Return lines (Not at Wal-mart after Christmas)

[TexasBeer]

Howdy!

First off, thanks to HBT and the wealth of knowledge i've gained from all of the members. I've been quietly trolling and reading for months as I research and plan out my Brutus inspired rig. (build thread to follow soon)

Quick question...

As far as return lines go (re-circulation, whirlpooling, fly-sparging, etc...) I'm weighing the pros/cons of kettle mounted vs. lid mounted plumbing.

I love the ease of operation Lonnie's rig allows with just having to switch lids. However, I have worries about how well the parts will hold up to drops, etc...


What did y'all choose and why?

Thanks!

 

[Lost]

I'm facing the same dilemma now. I like the lid option and will probably go that route but, obviously, you can't hard plumb those lines.

I'm writing not so much to share my opinion since I haven't done either but to express a shared interest in your question.

 

[OneHoppyGuy]

Lonnie's 'lid method' works well, I've used it. I prefer hard lines and ports in the kettle sides. (Not a big fan of silicone hose spaghetti) Hard lines take time to put in, expensive and only work on full stands or stationary breweries.