Weldless brew stand.

[StandEight]

Looks awesome! What's your mashtun wrapped with?

 

[ox1574]

Would anyone care to post some updated photos to their build progress? Im feeling overwhelmed with burner selection and plumbing, and would love to look at some pictures. Thanks in advance!

Here are a couple updated pics. I haven't done the gas line yet.

 

[StandEight]

Nice setup Ox. What did you paint the stand with?

Cheers,
Brad

 

[ox1574]

Nice setup Ox. What did you paint the stand with?

Cheers,
Brad

High temp engine paint. Not sure how it is going to hold up, because you are supposed to bake it after you spray it on. Not sure about you, but I do not have an oven that big!

 

[ox1574]

Anyone have good pics on how you did the gas line?

 

[StandEight]

Yeah no kidding right. I'm about to build the stand myself (parts are sitting in the garage). Let me know how that stuff holds up around the burners.

Cheers,
Brad

 

[StandEight]

Anyone have good pics on how you did the gas line?

Yep I could use some also.

 

[BrewerRick]

High temp engine paint. Not sure how it is going to hold up, because you are supposed to bake it after you spray it on. Not sure about you, but I do not have an oven that big!

I'd like to know how the paint holds up after a couple of brewing sessions. If it works, I'll be painting as well.

Nice brew system. Mines almost complete. Getting ready to mount the burners I got from agriculture supply....70,000 btu.

 

[BrewerRick]

Here is my latest contraption...still need to mount the gas pipe and casters, but we're coming along.

 

[dannedry]

Looks awesome! What's your mashtun wrapped with?

Not wrapped with anything... one of the 3 keggles is polished up a little bit... though I do plan to wrap my mash tun in some of that reflectix stuff...

 

[dannedry]

High temp engine paint. Not sure how it is going to hold up, because you are supposed to bake it after you spray it on. Not sure about you, but I do not have an oven that big!

I know some people on here will just fire their stand for a while and cure it as best they can... I think somebody also threw a piece of sheet metal over the top of their stand and fired it that way (after the paint had dried of course :cross: )

 

[Gremlyn]

Here is my latest contraption...still need to mount the gas pipe and casters, but we're coming along.

Don't think the pumps are a little close to the burner?

 

[BrewerRick]

Maybe. They be lowered easily. Just slapped it together. I'll probably do that to be safe. I also have a mash tun made from a plastic cooler. I was thinking of adding a second tier that can be removed easily once I convert to a keg typ mash tun.

Thanks.

 

[rekoob]

Holy crap... this forum is going to cost me some money. I currently have a make-shift 3-tier system using a polarware BK for 5 gal batches and a keggle (only have top cut off) for 10 gal batches. I have been trying to come up with a cheap 3-tier structure that will work with 3 keggles ( have two kegs waiting in the garage). every time i get on this site and look at stuff i start changing my mind on what i want to do. I have a brew hut built in the back yard and space is a bit limited but i think a single tier would fit. but then i need to buy pumps in addition to a structure and finishing my kegs. i am just so undecided now.

 

[ox1574]

The cost of the pumps were too small for me to not go with a single tier system. Granted I am still in the process of my build, but I think I am going to love the single tier vs a three tier.

 

[Ender]

yeah, it is a pretty small price to pay, and really you only need 1 pump. Just batch sparge. Heck grain is cheap enough (considering) to use a bit more to compensate. I still get in the high 70's low 80's batch sparging

 

[dannedry]

Holy crap... this forum is going to cost me some money. I currently have a make-shift 3-tier system using a polarware BK for 5 gal batches and a keggle (only have top cut off) for 10 gal batches. I have been trying to come up with a cheap 3-tier structure that will work with 3 keggles ( have two kegs waiting in the garage). every time i get on this site and look at stuff i start changing my mind on what i want to do. I have a brew hut built in the back yard and space is a bit limited but i think a single tier would fit. but then i need to buy pumps in addition to a structure and finishing my kegs. i am just so undecided now.

If you decide to go with pumps, check out USA Pumps on Ebay... I got the March pumps for about $105/each, and I believe he was offering free shipping at the time also.

 

[rekoob]

i just cut my other two keg tops off, the keg jig thread was a huge plus. I will look into the pump, thanks for the tip. I'm still not sure what type of structure I want to go with, guess I need to figure that out. For years now I have been wanting a 3-tier, now that I'm getting to the point of making one, I'm just not sure what I want anymore.

 

[dannedry]

Got my propane manifold built, pressure tested, and then fired up all 3 burners successfully.

 

[rekoob]

looks good to me. How much higher did you make your legs in order to put the kegs under there? you think the controls on the back side and low are going to be an issue for adjustments? Damn, I sure like this non-welding structure... I'm so confused...

 

[dannedry]

looks good to me. How much higher did you make your legs in order to put the kegs under there? you think the controls on the back side and low are going to be an issue for adjustments? Damn, I sure like this non-welding structure... I'm so confused...

