My Big-Build Thread

[JoeRags]

Alright, its been 5 months since an update... the new house is pretty much done, but a new woman in the life has kept me from finishing. Progress has been made however.

All 4 vessels of the system are complete
Frame is complete with casters
24 gallon conical is complete... gasketed with lid secured, just need to test.
Built a stirplate and aquired some flasks / stirbars

Whats left?
Plumb the burners
Finish the grain mill.

I'm so close.... plumbing the burners is going to be a PITA as I need to do it in pipe. I've got a 1" line coming from my propane tank out back, so I'd like to keep at least 3/4" to the 300,000 btu burners.

soooo close. :rockin:

 

[billtzk]

Looks very nice JoeRags. Earlier today I plumbed the 8 inch natural gas burners on my Brutus Ten that I'm building. My gas supply is 3/4 inch pipe, but it necks down to 1/2 inch pipe at the brew stand manifold inlet. My burners have 1/2 inch connections, so all valves and pipes from the manifold are 1/2 inch. I think it will be fine for my ten gallon system.

Black pipe or galvanized is easy to work with. You can have it cut and threaded to the lengths you need if the standard lengths don't work for you. Just get a couple of pipe wrenches and some of that yellow thread compound and you'll be set. A bench-mounted vise helps too.

How is that hi-temp Rustoleum paint holding up for you? My stand is made from 2 inch square mild steel too, and I'm going to have to paint it, so I'm looking for advice on what kind of paint to use and the best way to apply it. I reckon I'll use a belt sander to remove most of the mill scale, and get in to the tight places with an angle grinder flap disc,

 

[JoeRags]

I'll be using black pipe to plumb the gas... and I have access to a threader so I just need to find the time.

As for the paint, its holding up great but has not seen any heat yet. Gotta plumb first!

 

[JoeRags]

She's finally home... plumbed the burners and brought the rig from my workshop to its final resting point.

There's three burners, the largest of which is on the boil kettle, far left. 32 jet propane from MoreBeer. Ten jet burners are on the HLT and the HERMS vessel. For now everything is manual valve, but the HERMS vessel will soon be controlled via a temp controller. Therminator and a single march pump will be bolted to the lower crossmember.

3/4" ID hose from the main line to the rig's 3/4" pipe.

Flame on....

Just about ready for first brew... need to get a big fire extinguisher first. Cant wait!

 

[nboblitt]

She's finally home... plumbed the burners and brought the rig from my workshop to its final resting point.

There's three burners, the largest of which is on the boil kettle, far left. 32 jet propane from MoreBeer. Ten jet burners are on the HLT and the HERMS vessel. For now everything is manual valve, but the HERMS vessel will soon be controlled via a temp controller. Therminator and a single march pump will be bolted to the lower crossmember.

3/4" ID hose from the main line to the rig's 3/4" pipe.

Flame on....

Just about ready for first brew... need to get a big fire extinguisher first. Cant wait!

Rig looks awesome.

Just curious, I'm starting to try and design my AG structure. I've seen the 3 tier, the brutus 10, etc. What made you do partial gravity and partial pump feed system?

Are you willing to share plans with all of us less skilled builders?

 

[JoeRags]

Rig looks awesome.

Just curious, I'm starting to try and design my AG structure. I've seen the 3 tier, the brutus 10, etc. What made you do partial gravity and partial pump feed system?

Are you willing to share plans with all of us less skilled builders?

Thanks... Partial gravity because I like this layout with 4 vessels. The rig is fairly compact considering its capacity, plus, one less pump to buy.... *but* I may go single tier in the future. I'm stockpiling stainless square tube to some day build a stainless stand. Since this is my first AG rig, I'm assuming there will be a few things I'd like to change once I start brewing with it.

Plans? Not much in the way of digital drawings. What I can tell you is that the two megapots are 100 quart each. 1/2" female NPT fittings welded into each including the the keggle and 1/2 keggle.

HERMS Vessel containse 25 feet of 3/8" copper with a 10 jet propane burner. This will soon have an electric gas valve and pilot. I already have the temp controller.

Question - I have two site glasses ready to go (thanks to a fellow forum member).. which vessels should I put them on?

HLT and MT or
HLT and boil kettle

I'm thinking I can make a calibrated stainless stick for the boiler, and have a site glass on the MT. Do I need a gauge on the MT? Thanks.

 

[Monster Mash]

I would go with the HLT and MT, those are the two I have. On the MT I marked 1 gallon marks so it it makes it easy to fill the exact amount you need. The HLT doesn't need marks, it allows you to watch the level as it drops so you know when to cut the heat.

A sight glass in the boil pot is more of a pain then it is worth, plus it is one more thing to leak or break during the boil. I just use some aluminum stock with marks on it.

 

[TerapinChef]

How is that hi-temp Rustoleum paint holding up for you? My stand is made from 2 inch square mild steel too, and I'm going to have to paint it, so I'm looking for advice on what kind of paint to use and the best way to apply it.

+1 on that.
I really need to get this thing painted, and to get some idea of how to begin doing it. And also the best way to clean it up before painting. Here's my 2" square steel version of overkill...