Stainless wall thickness for Brutus 10?

[BeerElf]

I've been getting quotes on stainless from some local sources and have found some really good prices.

$109 for 40' of 2 x 2 x .063 wall
$314 for 40' of 2" x 2" x 11ga (.120)

Everyone on here seems to have use the .120 wall. Has anyone used .063 (1/16") stainless to build their brutus? I'm wondering if it is strong enough to support the weight and temperatures?

 

[JVD_X]

Who cares? Double up on the 063 and you are still saving $96.

 

[Brewers Hardware]

Man that's a good price for .063 wall.

.063 wall is plenty strong enough for that design, .120 wall is overkill. I have .063 wall ready to go to make a Brutus type clone right now.

 

[samc]

Who is your source for the SS?

 

[BeerElf]

Who is your source for the SS?

IRC Alumminum & Stainless (www.ircalum.com) had the best price on the .120 wall.

And C&L Metal Sales (www.clmetalsales.com) had the best price on the .063.

Are you looking to buy some stainless too? If we go in together we may be able to get a better price for buying a larger total quantity.

 

[samc]

IRC Alumminum & Stainless (www.ircalum.com) had the best price on the .120 wall.

And C&L Metal Sales (www.clmetalsales.com) had the best price on the .063.

Are you looking to buy some stainless too? If we go in together we may be able to get a better price for buying a larger total quantity.

Someday

I built a stand this year with steel and am kicking myself for not going with SS. I may redo the stand at some point. I doubt you would get much of a price break by doubling up on the quantity.

Are you welding your own or contracting it out? I used a welder in Canby who sucked and then of course found somebody 5 minutes from my house who could have done the job better, faster and cheaper.

PM me if you need an info on where to go for supplies, etc. as you are new to the area.

 

[BeerElf]

I have a friend with a TIG welder that will be helping with the welding.

 

[BeerElf]

So is no one using a single tier brutus style system built with .063 wall stainless???

 

[JKoravos]

I'll concur with Derrin, 0.063 is robust enough for this application. 1/8" wall square tube is way overkill. In any case, If you build the frame and it doesn't seem sturdy enough, adding additional bracing will stiffen it right up. I say go for it with 0.063.

 

[LarMoeCur]

SAMC,

Why don't you like steel? I'm think about using hot rolled it's about 1/2 the price of SS in my area.

 

[samc]

SAMC,

Why don't you like steel? I'm think about using hot rolled it's about 1/2 the price of SS in my area.

Strictly from an aesthetic point of view. Painting and keeping it from coming off the top of the frame has been a problem. I have spent more time and money than the additional cost of SS over regular steel. The BBQ paints come off and then I went with VHT ceramic header paint which would work really well if I had an oven large enough to cure the paint correctly. I could have had it powder coated with high temp powder but that was $200 so I passed.

 

[thantos]

I've been getting quotes on stainless from some local sources and have found some really good prices.

$109 for 40' of 2 x 2 x .063 wall
$314 for 40' of 2" x 2" x 11ga (.120)

Everyone on here seems to have use the .120 wall. Has anyone used .063 (1/16") stainless to build their brutus? I'm wondering if it is strong enough to support the weight and temperatures?

Is that polished? If it is that is a screaming deal!

 

[BeerElf]

Is that polished? If it is that is a screaming deal!

no, it's the mill finish, but 180 grit polished is not that much more.

I still haven't decided on which one I'll go with, but I'm leaning towards the .120 wall for peace of mind since I've not found anyone who is currently running asystem built with .063.

 

[Bobby_M]

If you're building to the brutus dimensions, I think .063 is more than enough. If it were me, I'd use 1.5x1.5x.063 tube.

 

[BeerElf]

If you're building to the brutus dimensions, I think .063 is more than enough. If it were me, I'd use 1.5x1.5x.063 tube.

It will actually be a little wider and longer than the plans in BYO to accommodate my 15 gal. kettle in additions two keggles. The dimensions I'm looking at are 17" x 55"

 

[LarMoeCur]

SamC, Ahh never thought about the paint coming off the top because of the keggles. Back the to the drawing board. I'm thinking a sheet of SS over the top to protect the finish. Even with the added cost I'm still saving over 2 big ones.