The original design specifies 21" legs, I had to cut mine to 33" to account for the height of the keg + thickness of the entire burner + 4" clearance from top of burner to the bottom of the keggles + an extra inch or so of room to jimmy the keggles underneath for storage. The pic above is actually of the back of the brew rig... I didn't want to put the manifold on the front of the stand... aesthetic purposes I guess. Here is a pic of the front of my rig... all that's left to do is mount my drain valves, thermos, and sight tubes onto the 3 keggles.

 

[J-Malone]

Strongbad, thanks for the great detail. I am about to order all the stuff for this build. Any chance you could post a final version? I am specifically interested in the gas line placement and routing, as well as burner mounts. I am thinking of using the same burners.

Thanks again,

JM

ok, pictures as promised - this is using 1/2" black iron pipe.

Burner propane connectors & pumbing -

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0541.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0542.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0539.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0538.jpg

waterproof switch mount wired up -

http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0545.jpg
http://i722.photobucket.com/albums/ww229/Strongbad_can/DSCN0544.jpg

 

[J-Malone]

Question about your gas line. Can you give a parts lit for it? I am about to build this and this is the only area that I am lost on. Specifically, what kind of rigid pipe are you using and where did you get the parts?

Any help you could give would be great. I am thinking of using a similar design. I might have it run all the way across the bottom.

Thanks in advance,

JM

Got my propane manifold built, pressure tested, and then fired up all 3 burners successfully.

 

[dannedry]

Question about your gas line. Can you give a parts lit for it? I am about to build this and this is the only area that I am lost on. Specifically, what kind of rigid pipe are you using and where did you get the parts?

Any help you could give would be great. I am thinking of using a similar design. I might have it run all the way across the bottom.

Thanks in advance,

JM

Sure... the rigid pipe is all 1/2" black pipe and all these parts except for the 3 hoses and needle valves were all from lowes:

Brass valve 1/2" F npt on one end and 3/8" M flare on the other (x1)
12" black pipe nipple (x1)
2" black pipe nipple (x2)
1/2" black pipe tee (x2)
1/2" black pipe 90* (x1)
1/2" x 1/4" black pipe reducing bushing (x3)
1/4" needle valves (x3) that I got online
1/4" brass close nipple (x3)
1/4" F x 3/8" F coupler (x3)
And then the hoses I got online from some RV parts dealer

I didn't see the need to run it all the way across the stand... I wanted to allow room for me to get my keggles under the rig from the back side for storage, and if I had run the manifold all the way across, it would have just been one more thing to maneuver around, plus why spend the extra on longer pipe?

Hope that helps!

 

[dannedry]

Sure... the rigid pipe is all 1/2" black pipe and all these parts except for the 3 hoses and needle valves were all from lowes:

Brass valve 1/2" F npt on one end and 3/8" M flare on the other (x1)
12" black pipe nipple (x1)
2" black pipe nipple (x2)
1/2" black pipe tee (x2)
1/2" black pipe 90* (x1)
1/2" x 1/4" black pipe reducing bushing (x3)
1/4" needle valves (x3) that I got online
1/4" brass close nipple (x3)
1/4" F x 3/8" F coupler (x3)
And then the hoses I got online from some RV parts dealer

I didn't see the need to run it all the way across the stand... I wanted to allow room for me to get my keggles under the rig from the back side for storage, and if I had run the manifold all the way across, it would have just been one more thing to maneuver around, plus why spend the extra on longer pipe?

Hope that helps!

That is kind of starting from where the tank regulator hooks up, and working my way up to the burner hookup.

 

[J-Malone]

That is kind of starting from where the tank regulator hooks up, and working my way up to the burner hookup.

Thanks! That will do. I appreciate it. The only reason I was thinking about running it all the way across was bc I have a thing about symmetry (OCD, Much!), and I like the clean look of it going all the way across. I dont plan on making mine as tall as yours, but I will be using the lower level for storage.

I am thinking about adding some little mounts on the top to help hold the keggles in place and that way there is very little chance of them sliding around even when empty. Just taking some spare scrap from the stand and making 2-4" pieces and adding them around the top to help stabilize the burners.

But the gas line is the only thing that confuses me. I think everything else is pretty intuitive and can be adjusted based on preference.

Thanks again,

JM

 

[ox1574]

I worked on the gas and the electrical today, and here is what I've got.

 

[rekoob]

Looking very nice. I am still torn on if I want to do this weldless stand or try and find some steel and someone with a welder...

 

[DakotaRules]

That is one pimp, shiny stand!

 

[gifty74]

I'm looking to do something very similar and the only thing that concerns me with this type of slotted angle iron is thermal stress over time due to the high heat being applied directly to it, and the potential to crack or break down over time. How many batches have you pulled off on your rig, and do you see any type of degradation of the material due to heat? I know in the earlier pics the charred look was from the galvanized coating burning off, but even so it seems like fairly low end material that could weaken over time.