Show us your sculpture or brew rig

[hsbcapt]

Lets see maybe!! OK I think I have it figured out ! Been collecting stuff since I started 2 years ago and finally got to start on it. I have done more but need new pics. I'm really proud of how I ran my gas header. I think it looks clean without the pipe.

 

[hsbcapt]

I did'nt polish the MLT because I'm going to insulate it.

 

[3 Dog Brew]

I have done more but need new pics. I'm really proud of how I ran my gas header. I think it looks clean without the pipe.

That looks snappy!
The gas header is cool, nicely done. Are you going to use soft copper or the corrugated flexible line to connect the header to the burner?

I'm much too lazy to polish my keggles, that seems like a lot of grunt work, looks good on the black cart though.

 

[hsbcapt]

I already installed the yellow flex lines and gas valves

 

[Stoutfan72]

Thanks for posting these pics they are helpful to someone like myself trying to get started!

 

[CenCalWorthog]

Nice setup

 

[harten74]

Well... it isn't exactly a brew sculpture yet, but... hopefully it will be in the next couple of weeks. I used Google Sketchup to model all the components to exact dimension and scale, which allowed me to play around with the layout and design and dial everything in. I owe a huge thanks to everyone who has taken the time to post information and photos to this thread. For the better part of a week I read, and re-read, every post on this thread and downloaded many of the photos of your setups to identify features or elements I wanted in mine... so thanks!

Front View (laptop shelf in the closed position)

Front View (laptop shelf in the opened position)

Rear View

 

[chuckger]

Man there are some SWEET setups on here! Great work guys! Here is mine, I have a few things left to complete, like the gas manifold and the March pump to be added later, but for now it works good enough.

 

[FairWxBrewing]

Nice!!!!!!

 

[nicadrick]

Not as fancy as Nate's but it does the job.
Nice sculpture Nate, you've got the real deal!

Have you got a shot of your boil burner at a lower angle? I have two stainless units like yours and think I may put them to use.

 

[Hawgbranch]

Lets see maybe!! OK I think I have it figured out ! Been collecting stuff since I started 2 years ago and finally got to start on it. I have done more but need new pics. I'm really proud of how I ran my gas header. I think it looks clean without the pipe.

Recently I was given a keg like your MLT (Middle). I had never seen a keg like that and was a little dumbfounded as to how to add it to my system. What are you doing to combat the huge bunghole in the side?

 

[bendavanza]

That keg looks like an old one with the side bung but most likely it's a more current Coors keg.

 

[chuckger]

Looks like there is a pipe plug in the left side there in the picture...

 

[hsbcapt]

This one does not have a side bung hole. I didn't polish it because i'm going to insulate it with reflectic material.

 

[misterVT]

Ok, here's my rig. Already done two batches with it.

 

[nicadrick]

Hey all,

My goal is a 2 tier system welded out of angle. I am still gathering parts and pieces as well as materials for the build. In the interim I thought I could use what I already owned.

Below shows my idea:

1. Shared burner between hot liquor and boil kettle.
2. March pump mounted below the bottom shelf supplies sparge water to Mash tun on top layer.
3. Room above kettles to stir.

Let me know if you think it'll work, what you'd change, or if you think it'll all get soft and bend into a pretzel.

 

[ILOVEBEER]

My RIMS...just finished tonight.

 

[hsbcapt]

Looks like there is a pipe plug in the left side there in the picture...

Yes there is a plug that was a goof on my part. Just tigged in a couplingand plugged it .

 

[507Brewery]

 

[SugarJohnson]

Now that looks like a nice well used brewery. Looks like that has returned many good batches of HB!

 

[rickbyte]

Finally done....or is it....probably not!

[/IMG]

 

[sourmash]

The frame is all 2x2 aluminum.
Still have to mount the plate chiller yet and put the control panel together. The control panel is made of all aluminum diamond plate.

