Upsides to the Penrose Kettle!

[a_w_taylor]

I figured that a positive thread was in order with the new batch of Penrose kettles arriving. While mine is not here yet I look forward to stepping up my brew day with the larger kettle and ball valve.

Feel free to elaborate with your findings...

 

[ScubaSteve]

Excellent idea! Looks like a fantastic kettle. Any talk of a 22 gal version?

 

[SankePankey]

Yeah, I took the "Downsides" thread title to mean: "This kettle's got some badonkadonk!"

 

[smokinghole]

I love mine and will brewing with it later this afternoon. Only a six gal batch but I am still really looking forward to using the kettle. Its made out of heavier gauge material than my current aluminum clad bottom kettle, it's bigger, and it has a smaller diameter. I will be getting a sight gauge for it soon and looking into how to attach a diptube.

 

[Bachhus]

Excellent idea! Looks like a fantastic kettle. Any talk of a 22 gal version?

When I called and spoke with them last month they said there were no future plans for the larger version due to costs of the material.

 

[Jaysus]

Upside: the lid from the 34 quart enamel stock pot that I have pretty much fits on the Penrose.

 

[smokinghole]

Just for size reference left is 16qt middle is 40qt

I took the dip tube off my 40qt kettle just to see if it'd fit in the penrose and it fit just fine. I however do not have a diptube in it now because its in the pot that I sold off already.

 

[Jaysus]

lol, that is funny, I took all the same pictures of mine!

P.S. how did you sell the kettle if you don't mind me asking?

 

[smokinghole]

I listed on here in the classifieds. I despise craigslist because of all the scam crap that happens, it's really annoying to list something on there.

 

[BrewBeemer]

I listed on here in the classifieds. I despise craigslist because of all the scam crap that happens, it's really annoying to list something on there.

Looking at free items on Craigslist I ran across one of these units fully loaded
cost new $3,100;
http://www.skylinepictures.com/Frame_Moulding_Cutting_Joining_Equipment_ufe1109_full.htm
A tax writeoff for a framing company, a great free tool for me.
Snagged $1,600 worth of BMW rims for $250.
Those items "meet me at a 7/11 store" i'll pass.
It all depends on the area your dealing with, ghetto area items, no thanks, big dollar areas with million dollar homes have expensive freebies.

 

[smokinghole]

OOh I'm with you. I just don't really live in an area where there's million dollar homes.

 

[Jaysus]

Here is what I have as a pick up in my new Penrose... I have not tested it out yet, so we'll see how it works. It is a bit higher than I would have liked.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Add a close nipple after it has been cut down just clearing the kettle bottom. File a slot across it for a tool to tighten or loosen it later.

 

[DaleP]

I like that! Mind if I post that on the website?

Dale Penrose

 

[BSD_Glass]

You could easily just thread a barbed stainless fitting into the 90 and turn the 90 so the barbed fitting sits as far off the bottom of the kettle as you prefer. Or add a short stainless pickup tube...

I like easy, myself.

BSD

 

[BrewBeemer]

I like that! Mind if I post that on the website?

Dale Penrose

I'll only take 10% royalties each sold i'm not greedy.
Hell put it towards my second Brewhemouth purchase as a discount to my account.

Dale; I would add a short piece of threaded stainless pipe cut so that the end rubs against the kettle bottom. Then mill away material but leave opposite on the nipple end 1/8" wide x 3/16" legs that will contact the kettle holding off the bottom for fluid transfer.
Like a spanner tool but out of the SS nipple for a standoff.

 

[Jaysus]

I like that! Mind if I post that on the website?

Dale Penrose

PM me your email, and I can send higher res pics without that goofy gray bar on the bottom (not sure why, but that happens sometimes when I opload to picasa)

 

[BrewBeemer]

You could easily just thread a barbed stainless fitting into the 90 and turn the 90 so the barbed fitting sits as far off the bottom of the kettle as you prefer. Or add a short stainless pickup tube...

I like easy, myself.

BSD

This a 1/2
NPT to 5/8" barb?
If not you just made a restriction in the system from the very start.

