New equipment and/or upgrades discussion

[neorunner]

why's that?

Takes up valuable "floor" space. The Sanyo I have can hold 3 corny kegs.

 

[ShawDeuce221]

Avoid anything that comes with a 2.5lb co2 tank because you'll want to replace it with a 5lb tank anyway.

Can I give you my wife's number? I think you'll get along great!

 

[wittyname1]

Started a keezer build. Going to try a tap tower (3 taps) as opposed to the collar. I love the idea of doing epoxy as a bar top, thinking of epoxying over either old Seahawks memorabilia or steal the grain and hops idea I saw.....or both (removable bar top to go with the season....would just fit around the tap tower, maybe, no idea).

 

[bsc]

Also in the process of rebuilding my keezer so it actually looks nice and functions better. Pine Collar and oak is mounted, wood filled and partially sanded, looks really nice. Used glue and dowels to secure the wood together. Will have a oak lid we are making as well. Going to paint the freezer in chalkboard paint. Have to buy shanks and faucets and make sure I have all the bells and whistles accounted for. Insulation and gaskets also on the list.

If anyone is ISO a two tap tower, I have one for sale. You can add a third tap on top of desired. Can include faucets if desired. Will include new beverage line as well. PM if interested.

 

[coldcrash1]

Well I guess I'll be doing some upgrading before my next brew day.

Just took the lid off my igloo mash tun. Apparently I never cleaned it after last brew day back in May. The ball valve, thermometer and false bottom will survive but I have my doubts about the cooler itself.

Eh, first time I ever left it dirty in a hot garage for three months; maybe it was half on purpose.

Here's what I ended up with. Threw away the old mash tun and converted the old cooler hlt into a new mash tun. Picked up a cheap Bayou Classic 9 gal kettle, added thermometer and ball valve for new hlt (with Dark Star burner I've been sitting on for about a year).

This turned into more of a project than I first anticipated, although a smaller upgrade than I really wanted.

More of a project because I ended up taking everything apart, soaking all fittings in PBW (every ball valve, quick disconnect, elbow, washer, nut, pump head, etc) and scrubbing the **** out of them, and replacing all o rings. Definitely long overdue for this- I thought I had a pretty good CIP regimen; but was really shocked and a little disgusted how much buildup was left behind.

It was a smaller upgrade because what I really wanted (and still want) is to replace my 15 gallon boil kettle w a 20 gallon Blichmann Boilermaker (and turn the 15 g kettle into the hlt), but that wasn't in the budget this summer.

Making a new mash tun also allowed me to move the "in" valve to the lid, instead of the side of the cooler as I previously had- should be a huge improvement with bigger grain bills.

 

[AlesEpicurean]

Not by choice, but I just purchased steelhead replacement for my chugger. It seems substantial, at least it won't break like the poly one!

 

[Snarf1]

Not by choice, but I just purchased steelhead replacement for my chugger.

That sounds fun. Not the replacing so much as the events neccesitating it.

 

[AlesEpicurean]

That sounds fun. Not the replacing so much as the events neccesitating it.

It tipped and fell no further than 4". Snapped the threads off flush at the ball valve. It's totally my fault that it wasn't mounted to anything, but it was only 4". Try cleaning a counter flow chiller with no pump some time!

 

[neorunner]

Not by choice, but I just purchased steelhead replacement for my chugger. It seems substantial, at least it won't break like the poly one!

Snap a fitting off?

 

[Snarf1]

It tipped and fell no further than 4". Snapped the threads off flush at the ball valve. It's totally my fault that it wasn't mounted to anything, but it was only 4". Try cleaning a counter flow chiller with no pump some time!

I'd assumed worse. Sounds better than trying to chill with a counterflow and no pump at least.

 

[AlesEpicurean]

Snap a fitting off?

Yeah, the threads were inside the ballvalve. I tried getting the valve threaded in the last remaining thread on the pump, but it wasn't happening.

 

[AlesEpicurean]

I'd assumed worse. Sounds better than trying to chill with a counterflow and no pump at least.

Btdt

 

[user 307594]

Finished setting up my new kegerator: two-tap keezer with one beer tap and one seltzer tap.

Secondary regular showing beer on left and seltzer on right:

Top down look into keezer:

Sanke coupler with 1/4 corny keg connections (to clean the line, just unscrew sanke beer nut and screw on corny keg quick disconnect:

Faucets (different because one Perlick faucet was leaking on me, so swapped in a spare Micromatic faucet) with drywall mud tray as drip tray.

