Help choosing a Conical Fermenter

[skraeling]

I'm excited about the Spikes also, I believe I was told approx Jan on the 14 gal

+2 im waiting for spikes to see what the redesign holds.

 

[jtp137]

Could also be waiting on the supplier in china since that where hes getting the conical tanks made now too before doing finishing fab work inhouse themselves so quality will no doubt be high... Apparently Toledo metal spinning is just too pricey to make them in the states for him anymore. I believe blichman has the only american made homebrewing sized conical at this point and its not even very good because of the silly weldless fittings.

Anyone ever tried sourcing a homebrew size conical from alibaba I aas thinking getting a 1/2 barrel size but dont want to spend 600 bucks on SS cronical

 

[dthompson79]

I've looked you save a little money, but it is more the uncertainty of what you're getting. I would rather spend a little more and get a trusted brand that if I have problems I have a recourse to fix the problem. i.e. spike, stout tanks, ss brewtech, etc. They are all know for having stellar customer service but sell a Chinese product. Just my 2 cents. Others may feel different

 

[augiedoggy]

when I bought my 12.5 gallon conical I got it from ebay.. The seller used to order them in large quantities from china and resell them cheap.. I got mine for $300 including shipping and it came with a real butterfly valve = a sanitary ball valve the tc fittings and an extra seal... I have seen the exact same ones on alibaba.

I have ordered from alibaba before myself just never a conical... I ordered a powersupply board for my old 50" samsung plasma after discovering there were none in the states... I did so at like 10pm and was very pleasantly surprised to see it show up on my porch 2 days later from china. I have not seen the same kind of dhipping times from all the stuff I have ordered on alibabas retail site aliexpress which is more geared for single orders.

 

[panaceabeachbum]

Glacier conical is tracking for delivery tomorrow, the 25th, ordered it a couple of days after 2 kettles from Spikes, looks like conical will arrive first. YAY

 

[skraeling]

SpikeBrewing
‏@SpikeBrewing
@BiologistRyan slowly but surely... Pre-production samples are due in this week!
12:06 AM - 24 Oct 2016

Good news. Cant wait to see these.

 

[panaceabeachbum]

Me too, I have another project that I need a 14gal non jacketed conical for, hopefully wont be to long or Ill go ahead with my plan to order the 20gal from Brewers Hardware

 

[panaceabeachbum]

Conical arrived from Glacier today, very well crated and in perfect condition. I had high expectations and on first inspection Im very satisfied.

It appears everything was included other than a few small issues,

1)The fitting for the racking arm and valve is a 2.5" and someone mistakenly put a 2"x1.5"reducer instead of the 2.5"x1.5" in my order.

2)To assemble as designed 8 qty 1.5" Clamps are required, it came with 7

Neither of these are big issues and Matt at Glacier is getting the necessary parts out this week.

The description of the 15 on the site say custom CIP arm and spray ball included but when I called today I was told the 15 doesnt included a spray ball.

With the few small issues out of the way Ill let the photos explain the good points, the pics do not do this fermentor justice, Ill try to post some better quality pics this weekend when we wrestle this 300 pound beauty off the pallet.

 

[panaceabeachbum]

 

[iijakii]

Bummer about the spray ball mixup, that's frustrating. Oh well, looks great.

 

[milldoggy]

What did that thing cost?

Edit: nevermind http://www.glaciertanks.com/tanks-home-brew-tanks-jfm-15-gal.html

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

Wow... Nice setup... BTW. Look at all the other toys you have!!!

 

[panaceabeachbum]

Got word from Glacier that the correct $20 reducer will be shipped once they get notice that I have shipped the incorrect one back. I am honestly insulted that I can't be trusted to send back a part with a $20 retail.

 

[iijakii]

Got word from Glacier that the correct $20 reducer will be shipped once they get notice that I have shipped the incorrect one back. I am honestly insulted that I can't be trusted to send back a part with a $20 retail.

Yeah that's a bad way to do business, you can't punish people for your own mixups. And especially don't sour a $2k sale over $10 part. If they want it back they could send you a prepaid UPS label to slap on a box.

 

[Bowtiebrewery]

^^^Agreed. Spike once forgot to include something in my order. They like next-day shipped that thing. I mean I was totally fine with them sending it when they had a chance, but they were super receptive to it. Same thing with Bobby M. Both vendors I'll keep buying from.

 

[panaceabeachbum]

Glacier did send a prepaid label via email just the whole thing of me needing to send this part back first that torqued my nuts , If it was $100+ I would understand.

But hey Ive got an entire lifetime to enjoy this tank

 

[panaceabeachbum]

Few pics of the welds.

 

[iijakii]

Beautiful.

 

[panaceabeachbum]

second brew day with the new conical coming up, I'm very impressed with how easy this thing is to clean, First spray ball, hats off to the inventor of that gadget.

All the various ports are very well laid out. Welds are all clean and all the fittings are straight, no welding distortion.

Only thing missing in the short term is casters .

 

[augiedoggy]

since someone recently liked something I posted above in this thread I figured I would update it.. I have started a brewpub in the last year and ordered a lot of equipment direct from manufacturers that I could normally buy from big reseller vendors stateside and I want to mention there IS a large savings, even with customs and shipping fees your still often looking at about 30% saving sometimes more. For example I most recently purchased dual zone jacketed 3.5 bbl unitanks for 3k each shipping is another 2k for all three and customer fees and tariffs should tack on another 1500 all together about 12,800 for the three...
If I buy them stateside im looking at over 15,000 for the same conicals with shipping and the wait time is longer. when I bought my kettles the savings were greater.

BTW the manufacturer of my equipment is the same as the brands of equipment heavily discussed in this thread