Piecing together my brewery

[megavites]

I'm looking for some input on the setup I'm thinking of putting together/purchasing.

For my MT/LT I'm looking at this the deluxe all grain kit from Northern.
http://www.northernbrewer.com/allgrain.html

For my kettle, I have a keg available that I would install a weld-b-gone setup and
a Phil's false bottom.
(any issues with doing 5 gal batches with this setup before I progress to 10gal?
http://www.zymico.com/weld-b-gone/

I'm just not sure which setup to get for fermentation and bottling.(& addt'l items)
like this from MidWest.
http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products/ProdByID.aspx?ProdID=6874

or this from a local HBS
http://www.brewapp.com/equipment.htm

I want to start with 5gal batches but have the equip. to go to 10 gal.
I can always add addt'l fermentors.

I have a 30qt alum. pot I could use temporarily.
Also, should I go with the bigger immersion cooler now (50' coil) and use it
in my smaller boiling kettle or go straight to the keg/kettle?

thanks for all input. Looking forward to sharing my progress!

 

[the_bird]

If you're comfortable building a keggle, skip the all-grain setup from NB and build your own mash tun. Decide first if you want to batch sparge or fly, that'll determine a lot about what direction you go. If you choose to batch sparge, you can build a very nice MLT with a $30 Coleman cooler, a $15 bulkhead, and probably $15 of parts from Home Depot. Very easy project, easier than converting a keg (itself not very difficult). Use the savings to buy the bigger immersion chiller.

The keggle works great for 5 gallon batches, and you can easily bump up to 10 down the line.

 

[megavites]

Lord Master,
Let me make sure I understand.
The Keggle is just a converted keg, correct?. I figure I would convert the keg using a weldless bulkhead fitting( Zymico.)and then use this for my boil kettle.
My plan is to fly sparge, so I would need a "round" 10 gal cooler, and a fly sparge setup (Phils, etc). I realize I could convert the coolers myself,
but it looks like $100 to do this ($64 for 10gal. Gott, $30 for the bulkhead and valve).
It looks like the Northern setup is a good price ($205)because it has the fly sparge, false bottom and converted coolers.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
I'm looking to go with a 10 gal setup, even though I will start with 5 gal batches, and then add bits and pieces to the brewery as I go along.

Again, all feedback is appreciated.

Thanks!