 

[a_w_taylor]

Game on! This bad boy is beefy.

 

[sebring96hbg]

I ordered mine last night!!! In the meantime, I will have to research a suitable pickup. Thanks to all who posted comments on it.

 

[Jaysus]

That will be at least the 3rd Penrose in the Harrisburg area this year.

 

[BendBrewer]

I don't like there fittings at all. Think they would sell un-drilled pots a bit cheaper without the valve?

 

[BrewBeemer]

Order the pot bare no holes of fittings and install, weld in your own later.

 

[BendBrewer]

Order the pot bare no holes of fittings and install, weld in your own later.

That's the idea. Wondering how much cheaper that would make my order.

 

[JetSmooth]

Can y'all post some up-close pictures of the valve coupling? It looks like it sticks out quite a bit.

 

[BendBrewer]

Can y'all post some up-close pictures of the valve coupling? It looks like it sticks out quite a bit.

yes it does. Add some Cam Locks and Street Elbows and you have something to walk around.

 

[Flomaster]

That's the idea. Wondering how much cheaper that would make my order.

pick up the phone and make a phone call?

-=Jason=-

 

[JetSmooth]

yes it does. Add some Cam Locks and Street Elbows and you have something to walk around.

That's my thinking. Love the pot and I don't have the ability to fabiricate or the desire to send something out for $100 an hour to have the fittings put in.

If I'm going to get something preassembled (which looks like my best option), I want lower-profile fittings.

I'm thinking dropping the fittings won't save much money since most of the cost is in the making of the pot itself.

 

[BendBrewer]

pick up the phone and make a phone call?

-=Jason=-

I sent an email but it appears there is a Penrose posting in this thread.

 

[a_w_taylor]

I don't like there fittings at all. Think they would sell un-drilled pots a bit cheaper without the valve?

We are loving our Penrose Kettles in this thread.

Please take your negativity to:

Downsides of the Penrose Kettle?

 

[BendBrewer]

That's my thinking. Love the pot and I don't have the ability to fabiricate or the desire to send something out for $100 an hour to have the fittings put in.

If I'm going to get something preassembled (which looks like my best option), I want lower-profile fittings.

I'm thinking dropping the fittings won't save much money since most of the cost is in the making of the pot itself.

A drill and a Step Bit is all you really need.

 

[BendBrewer]

I don't like there fittings at all. Think they would sell un-drilled pots a bit cheaper without the valve?

We are loving our Penrose Kettles in this thread.

Please take your negativity to:

Downsides of the Penrose Kettle?

Who the **** are you?

 

[a_w_taylor]

I'm the one that started this thread!

Easy there, tiger. No need to get your knickers in a bunch.

 

[Jaysus]

Can y'all post some up-close pictures of the valve coupling? It looks like it sticks out quite a bit.

stupid gray bars...

 

[a_w_taylor]

I like the fact that it is flush on the interior...

 

[JetSmooth]

Thanks!

The pot looks gorgeous, but the fitting does stick out there quite a bit. Does it stick back into the pot at all, or is it surface-welded.

Edit: Ahhh, I see. Just saw your follow-up post Are the threads available to the inside? Seems a shorter piece could be sticking out on the outside, but nice to have the inside flush.

 

[JetSmooth]

A drill and a Step Bit is all you really need.

And a TIG welder.

I went weldless with my stock pot, which I promptly sold when I decided to upgrade to a keggle/larger kettle. If I'm going to go big, I'm going welded.

 

[a_w_taylor]

Are the threads available to the inside?

Yes

 

[Jaysus]

Thanks!

The pot looks gorgeous, but the fitting does stick out there quite a bit. Does it stick back into the pot at all, or is it surface-welded.

Edit: Ahhh, I see. Just saw your follow-up post Are the threads available to the inside? Seems a shorter piece could be sticking out on the outside, but nice to have the inside flush.

All of my pics are cell phone pics... so please don't mind the quality.

 

[JetSmooth]

Pretty decent for cellphone pics.

I have an e-mail into the guys about some custom fitting arangements. I'll see if they can do shorter fittings.

Thanks!