Plastic Boiler

[jjinsa]

Thoughts on a plastic boiler? What are the dos and don'ts on the topic of a plastic boiler?

 

[Conan]

No direct fire comes to mind first. Can you be more descriptive? For the price of aluminum or stainless kettles I can't imagine why you'd use plastic and risk deformation at the least and leaching of anything at the worst. I'm sure there are temperature rated plastic vessels available but it seems easier to use metal. Kyle

 

[Hello]

There is a company, and I wish I could remember the name, who makes plastic kettles. This is intended only for electric though and they work very well. They're cheaper than stainless. I was thinking about using one for my mash tun.

As for boiling in one, I'm unsure. Obviously you'd need to move to electric though. You can't just fire up a burner and put plastic on it.

Actually I found a site, it isn't the one I was thinking about, but it gives you an idea of what is out there. No boil kettles though.
http://minibrew.com/product-category/hot-liquor-tanks/

 

[ImNoExpert]

I'd say...

DON'T use a plastic boiler.

DO use a metal pot.

 

[jjinsa]

Thanks. Just confirms what I thought.

 

[pablosbrewing]

It is possible (note the polypropylene buckets not HDPE)

https://youtu.be/JwyWr6F9Dpc

https://youtu.be/s53Q3X0Yjlg

 

[wilserbrewer]

It is possible (note the polypropylene buckets not HDPE)

https://youtu.be/JwyWr6F9Dpc

https://youtu.be/s53Q3X0Yjlg

It has been done by many.

I thought a heavier 90 mil HDPE bucket works fine IME. Or better yet an HDPE drum, like the 15 gallon hedpak drums are very thick and should withstand boiling just fine....

Why only polypropylene?

 

[pablosbrewing]

Hi Wilser,

I had thought the working temp of HDPE was below 100C, but now that you asked the question I can't confirm (wiki gives 110C for continuous use)

I did find the rated working temp of PP @ ~130C

So it looks like either may be fine, especially the heavy wall that you proposed.

 

[Paps]

It is questionable in any sort of plastic container `AT HIGH TEMPS` (ie - boiling) may leech chemical compounds into your brew. One job i had years back was a food joint, it got pickles shipped in these squarish 4-5 gallon plastic jugs. You could send them through the restaraunt/ public food grade sanitizing dishwasher several times and they would NOT lose the smell of the pickles or the discoloration where their water/juice sat...........
just an fyi

 

[ninizhebeg]

I'm sure there are temperature rated plastic vessels available but it seems easier to use metal.

 

[DaNewf]

2 years ago my aunt found out I had taken up brewing and showed up to my house with a bunch of gear she and her husband used to use when they brewed/made wine. Even though I already had enough gear to get by I managed to put most of hers to use except for a single heavy duty 6.5 IMP gallon (~30 litre) HDPE bucket. Recently I've turned it into an electric wort boiler.

I bought a couple of cheap kettles from Wal-mart with 1500watt elements and a ball valve and other related fittings from Canadian Tire. I have not done a successful brew with it yet but from my tests a one hour boil does not soften it enough to worry about. The thickness is not written on it but it feels significantly thicker than another bucket I have that is marked 70 mil.

If you are building a plastic boiler yourself try to use a hole saw or a step bit to drill any holes. If you've never drilled a hole in a plastic bucket before it might be a good idea to practice on something disposable first. I did neither of these things. I used a spade bit to drill the hole for the ball valve assembly but messed it up a little. As a result I have a very slow drip there, nothing I can't live with but worth mentioning.

I went plastic because I happened to have an appropriate sized bucket laying around. If you can find an aluminum or steel pot at a decent price that's the better way to go.

 

[z-bob]

I have a plastic electric HLT made from a 90 mil 5 gallon bucket and a 5500W heating element. I can fill it with water and bring to a full boil and it doesn't deform. I can even pick it up by the handle with 4 gallons of boiling water. I'm going to make a plastic bucket kettle soon, but haven't gotten a round tuit.

 

[Wldthang87]

2 years ago my aunt found out I had taken up brewing and showed up to my house with a bunch of gear she and her husband used to use when they brewed/made wine. Even though I already had enough gear to get by I managed to put most of hers to use except for a single heavy duty 6.5 IMP gallon (~30 litre) HDPE bucket. Recently I've turned it into an electric wort boiler.

I bought a couple of cheap kettles from Wal-mart with 1500watt elements and a ball valve and other related fittings from Canadian Tire. I have not done a successful brew with it yet but from my tests a one hour boil does not soften it enough to worry about. The thickness is not written on it but it feels significantly thicker than another bucket I have that is marked 70 mil.

If you are building a plastic boiler yourself try to use a hole saw or a step bit to drill any holes. If you've never drilled a hole in a plastic bucket before it might be a good idea to practice on something disposable first. I did neither of these things. I used a spade bit to drill the hole for the ball valve assembly but messed it up a little. As a result I have a very slow drip there, nothing I can't live with but worth mentioning.

I went plastic because I happened to have an appropriate sized bucket laying around. If you can find an aluminum or steel pot at a decent price that's the better way to go.

+1

I made one with a wine bucket. It's safe and it works. But you still need to be cautious about boil overs onto the electrical connections. Mine gets soft, softer then I'd really like, but it is usable. Just need to be careful.

I'd say make one for the whole $20 it would cost you. But upgrade to a stainless keggle ASAP. Fine an old keg at a scrap yard. That's what I did. .

 

[Paps]

Aluminum stock pots large enough for a 5-gallon batch can be bought all day long for under $50.....
Stainless ones can be had for a decent price if you look.
Sure plastic is easy to drill a hole through but why not do things right the 1rst time?

 

[z-bob]

I can think of a couple of reasons:

1. Prototyping. (I'd rather drill the hole only to find out it's 3/4" too high a $3 bucket than in a $60 kettle)
2. Who is to say a plastic boiler isn't "right" if it safely performs its required tasks?

Perhaps the plastic boiler isn't safe and I'm just fooling myself. I haven't seen any evidence of that yet, although it wouldn't be the first time

 

[MadHomebrewer]

Not valid.

 

[thejuanald]

Well that 15 gallon plastic is $200. Right now Northern Brewer is taking $100 off $200 Megapot 1.2. So a 15 gallon Megapot with stainless ball valve and thermometer is $209 plus shipping.

Is there some code for this sale? I could go for another pot.

 

[MadHomebrewer]

Is there some code for this sale? I could go for another pot.

Code: MEGASTEEL

 

[thejuanald]

Code: MEGASTEEL

Awesome, thanks!

Edit: it didn't work "Coupon code "MEGASTEEL" is not valid."

 

[MadHomebrewer]

Dang, the $200 can't include the pot itself.

 

[thejuanald]

Dang, the $200 can't include the pot itself.

damn, haha oh well. I will have to get a new pot sometime soon anyway. Hopefully a good deal comes along. Thanks anyway