Weldless brew stand.

[Bender]

Excellent build!

That's pretty similar to mine (in construction materials, anyway):
http://www.lancedrolet.com/?p=7
But I didn't want to shell out for the pumps, so mine is a 3 tier...

Hey, that's pretty cool. I specifically wanted the pumps due to mobility issues and difficulty with ladders, but that's a neat gravity system.

 

[Bender]

Buy a man a beer and he wastes an hour. Teach a man to brew and he wastes a lifetime.
-annonymous

Best.Signature.Ever

 

[ox1574]

Here are a couple of pics of what I got accomplished today.

 

[Egbert]

Hey, Ox.
I was looking in Lowes this week at the various parts available.
Do you have a parts breakdown on what you used?

For additional stability I may lay a piece of plywood or fiberboard screwed in accross the bottom as a shelf for offline storage and to help drop the center of gravity a bit.

 

[ox1574]

I looked locally as well and couldn't find what I needed, so I ended up getting everything from McMaster Carr. I got the framing, nuts/bolts, and the corner pieces from them. It was cheaper than anything i could find locally, parts arrived the next day with $11 shipping...not bad. Granted I am two hours away from their warehouse in Atlanta. I ended up getting (5) 6 foot pieces of 2 1/4 x 1 1/2 and (1) 3 foot section. Also got (2) 6 foot pieces of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 pieces and (1) 3 foot section.

 

[DakotaRules]

I can't wait to build one of these too! Thanks guys for posting all your hard work and ingenuity!

 

[ox1574]

Yeah I am not sure what I am going to do with the bottom yet...I need to see how I am going to do the gas plumbing as to whether I will build a shelf/bottom or not. I need to order my burners, etc and get those mounted as well.

 

[Uncle Fat]

Hey, that's pretty cool. I specifically wanted the pumps due to mobility issues and difficulty with ladders, but that's a neat gravity system.

Mine's actually quite mobile. Of course, you can't move it when the tanks are full, but that's kind of the point of only having wheels on one side. The weight of the tanks provides stability. And ladders aren't required. There's a fill valve on the bottom of the HLT with a quick-hose-disconnect. I'll probably pick up a couple of pumps anyway though. It'd be nice to be able to control the rate of flow through the chiller a little better.

 

[DBbrewing]

http://[URL=http://entertainment.webshots.com/photo/2048820980103415458Uynsdm] [/URL]

this is mine.

 

[ox1574]

What length hoses do you guys use? By my calculations, 4 foot sections should work well. Just wanted to see what y'all recommend before I purchase the tubing.

Thanks

 

[DakotaRules]

What length hoses do you guys use? By my calculations, 4 foot sections should work well. Just wanted to see what y'all recommend before I purchase the tubing.

Thanks

I use/have 4X 4' hoses with connections.

 

[Fritztheelephant]

Here's mine guys. I have a couple sessions in with it and it has performed well. I was a little concerned about the top horizonal peices bending under heat and weight, so I doubled up in those areas. I think it may have been overkill but the cost was minimal. If I go electric this year as planned, I will probably paint it up real nice.

 

[kegtoe]

what do you guys use to cut the pieces?

 

[Fritztheelephant]

The pruduct I used is made by Republic Storage in Canton and is called "Metal Lumber". It is a product sold by the company I work for and we use a large metal cutter similar to a set for bolt cutters. Basically you put the piece in the cutter and snap it off. Works very nicely.

 

[Catt22]

What length hoses do you guys use? By my calculations, 4 foot sections should work well. Just wanted to see what y'all recommend before I purchase the tubing.

Thanks

As short as conveniently possible. Buy the hose in one piece and cut it to the desired length.

 

[DBbrewing]

what do you guys use to cut the pieces?

I took them to work and used a bandsaw, quick and easy.

 

[Bender]

Mine's actually quite mobile. Of course, you can't move it when the tanks are full, but that's kind of the point of only having wheels on one side. The weight of the tanks provides stability. And ladders aren't required. There's a fill valve on the bottom of the HLT with a quick-hose-disconnect. I'll probably pick up a couple of pumps anyway though. It'd be nice to be able to control the rate of flow through the chiller a little better.

I meant my mobility. I have no business on ladders.

 

[Bender]

what do you guys use to cut the pieces?

Metal cutting fiber blade in a miter saw.

 

[ox1574]

Nice! I really like how you have the gas installed on the back. Do you find that it works well or not being in the back?

