DIY Wort Chiller

[Jamesjoelee]

I'm looking to make my own immersion wort chiller because ice baths are just too inefficient. My question is, what is the cheapest wort chiller that has been made?

 

[Onkel_Udo]

Cheapest? Absolute cheapest? 1/4" OD 20' copper refrigerant line over from a different job, two 3' lengths of 1/4" ID vinyl tubing, four small zip ties and a plastic 1/4" barb to garden hose adapter. total cost about $10.

It was OK on 5-gallon batches but not great. I built a much better one out of 3/8" OD utility grade copper ( about 30') later on with basically the same pieces listed above and it did GREAT on 5-gallon batches and good on 10 gallon batches. I think to replicate it now in the US it would cost about $40.

 

[firerat]

I get copper tubing for free from work.

Can't get cheaper than free.

 

[ricshayne]

it all depends on what price you can get your copper at. the fittings are dirt cheap.

 

[MindenMan]

Copper tubing fittings are cheap I agree, but a roll of tubing I bought on closeout at HD last year (or longer), and went I went to HD they didn't have any solder on fittings in that size anymore. I ended up buying pricey "Shark Bite" fittings as there are no other hardware stores near my house. In the current ad for my local HD store they have a 50' roll of 1/4" copper evaporator cooler tubing for $26.00. Fittings for 1/4" are cheap and plentiful this time of year. Good luck.