| I am building a whole new system for an expo at the end of April. First off is a Hot Liquor Tank with all the goodies. |
Kettle building & assembly
1. Find a stainless keg from a
scrapyard or homebrew shop.
Make sure it is not wanted
back by the brewery. If you
buy it from scrap guy make
sure to get a receipt so you
can prove it to be scrap. Next
contact the brewery, more
than likely they will not
respond or will say they are
not taking unsolicited business.
I cleaned this one up with a
drill & a 3M plastic paint
removing wheel.
scrapyard or homebrew shop.
Make sure it is not wanted
back by the brewery. If you
buy it from scrap guy make
sure to get a receipt so you
can prove it to be scrap. Next
contact the brewery, more
than likely they will not
respond or will say they are
not taking unsolicited business.
I cleaned this one up with a
drill & a 3M plastic paint
removing wheel.
2. Safety first!!!
Whats good shiny new
brewing equipment gonna be
if you get your eyes poked
out while building it!!!!
Whats good shiny new
brewing equipment gonna be
if you get your eyes poked
out while building it!!!!
 | |  | |  | |  |
3. Next i use the plasma
cutter to cut the top out.
Then clean up the edges with
a quick grind job.
cutter to cut the top out.
Then clean up the edges with
a quick grind job.
4. Perfect fit for a stainless lid
i picked up.
i picked up.
5. Its best to drill a small pilot
hole at slow speed with alot of
pressure to avoid overheating.
Then keep going to the next size
up until you get to the 7/8" hole.
I have lost my 7/8" bit so I made
a template & cut the holes with
my plasma cutter & smoothed the
edges with a file.
hole at slow speed with alot of
pressure to avoid overheating.
Then keep going to the next size
up until you get to the 7/8" hole.
I have lost my 7/8" bit so I made
a template & cut the holes with
my plasma cutter & smoothed the
edges with a file.
6. The weldless thermometer
ready for installation.
ready for installation.
7. Thermometer installed. 3"
face & 6" probe with 2 high
temp o-rings.
& 1/2" weldless ball valve
installed.
face & 6" probe with 2 high
temp o-rings.
& 1/2" weldless ball valve
installed.
8. Site tube installed. I am still
working on a good way to
attach the top to the kettle.
My old HLT has a copper
sleeve around the vinyl tubing
also. I might do the same for
this one.
working on a good way to
attach the top to the kettle.
My old HLT has a copper
sleeve around the vinyl tubing
also. I might do the same for
this one.
Here is a peek at the system.
Here is the addition of an
electric heating element and
thermostat for a watter
heater. It heated 10 gallons
to 162 degrees in 1.5 hours.
Kinda slow and i had to run
propane for about 10 minutes
to get it to 170. But i plan to
put this on a timer so it will be
almost ready when i wake up
on a brew day.
Here is the addition of an
electric heating element and
thermostat for a watter
heater. It heated 10 gallons
to 162 degrees in 1.5 hours.
Kinda slow and i had to run
propane for about 10 minutes
to get it to 170. But i plan to
put this on a timer so it will be
almost ready when i wake up
on a brew day.