 

[ox1574]

what do you guys use to cut the pieces?

I used an angle grinder with a metal cutting wheel. Worked fine for me.

 

[Miscue]

Just ordered the parts tonight. Yay Beer!

 

[Miscue]

Oh yeah first post ... wohoo!

 

[Miscue]

Quick question for Strongbad52's build. Did you have to purchase any extra parts to add the mounting for your pumps? I also noticed you had an additional vertical support in the back.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[Strongbad52]

Miscue - No, I didn't purchase any more materiel to add the mounting bracket for the pumps. I used the Wallace build pictures as a guide when I built mine. I used the 2-1/4 x 1-1/2" for the frame of the stand. Basically the two long rectangles that are connected by the legs are cut from the bigger pieces of steel. Below is how I cut the 2-1/4x1-1/2" steel; if you are careful you will have one 6' length left over.

|____________ 52"____|___16.5"_____|
----------------------------------------- x 4
|__16.5__|__16.5__|__16.5__|__16.5__|
----------------------------------------- x 1
|______________72"__________________|
----------------------------------------- x 1

I cut the 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 steel like below. The fifth one is used as a support on the back side of the frame. the other four are used as the legs of the frame.
|___21____|___21____|___21____|
-------------------------------------
|___21____|___21____|
-------------------------------------

This left over angle let me cut 3 more 21" pieces from the 2-1/4x1-1/2" to use as a pump mount. you can see it on post #89 of the thread on the last two pictures. I also reinforced the pump mount with more scrap leftover from the build. I will post pictures later today, my two year old needs her breakfast.

I hope this helps. If you have any more questions just shoot me a pm.

Jabin

 

[Strongbad52]

Here are a few pics of the reinforcing of the pump mount. I found it was a little wobbly when I bolted down the pumps, so I used some bits of 2-1/4x1-1/2 angle to reinforce each end and a 16.5" piece of 1-1/2x1-1/2 to support the middle. I mounted the waterproof switch box on another couple scrap pieces of 2-1/4x1-1/2 that i bent to about 45 degrees with a pair of channel locks.

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0520.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0526.jpg

hope this helps somebody.

Jabin

 

[dannedry]

Here are a few pics of the reinforcing of the pump mount. I found it was a little wobbly when I bolted down the pumps, so I used some bits of 2-1/4x1-1/2 angle to reinforce each end and a 16.5" piece of 1-1/2x1-1/2 to support the middle. I mounted the waterproof switch box on another couple scrap pieces of 2-1/4x1-1/2 that i bent to about 45 degrees with a pair of channel locks.

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0520.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0526.jpg

hope this helps somebody.

Jabin

I like how you mounted these, and I really like the switch box... are you going to put a drip shield over the top of those pumps??? I like it!

 

[OKCBrewEngr]

Here are a few pics of the reinforcing of the pump mount. I found it was a little wobbly when I bolted down the pumps, so I used some bits of 2-1/4x1-1/2 angle to reinforce each end and a 16.5" piece of 1-1/2x1-1/2 to support the middle. I mounted the waterproof switch box on another couple scrap pieces of 2-1/4x1-1/2 that i bent to about 45 degrees with a pair of channel locks.

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0520.jpg

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0526.jpg

hope this helps somebody.

Jabin

Awesome!

 

[Strongbad52]

Thanks guys, I'm glad people like the changes I have made. Yeah the pump shrouds and propane lines are next. I'll keep updating as I go. I put beads of silicone caulk on both sides of the foam insert on the electrical box and where the power cords go into the box just as a little insurance. I would rather over engineer rather than under engineer.

 

[dannedry]

Thanks guys, I'm glad people like the changes I have made. Yeah the pump shrouds and propane lines are next. I'll keep updating as I go. I put beads of silicone caulk on both sides of the foam insert on the electrical box and where the power cords go into the box just as a little insurance. I would rather over engineer rather than under engineer.

Where did you get that switch box if you don't mind my asking...

 

[Strongbad52]

Got it at Home Depot. They had that one, which fits a metal box and another one with red switches. The one w/red switches fits a plastic box so I figured that since it was going to be relatively close to a propane burner that would be lit for sustained periods metal was the way to go. The box, switch face and power cord clamps cost around $12-13 total. I just drilled through the back of the box to bolt it to the bent angle iron and sealed it w/silicone caulk.