Switching to All Grain and need advice on equipment!

[HOPtuary]

How will you heat the water that is in the HLT? Handling hot water without a pump is no fun at all.

Anyway, you need to decide how many pumps and vessels you want.
Flat 3 vessel system needs 2 pumps.
2-tier needs 1 pump.
3-tier does not need a pump, completely gravity fed.

So if I wanted a cheap start in all grain and had a few coolers lying around, I would build a 3 tier stand out of wood. One burner on the ground with a 15 gallon BK to give me the ability to do 10 gallon batches in the future. You may already have a burner and BK that you used for your extract batches, that should give you a start. You will need to add valves to the hlt and mash tun (~$25 each). The mash tun will need a manifold/false bottom, price if variable on what you want. Get 20' of silicon tubing and camlock fittings to transfer wort (~$50-$75). You will need an immersion cooler to cool the wort before dumping the kettle into the fermentor. And that is all you really need to get started.

I have found that if you plan to make upgrades in the future, you are better off going big now. I have a bunch of stuff just hanging around that I don't use anymore due to upgrades. It would have saved more money and time if I would have just skipped the curiosity phase of BIAB and extract brewing and just jumped in feet first.

Haha i hear yea. My big money pit lately has been my keezer, taps and tap list display from the guys on here called RaspberryPints. Amazing setup now that its all done. I have a lead on a used keg that ill use for my BK and I have a couple of 12.5 gal coolers which will be my HLT and MLT. Going to do a 3 tier system for now. so once i figure out the keggle then i need to get my valve and i should be good to go minus a grain mill. I really appreciate everyones help on here.

 

[smyrnaquince]

Nice. I like the set up. Looks like 1/2" pvc. How did you connect the pvc to the back of the valve?

You want CPVC, not PVC, to handle the mash temps.

 

[smyrnaquince]

I have a lead on 2 igloo coolers, one 5 gal and the other 10 gal.

I usually do 5 gal brewer with high OG beers.

I do 2.5-gallon batches and recently did a 1.111 OG RIS. My 5-gallon Igloo cooler mash tun was almost full. If you plan on doing 5-gallon high-gravity brews, I think you'll need the 10-gallon Igloo cooler.

Look at at the Green Bay Rackers Can I Mash It?
or
KotMF
calculators for size of mash tun needed.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I would get the turkey fryer and included burner for $30, and a cooler, any cooler and try a batch using the BK as the HLT. Or get a couple paint strainers, or make a bag and try a BIAB.

Start with the minimum equipment needed IMHO and build up. I can't imagine setting up 3 burners and tanks and vessels do a first AG.
KISS!