My One Vessel AG System

[blaster_54738]

Brewed up a Munich Dunkel and found this new thermometer is quite sensitive and drops faster than my dial thermometer. I lost mash temps at a rate of about 1 degree every 15 min. That's OK, I can just turn the burner on low for a minute or two and it brings it back to temp. I think I'll try some insulation on my kettle as well.

You could try a blanket otherwise I got a roll of reflectix insulation at Menards for under $20 to wrap my keggle mash tun, we'll see how well it works on Sunday! I don't know how much I have left otherwise I'd just give it to you

 

[wobdee]

You could try a blanket otherwise I got a roll of reflectix insulation at Menards for under $20 to wrap my keggle mash tun, we'll see how well it works on Sunday! I don't know how much I have left otherwise I'd just give it to you

Thanks, but I have some of that refleçtix as well. I'll give that a try next time

 

[Tombsy]

I am also looking into building something similar. One idea I had, would be to weld about 3-4 1x1 inch horizontal tabs(clips) on the bottom ring of the basket. Then inside the kettle install footings(brackets) that the basket would rest on. (My neighbour is a stainless welder).

My thinking is that the basket would not need feet and would not rest on the bottom of the kettle. Also, you could install some footings maybe 5-7 inches from the bottom. This would then allow you to use the basket for hops while still maintaining the rolling boil (not sure if this would work). Finally you could install some footings about an inch from the top. This would eliminate the need for the weber grill. To move from levels, lift and rotate basket to avoid hitting other footings.

One problem I could see would be scratching or cutting the screen on footings above the bottom ones. The edges would have to be smooth. Also, would those tabs be strong enough to hold the weight of 20 lbs of wet grains.

Thoughts?

 

[Carlscan26]

Sounds complicated to implement and to use. Just my $.02


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[wobdee]

I am also looking into building something similar. One idea I had, would be to weld about 3-4 1x1 inch horizontal tabs(clips) on the bottom ring of the basket. Then inside the kettle install footings(brackets) that the basket would rest on. (My neighbour is a stainless welder).

My thinking is that the basket would not need feet and would not rest on the bottom of the kettle. Also, you could install some footings maybe 5-7 inches from the bottom. This would then allow you to use the basket for hops while still maintaining the rolling boil (not sure if this would work). Finally you could install some footings about an inch from the top. This would eliminate the need for the weber grill. To move from levels, lift and rotate basket to avoid hitting other footings.

One problem I could see would be scratching or cutting the screen on footings above the bottom ones. The edges would have to be smooth. Also, would those tabs be strong enough to hold the weight of 20 lbs of wet grains.

Thoughts?

Not sure I understand what your proposing but I can tell you this basket prohibits a good rolling boil, it kind a jumps around and burps hot wort out the kettle, that's why I use a smaller hop basket during the boil.

I do use this basket for decoction boils and I attach it to the side with vise grips to hold it down. This keeps the burps down but the boil is mostly under the basket off to the side opposite of the vise grips. Not ideal but seems OK for my decoction method.

 

[wobdee]

Also thinking of doing away with lifting the basket out by hand and setting on top of the grill. I'm looking into a ratchet pulley system or some kind of hoist.

 

[Tombsy]

Not sure I understand what your proposing but I can tell you this basket prohibits a good rolling boil, it kind a jumps around and burps hot wort out the kettle, that's why I use a smaller hop basket during the boil.

I do use this basket for decoction boils and I attach it to the side with vise grips to hold it down. This keeps the burps down but the boil is mostly under the basket off to the side opposite of the vise grips. Not ideal but seems OK for my decoction method.

Its a bit tough to explain. Essentially I would weld 1" angle brackets inside the kettle. I would then weld those same brackets to the basket sticking outward and matching the alignment of the brackets on the kettle. The basket brackets would rest on the kettle brackets. If you placed them at different heights in the kettle, you would have different height options where the baskets would sit.

My thought was if the basket was high enough, maybe a rolling boil would be possible while still using the basket for hop additions.

I plan on using my 15 gallon kettle.

 

[wobdee]

Its a bit tough to explain. Essentially I would weld 1" angle brackets inside the kettle. I would then weld those same brackets to the basket sticking outward and matching the alignment of the brackets on the kettle. The basket brackets would rest on the kettle brackets. If you placed them at different heights in the kettle, you would have different height options where the baskets would sit.

My thought was if the basket was high enough, maybe a rolling boil would be possible while still using the basket for hop additions.

I plan on using my 15 gallon kettle.

OK, I get it, don't know if it will work though. It will move around on those brackets unless you have the basket secured somehow.

 

[wobdee]

Maybe a design similar to the Braumeister where there would be a rod welded in the middle of the kettle and the basket would have a hole in the middle so you could slide it up and down and secure it at any level you want?

 

[Tombsy]

OK, I get it, don't know if it will work though. It will move around on those brackets unless you have the basket secured somehow.

The brackets on the kettle would be "U" shaped but square. This would allow the basket brackets to slide in and not move side to side.

 

[wobdee]

The brackets on the kettle would be "U" shaped but square. This would allow the basket brackets to slide in and not move side to side.

Sounds interesting, keep us posted and takes pictures if you decide to do it.

 

[Tombsy]

Will do. Chad just quoted me $155 plus shipping. Not sure I want to pull the trigger quite yet.

 

[wobdee]

A little insulation works great, only lost a half degree per 30 min.