Nate's RIMs build - the brew throne

[kegtoe]

dker,

I'll post a pic tomorrow, its basically set up.

 

[JKoravos]

When I read 'brew throne', i had this picture in my head of a brew stand built around a La-Z-Boy, so you could sit there, drink homebrew and still reach all the controls without getting up.

 

[moosetav]

When I read 'brew throne', i had this picture in my head of a brew stand built around a La-Z-Boy, so you could sit there, drink homebrew and still reach all the controls without getting up.

ditto.....it must be done:rockin:

 

[kegtoe]

Briliant!

when i read 'brew throne', i had this picture in my head of a brew stand built around a la-z-boy, so you could sit there, drink homebrew and still reach all the controls without getting up. :d

 

[kegtoe]

fill line for mash tun

 

[kegtoe]

Fitting for the sparge ring

 

[lamarguy]

Having started with and still use Masterbuilt turkey fryers for ~2 gallon mini-mashes...a couple of comments.

You won't achieve anything close to even heat distribution with the heating element on the bottom and no flow through/around the element body. The grain will simply collapse around the element and boil.

The OEM temperature controller adjusts in ~5F increments, which means long ON/OFF cycles. This is acceptable only if you can successfully keep the grain off of the heating element.

FWIW, I've always using the OEM straining pot and a large nylon mesh bag to keep the grain off of the heating element. The combination of straining pot and bag could hold ~14 lbs of grain at ~1.3 qt/lb. You lose a ~1/2 gallon to the deadspace.

A couple of years ago, when I was still making 5 gallon batches with a similar rig, I fabricated a pickup tube to reach the center of the heating element (underneath the straining pot) and recirculated the wort with a pump. Worked fine.

The OEM valve will last a couple of brewing sessions and begin to strip-out. Do yourself a favor and replace it now. It's easy to unscrew.

 

[kegtoe]

thanks for the coments. i see your points with the heating element - i do the same thing wiht the bag and strainer. I will use a pump to recir' water through the grains via the sparge ring

Also, i dont think the valve is replacable. it looks solid with the rest of the interior pot

 

[kegtoe]

sparge ring soldered on.

 

[Displaced MassHole]

I'm very interested in how this turns out, my only question is about the location of the E-turkey fryer. I looks like you have the valve for your HLT right above the controls for the fryer. Are you at all worried about water leaking onto it?

 

[kegtoe]

here is the whole thing put together. i still need to add a few things to add to the functionality this is the basic brew set up as i would do in a post mash sparge. HLT on the left. Mash tun in the middle. brew kettle on the right. gravity drainage from the mash tun to the BK while pumping hot sparge water from teh HLT.

 

[ThirstyNomad]

Cool project. Will be interested to see how it runs..

 

[kegtoe]

here is the pile of SS valves i got from ebay.

 

[kegtoe]

Interesting. Looks like its going to be very compact, and wood.
Will you be able to sit on it when done? Or at least a cup holder for a pint wile you brew.

A pint? i'd be selling myself short.l I have 36 ounce pilsner glasses and 30 ounce mugs.

I wont be sitting ot it, the swmbo siad "it looks like a nate size chair" - I'm 6'7" I've been refering to it as the brew throne since.

 

[kegtoe]

here is the check on the sparge ring

 

[Retrofit]

love all of it, love the sparge in particular. Cool.

 

[Catt22]

Seems to me you could eliminate the platform on the left completely and also the leg extensions on the burner under the HLT. The burner could just as well be on the floor. The mash tun could be a bit lower and still drain to the boil kettle OK. Does the sparge ring get in the way of stirring the mash or do you remove it or somehow move it out of the way when stirring.

 

[kegtoe]

Catt, you are correct on all accounts. The ring does get in the way a bit, but i can turn it perpindicular and still keeep it water tight so i do that. The hight was orignaly for the gravity drain to the boil kettle and i kept the platform and legs becuase i am building a water setup from a garden hose to supply filtered water to the system. Also, I am 6'7" and i HATE working on lower profile stands. This puts everything more my level.

 

[cheese]

here is the pile of SS valves i got from ebay.

I've bought the same valves from ebay and I'm pretty sure they are not stainless steel.
Not sure what they are made of, but tried to weld a SS washer to them without any luck.

 

[kegtoe]

hmmm, they are stamped on the side and look really similar to the fittings i bought from bargainfittings. Either way they work well in my application.

 

[cheese]

hmmm, they are stamped on the side and look really similar to the fittings i bought from bargainfittings. Either way they work well in my application.

mine doesnt have SS (304/316) stamp on the side like most SS valves have.

Just to be sure, these are the ones I've bought
http://cgi.ebay.com/Lot-5-1-2-Stainless-Steel-Ball-Valves-/250683356476?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0

they work well for me too, still I wish they were stainless as written in the add.

 

[kegtoe]

hmammm those do look very familiar, if you dont thing they are SS and have good reaseon to believe so, then i would complain. I will back you up.

I am a firm beliver in supporting local suppliers or people who go out of their way to provide good support or services. Having said that, I am a firm beliver in challenging poepl who dont sell what they state and making sure others dont make mistakes.

I'm not saying... i'm just saying

 

[cheese]

I've done a little research and it seems they are made from chrome plated brass, need to confirm that.

They were bought almost a year ago when i visited in the US, so I cant leave negative feadback to the seller through Ebay, but I'll send him an Email.

 

[Catt22]

Catt, you are correct on all accounts. The ring does get in the way a bit, but i can turn it perpindicular and still keeep it water tight so i do that. The hight was orignaly for the gravity drain to the boil kettle and i kept the platform and legs becuase i am building a water setup from a garden hose to supply filtered water to the system. Also, I am 6'7" and i HATE working on lower profile stands. This puts everything more my level.

IMO, 6'-7" is entirely too tall. You tall people make it really difficult for those of us who are vertically challenged. It just ain't right.

 

[kegtoe]

fly sparging - yeah

 

[lamarguy]

I see you ended up going with the bag filter. Simple and reliable, just be sure to check for small tears/holes before each use.

 

[kegtoe]

yep, its easy to filter AND dispose of grain

 

[kegtoe]

trying to match teh out flow with the sparge water

 

[kegtoe]

doing a little rework

 

[kegtoe]

pump shroud

Pump Switch