Wort Chiller Construction

[Dionysos911]

So I am thinking of building one and a friend suggested using aluminum instead of copper since its likely to be a lot cheaper and could make more coils that way. Has anyone made one with anything besides copper?

 

[KayaBrew]

I've seen them made out of stainless steel.

 

[JPicasso]

How much cheaper?

Can you solder Al? (Seriously, I don't know)

 

[Dionysos911]

How much cheaper?

Can you solder Al? (Seriously, I don't know)

Is there a need to solder? I figured you bend it into coils then stretch some plastic tubing over the ends.

 

[pen25]

yes you can solder alum.

 

[JPicasso]

Good question. I suppose you don't need to solder it.

I soldered brass hose fittings to my copper IC. You could always use plastic tubing and a clamp.

Does Al come in flexible tubing? If so, my guess is that you could use it.
I know Al has pretty good heat conductance.

 

[njnear76]

I never seen aluminum tubing sold anywhere. Then again maybe I have not looked for it. My only concern with an aluminum wort chiller is that it might crack easier since it is a softer metal than copper. Then again that fear might be unfounded.

 

[EvilTOJ]

It's an unfounded fear. How many aluminum pots and pans have you seen break under heat strain? Yea, none. If aluminum tubing can be had for cheaper I say go for it(although I doubt this is the case). It's a better conductor of heat, but it is more malleable than copper.

 

[njnear76]

It's an unfounded fear. How many aluminum pots and pans have you seen break under heat strain? Yea, none. If aluminum tubing can be had for cheaper I say go for it(although I doubt this is the case). It's a better conductor of heat, but it is more malleable than copper.

Well I meant more so if you dropped it accidentally.

 

[RedIrocZ-28]

Look at summitracing.com for aluminum fuel line tubing. I forget anymore how much it cost me but I think that I bought a 25' roll of 3/8" for under $30.

 

[Rhymenoceros]

Softer metals are less brittle. It may get dented more, but I don't think I would worry about that. Its better thermal transfer would be good for a chiller.

 

[JPicasso]

So is it cheaper?

www.coppertubingsales.com has pretty good prices. You ahve to add on shipping, but still reasonable.

If you do make one out of Al, post some pics in the DIY section.
We'd all love to see it.

 

[McKBrew]

Right now with copper prices going down, you can put together a copper chiller for a decent price. 50' of 1/2" tubing from coppertubingsales.com plus shipping from NC to WA was less than $45.

There is nothing wrong with aluminum either. Check out this thread.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/alumanium-immersion-chiller-creation-97730/