Money shot: Mosaic Blonde, no seltzer shot because seriously, y'all dont get a **** bout that.

 

[wittyname1]

still working on the bar top, but got the taps working. Took the clay paw prints we got when our pups passed, photocopied, traced to wood with carbon paper and made these.....

 

[Vogt52]

Finally got a chest freezer. The transition to kegging has finally begun!

 

[wittyname1]

Finally got a chest freezer. The transition to kegging has finally begun!

you're gonna have so much damn fun. but watch that budget, **** adds up.

 

[SirDickButts]

Finally got a chest freezer. The transition to kegging has finally begun!

welcome to the dark side....

 

[Five28 hz]

still working on the bar top, but got the taps working. Took the clay paw prints we got when our pups passed, photocopied, traced to wood with carbon paper and made these.....

Lookin good!

 

[Vogt52]

you're gonna have so much damn fun. but watch that budget, **** adds up.

Just gonna be a fermentation chamber at first. I have to accrue all of the equipment

 

[Phischy1]

Ordered a custom hop fitter from Utahbiodieselsupply. during the boil it'll hang on the side and then when I put my immersion chiller in, itll fit inside the coils. what makes it custom, 9" dia to fit inside the chiller with 3 feet .75" tall to keep the bottom off the kettle floor. I hope to have some wort movement through it. then it's 19" tall to maximize height, but be short enough I can put the lid on for chilling. it has 4 side supports and a hoop at the top which folds down, so I can easily lift it out.

Basically maximize space in 2 configurations for my BK. and I'm buying a hop press so during transfer to FV I can squeeze the hops of wort to maximize volume. Wasn't cheap but I hop for easier brewday with hoppy IPA.

 

[SirDickButts]

where did you get the hop press from?
i just use a cup with a flat surface, using the hop spider as a strainer to squeeze as much wort from it as possible.
i also purchased another hop spider for the HERMS setup my friends and i are building.
this time, i went with williamsbrewing, because it was cheaper...

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/HOP-SPIDER-FOR-KEGGLE-GRAINFATHER-P4030.aspx

 

[Phischy1]

where did you get the hop press from?
i just use a cup with a flat surface, using the hop spider as a strainer to squeeze as much wort from it as possible.
i also purchased another hop spider for the HERMS setup my friends and i are building.
this time, i went with williamsbrewing, because it was cheaper...

https://www.williamsbrewing.com/HOP-SPIDER-FOR-KEGGLE-GRAINFATHER-P4030.aspx

Same place, since it is a custom build in size i wanted to make sure everything fit correctly there.

This is essentially it, except 4 vetical support bars, add 3 feet, and a cross bar underneath so its all supported and I won't break any mesh welds/seams.

Are you using pots or keggles for your system? I've got a morebeer ultimate sparge arm for sale.

 

[SirDickButts]

we're using keggles and this is the sparge arm we have for the MLT...

http://www.homebrewstuff.com/sparge-arm.html

 

[Phischy1]

Nice. if anyone is interested in a morebeer ultimate sparge arm I have 1 for sale. I had it before I bought my sculpture and it came with one.

Love this thing but I don't need 2. only works on kettles, but I did build a jig for on to use over a rectangle cooler. $150 new. $90 for pickup in Houston or $105 shipped.

 

[Beerontwowheels]

We need a for sale section, huh? I have a Shirron plate chiller for sale. Never been used as I opted for an immersion chiller with whirlpool arm.

Will trade for beers.

 

[Five28 hz]

We need a for sale section, huh? I have a Shirron plate chiller for sale. Never been used as I opted for an immersion chiller with whirlpool arm.

Will trade for beers.

Good choice.



I've got 2 six gallon glass carboys that anyone can have for pickup. they're the made in Italy kind so shatter is less of an issue. I never use them and they're not worth selling.

 

[SirDickButts]

Good choice.



I've got 2 six gallon glass carboys that anyone can have for pickup. they're the made in Italy kind so shatter is less of an issue. I never use them and they're not worth selling.

Mine.

 

[Phischy1]

Mine.

I think I beat you via a PM I sent. want to split them instead?

Thinking a 3-way brewday where we can meet up. brew beer, drink beer and sing songs of glory.

 

[Five28 hz]

I think I beat you via a PM I sent. want to split them instead?

Thinking a 3-way brewday where we can meet up. brew beer, drink beer and sing songs of glory.

In!

 

[DoctorM1]

Couple of weeks I'll be brewing on our 10bbl (finally)

I'll get an overhead shot tomorrow with all the piping and auger in place