to use.

Next, I'll clean it up on the inside and outside and add it to the stack of items I'm collecting for my electric HERMS system.

I did solder some 12 gauge electric household wiring around the outside of the 1/2" pipes in a circular pattern, making the cooling water spin in around and create turbulence. I'm hoping this makes for better cooling. (bottom picture)

View attachment 396825

View attachment 396935

How did this turn out for you?

 

[rkhanso]

How did this turn out for you?

It worked great for a number of years.....until last winter. I guess I must have left water in it and it froze and split the copper. I need to make a new chiller. I'll probably make another one just like it once I save the $$ for all the copper.