Kettle jacket

[DangerisBrewing]

I have searched but couldn't find anything in the forum for kettle jackets or insulated jackets for kettles. If there are and I missed them, please post a link here or let's start the conversation.

Do you have an insulated jacket for your kettle/s? If so I want to see and discuss pros and cons of different jacket styles, important things to keep in mind when making one and best materials or construction styles.

I hope this helps others as well as we all know if you're an outdoor brewer and live in a northern climate you need this or you don't brew for 5 or 6 months if the year.

 

[@RoyalGallon]

I have an electric kettle and it sometimes struggled to keep a rolling boil outside in the UK.
So I used a camping roll Matt to make the insulation jacket as per the photo.

I think it make it look like R2D2...

 

[DangerisBrewing]

So, I've thought of this same material, but assumed it would melt. No issues?

 

[DangerisBrewing]

Here's what I'm considering building.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, old school folks often used fiberglass welding blankets folded into multiple layers then wrapped around the kettle and held tight with wire. I've wondered if one could use the blanket over semi-rigid foam board...

Cheers!

 

[@RoyalGallon]

So, I've thought of this same material, but assumed it would melt. No issues?

No - I’ve had no issues at all. However if you use a gas burner then the heat going up the side of the Kettle would probably melt it.

 

[Mike_kever_kombi]

When I used gas and brewed outdoors, I bought a piece is sheet steel and made a cylinder, slightly bigger than the radius of my kettle, about 3/4" all around. I then cut many many tabs on the top and folded those over. This allowed me to trap all the heat that was escaping past the bottom of the kettle.

It allowed me to be able to bring to a boil faster, and have a more vigorous boil. During the cold cleveland winters I wrapped a harbor freight welding blanket around the jacket and secured it with bailing wire. I never had a problem getting or keeping a boil, no matter how cold it got.

I might have a post on here about making the whole setup.