 

[ILOVEBEER]

It has been months since I started. I added a bunch of things, since the original wet test drive reared several design flaw monsters I went back and welded steel tops and reinforced burner cages/supports. I added a water filter that I had laying around. I am ready to brew. Let me know what you guys think. Thanks to all that have helped me with this project.
Front View
Lid additions to all keggles. MLT loc line for sparge arm through top for heat retention while mashing
New top plates with heat shield to protect heat exchanger wires. The wires are wrapped in silicone hose in the tube
new sparge arm I made to replace original design
Control panel. QD for temp sensor on left side
40 plate heat exchanger. O2 setup with SS QD for easy removal of unit from heat exchanger

New mash paddle I made out of maple
Top view of burner plates. Below the 10" I had to make some reinforcements out of 1/2" x 2 flat stock. On my first test runm the flame was lapping up the keg. I added the 1/8" steel plates with 10" circles plasma cut out of them and fired it up...the steel was melting and I about cried. I added the supports between the original burner cage and the 1/8" steel and welded them up...fired it up and no more melting.

Two 6' sections of silicone 1/2" hose eah with a female SS QD are all I require for fluid transfer. Everything is SS or copper...no brass anywhere except for the two flared end caps. It took me a few months of seperate purchases but I managed to get rid of all brass.

This thing should give me years of trouble free service.

 

[BrewBeemer]

The frame is all 2x2 aluminum.
Still have to mount the plate chiller yet and put the control panel together. The control panel is made of all aluminum diamond plate.

Aluminum frame with propane burners looks like a meltdown about to happen, I hope i'm wrong. Your stand is screaming "Go full electric" plus
add a BCS 460 controller. It sure looks sharp.

 

[sourmash]

Aluminum frame with propane burners looks like a meltdown about to happen, I hope i'm wrong. Your stand is screaming "Go full electric" plus
add a BCS 460 controller. It sure looks sharp.

Thanks for the compliments. The burners are actually for NG which burns a little cooler but not much. I have some stainless sheet stock the I may end up making someheat shield with if need be. I may end up also plugging a few nozzles on the burners as well.

 

[ILOVEBEER]

Very nice stand......very hard to weld aluminum.

I think the other guy might be right in regards to the melting or atlest distorting of the framework from the concentrated heat for an hour. I used 1/8" steel plate with 10" holes plasma cut out of the center. It took 15 minutes of direct firing to melt the steel and make it sag 2 inches. The propane burners (55k btu) were not even on high!

Good Luck

 

[lehr]

Sourmash I dont think you will have any problem with the aluminum but when one end gets hot the whole thing will be hot. Some heat sheilds would be a good addition.

Pat

 

[Brewmoor]

Aluminum frame with propane burners looks like a meltdown about to happen, I hope i'm wrong. Your stand is screaming "Go full electric" plus
add a BCS 460 controller. It sure looks sharp.

After a quick search it looks like aluminum melts at 2200

Carbon Steel 2600-2800
Stainless 2750

NG burns at 3000
Propane at 3600

Both these numbers assume no heat loss. So you can figure that it will be much less at contact with your stand.

Here are some good links. Your stand should be fine

http://www.derose.net/steve/resources/engtables/flametemp.html
http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/melting-temperature-metals-d_860.html

By the way. That stand looks sweet.

 

[Dog House Brew]

Sourmash I dont think you will have any problem with the aluminum but when one end gets hot the whole thing will be hot. Some heat sheilds would be a good addition.

Pat[/QUOTE

+1 You beat me to it. The heat speads for sure. I don't think you will have to worry. Your not running your burners at max the whole time anyway.

 

[sourmash]

Sourmash I dont think you will have any problem with the aluminum but when one end gets hot the whole thing will be hot. Some heat sheilds would be a good addition.

Pat

Thanks to all on the input! I did do some research prior to building the frame on the melting point and what NG burns at so on..... Obviously with the great heat transfer of aluminum, the frame will become hot throughout while in use thus I will have to make a separate channel for my wiring. The cast iron burners have some tapped holes I could use with some stand offs to secure some heat shields. Unfortunately the picture does not do the stand justice. I probably got over 10 hours of polishing the frame alone.