Re-Coiling Stainless Chiller

[doublehaul]

I have a chiller for my keggle that is about the diameter of a corny keg. It also has a custom rise to go over a center dip tube. So it's not real efficient because most of the chiller is out of the wort in a 5 gallon batch. The 2 vertical lines are just connected with pipe clamps. I was thinking about removing the clamps and trying to recoil it around a bucket to have a wider diameter so more coil is in the wort. Anyone ever re-coil SS? How hard is it? It's 1/2"

 

[Newsman]

Well, Stainless is stiffer than copper, so my guess would be it's going to be a real pain to try that. But that's just my gut feeling.

 

[KGB09]

Sounds like it was intended to be a herms coil. Do you have a 3 vessel system or single?

 

[doublehaul]

Sounds like it was intended to be a herms coil. Do you have a 3 vessel system or single?

right now i just have my brew keggle, and a 10 gallon cooler mash tun. but i have a 10 gallon aluminum kettle i may turn into a herms system down the road.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Any remaining "inscription" or lettering remaining on the tube?
I doubt you will be able to "re-coil" it, but you may be able to open up the coil diameter by hand, if it is annealed stainless.

No promises, though.........

 

[doublehaul]

Any remaining "inscription" or lettering remaining on the tube?
I doubt you will be able to "re-coil" it, but you may be able to open up the coil diameter by hand, if it is annealed stainless.

No promises, though.........

I don't see anything. Here's a picture. I already kinda hosed it up trying to push the coils down and I put a little kink in it up too.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Looks like you might have your answer..........

 

[doublehaul]

i spent some more time trying to fix it tonight. I am so screwed...

 

[doublehaul]

Plan B - I have spent some time reading the soldering stainless sticky thread, and I am going to give soldering the arms back on with copper elbows a shot. I have it cut and ready, but I need to order the correct solder and flux. I've never soldered before but I figure worst case if it doesn't turn out I can make it a herms coil. I bought 3/8" copper elbows, and was surprised to find their inner diameter is 1/2"... What's up with that? Also, any advice on making the coil a nice stack again? If nothing else I was hoping I could tack it together with solder as well as soldering the arms back on. Thanks

 

[Chrisl77]

You could always get one of these tubing benders. I got one at Home depot to do a project with some copper tubing and it worked out great making nice smooth 90 degree bends. They have them in the plumbing section with next to all the pipe wrenches and soldering stuff.

 

[doublehaul]

You could always get one of these tubing benders. I got one at Home depot to do a project with some copper tubing and it worked out great making nice smooth 90 degree bends. They have them in the plumbing section with next to all the pipe wrenches and soldering stuff.

The price is right, thanks for the tip

 

[heckels]

Plan B - I have spent some time reading the soldering stainless sticky thread, and I am going to give soldering the arms back on with copper elbows a shot. I have it cut and ready, but I need to order the correct solder and flux. I've never soldered before but I figure worst case if it doesn't turn out I can make it a herms coil. I bought 3/8" copper elbows, and was surprised to find their inner diameter is 1/2"... What's up with that? Also, any advice on making the coil a nice stack again? If nothing else I was hoping I could tack it together with solder as well as soldering the arms back on. Thanks

3/8" ID which gives the pipe a 1/2" OD that has to slide into the elbows.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

You could get some stainless wire, ( known as "safety wire" in the aircraft bidness'), and wire your coil back together, and "tack" the stainless wire to the loops when you break out the silver solder.


Some of this stuff:http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/safetywire.php?clickkey=4386