 

[Bobby_M]

Still, the longest horrizontal span is only 25 inches due to the center support. A keg is 35 pounds + (15g x 8pounds) and all three vessels will never be full at the same time. We're talking about maybe 400 pounds max distributed over the whole thing. You might have a problem if one of the kegs was filled with molten lead.

 

[BeerElf]

LarMoeCur - I think it's more of the heat from the burners that causes the paint to flake off. Then there's also the issue of rust. You won't need to worry about either of those with Stainless.

Bobby_M - you're probably right, plus I can get the polished .036 wall for $190 instead of $314 for mill finish .120. Hmm... I think I need to place my order...

 

[weizen]

What about using aluminum? Not sure of prices, strength, or heat tolerences. Any input?

 

[Bobby_M]

I've melted aluminum that was my makeshift brew stand. I think ollllo was there.

 

[hooks]

I built my stand out of .063 x 2 x 2 steel tube, stainless tube in .063 wall is plenty strong for this... go for it.

 

[BeerElf]

I built my stand out of .063 x 2 x 2 steel tube, stainless tube in .063 wall is plenty strong for this... go for it.

Cool! Thanks!

 

[Irrenarzt]

I'm going aluminum with stainless heat shields and ceramic standoffs. I'll work fine I'm reckoning...

 

[Brewers Hardware]

One of our club members has an aluminum stand and he's building a new one out of SS. The problem is the thing conducts heat so well that every last corner of that thing gets hot! I can't tell you how many times he's made a skin donation to that thing.

Now maybe with SS heat shields and ceramic stand-offs it might be OK.

 

[Irrenarzt]

Yeah I was a little afraid of that but I had a boatload of t-slot extrusions lying around from a different project so essentially my frame was free. Plus the t-slot is attractive in that you can easily and robustly mount stuff to it whereas I would have to drill and tap the steel. T-slot is more flexible in that respect. I also plan on thermal barrier coating the stainless heat shields for even more insulation and they will also be tapered at the bottoms to better convect air to the burners. It should work but I guess the only way to know is to try it and see...

 

[Marshal6]

I'm in the process of building my Brutus out of 2x2x.120 and I can tell you its waaayy overkill. I could use this thing to support a house. It weighs a freaking ton. But I don't think I would have gone with anything different.

 

[user 40839]

Resurrecting this thread, since I'm in the process of assembling the bits for my own stand, and wanted to pick the brains of the metallurgists here.

I want to go with stainless, I really do. But.

40' of .63 is $278
40' of .120 is $440

While I'm not worried about the strength of the .63 - the Brutus design has a support bar in the front, and the plans leave enough scrap to weld one at the back if needed - the thickness of the steel wouldn't be very forgiving in terms of welding. Half the thickness would be easier to burn or bollocks up, I'd think - especially for someone with zero welding experience?

40' of .120 mild steel is $120, plus another $30 in high temp engine paint is the other option, and a hard one to say no to when I figure that the $300 savings pays for my Love switches and solenoid valves.

 

[brewnickbrew]

Hi, I am new to the forums and somewhat new to Brewing.
I am in the initial stages of planning my Brutus 10 as many of you are. I'm very happy to find out that people agree that .063 wall SS will be plenty enough. Costs can be rough but, if I'm gonna do it, the thing might as well be made of something I'll be happy with. -meaning Stainless Steel
My thoughts were to build and tack weld this together and maybe take it to a professional to tig weld it all together.

Ubermick stated that it would be easier to burn through when welding.
Has anyone had any luck being able to weld steel this thin?

Does anyone know if .063 wall is plenty for the gas beam?

Thanks for any replies.

Nick

*****Edit: I just saw Hooks made his out of .063 wall. Looks great.*****

 

[lehr]

Mines inch and a half 1/8 wall gas beam and all.

 

[e-9Brew]

I built a Brutus 10 Clone for a freind of mine using 1.5" X 1.5" X 0.063" SS tubing. It was plenty strong and has been in use for a year and half now.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/brotherhoodbrew/sets/72157605889391749

However being a lighter gauge it was a bit more difficult to weld and keep straight while welding. Not impossible, but something to watch out for. I think a heavier gauge would be easier to weld but hardly worth the extra cost (and weight).

Also had a hard time sealing the ends of the gas beam where it connects to the vertical members at each end. (the weld was bridging accross to the horizontal beams on each side of the gas beam and allowing the gas to leak through). If I had to do it again I would weld end caps on the beam and pressure test it before welding it to the vertical members.