buyng shiney from eBay France

[stu-le-brew]

How easy is it to attach taps to these things? Do you have to flatten out a section for something to fit on, or are people actually welding stuff to it?

The metal is fairly thin (which in no way effects the quality of the beer), so welding would be a bit tricky, but that does mean it does give a bit to accommodate the tap so its not necessary to flatten first.

VERY happy with all of my shiney stuff

[houblon]

How easy is it to attach taps to these things? Do you have to flatten out a section for something to fit on, or are people actually welding stuff to it?

The metal is fairly thin (which in no way effects the quality of the beer), so welding would be a bit tricky, but that does mean it does give a bit to accommodate the tap so its not necessary to flatten first.

VERY happy with all of my shiney stuff

Thanks stu - another local(ish) I see. Might have to pick your brains for where to obtain supplies in the near future! I'm back in the UK for this weekend but only brought hand luggage, so I can't take anything back. Gah!

[Martin G]

Treat yourself to a brand new Erbauer hole cutter from Screwfix, you can get the exact size you need, mine went through the 'thin' steel like butter. Take a good look at the bottom of the pot, I think the base and the first inch of the side is made from a thicker steel, I went through just above that so that I had the best chance of a good seal on the tank connector, I think any system will rely on syphoning the last bit.

I went for 22mm pipe and have a short length of pipe that I connect hand tight to an elbow on the outside, the first time I used a spanner to fix the olive on and then released to hand tight. I squeezed the end of the pipe in a vice to leave a 2-3 mm gap that acts as a venturi and keeps it syphoning, empties 30l water in about 2 mins.

Inside the boiler is a couple of right angle bends to get the hop strainer to the bottom. The hop strainer is just more 22mm pipe, closed at the end by sqeezing closed, with the 2-3mm holes in the 22mm pipe are all on the third of the pipe that lays on the bottom, the dead volume is half a litre.

[stevetk189]

Has anyone had any recent contact with the folks at catering-services fr? I've been trying to get hold of them to see if they supply the larger thermo pots without pre fitted taps. No reply from eBay or direct email. It's been about a week now.

[Beardy]

I sent an email to Kirsten a week yesterday and received a reply on Monday.

The offer 'ran out' on Thursday. As I'm in the process of packing two children off to university I decided to give my cash-flow a break and didn't order. Still regretting that but you've got to put your children first.

[amatur]

I sent kirsten my first e mail on sep6, and got a reply latter that day, and placed my order next day sep 7th now just hoping that all arrives, fingers crossed

[stevetk189]

I'll try again then.

[Cazamodo]

Just want an opinion...
I would only need 50l pots, upgrading from my plastic BK and MT, (dont have a HLT) I'm planning on turning my plastic BK into a HLT, and using a thermo pot for a MT, should I go with another for the BK? Using kettle elements, and hoping to bottom drain them all. Or shall I go for a third for the HLT aswell?

[Beardy]

Just want an opinion...
I would only need 50l pots, upgrading from my plastic BK and MT, (dont have a HLT) I'm planning on turning my plastic BK into a HLT, and using a thermo pot for a MT, should I go with another for the BK? Using kettle elements, and hoping to bottom drain them all. Or shall I go for a third for the HLT aswell?

I bought pans rather than thermopots for my HLT & kettle, but have now decided that I really wanted thermopots! Still it does mean that I've now got two stainless FVs that are big enough to take a whole brew

So if you are already thinking that thermopots will be a good idea, that idea won't go away
. Save yourself some money and get the right kit first time

[Cazamodo]

Ok thermopots it is! Just a question to everyone who has one already, with a bottom drain. Is there room to mount my kettle elements on the bottom, and run the leabs through the bottom ring as such. As putting them through the side looks like it may be tricky...

Also, I emailed the email I found in this thread, and got the strangest supply. I emailed enquiring about the 33L thermopots, and got a reply saying,
Angebot Uk

Thermoports 33L
Meilleures salutations,

Sandra Schmidt
Bergland Handels GmbH


Now I may be being really stupid but... I'm sure thats french, yet the first bit is german. Im so confussed haha!

[barneey]

Ok thermopots it is! Just a question to everyone who has one already, with a bottom drain. Is there room to mount my kettle elements on the bottom, and run the leabs through the bottom ring as such. As putting them through the side looks like it may be tricky...

Also, I emailed the email I found in this thread, and got the strangest supply. I emailed enquiring about the 33L thermopots, and got a reply saying,
Angebot Uk

Thermoports 33L
Meilleures salutations,

Sandra Schmidt
Bergland Handels GmbH


Now I may be being really stupid but... I'm sure thats french, yet the first bit is german. Im so confussed haha!

If you have a look at my thread on my HLT design, it may answer a few of your questions (it was only a 38ltr thermo) and a burco element used.

[Cazamodo]

Cheers, great thread, I would'nt be using 1'2 fittings so should be ok. And looks like the elements fit fine.

Any ideas on my reply from that email?

Shall I email them again?

[Cazamodo]

Cheers, great thread, I would'nt be using 1'2 fittings so should be ok. And looks like the elements fit fine.

Any ideas on my reply from that email?

Shall I email them again?

[stevetk189]

I feel I need to add this pre warning just in case. If you're using gas burners to heat your water then do not get a thermos marmite from catering services or whoever.

I also inhabit a French brewing forum and several of them, for some bizarre reason, have got the insulated pots to use as HLTs, heated them up with 8 - 9kw gas burners and then been surprised that they burned the insulation in the base... It's not exactly rocket science that one but I thought I'd better point into out just in case any of you have recently taken advice from French brewers.

TBH I don't really see the gain in using a thermo pot as an HLT it's not like the liquor has to sit for any length of time. heat up the mash liquor and while the mash draws to an end heat up the sparge liquor... surely. Do it in a cheaper, simple, single skinned pot.

[barneey]

I feel I need to add this pre warning just in case. If you're using gas burners to heat your water then do not get a thermos marmite from catering services or whoever.

I also inhabit a French brewing forum and several of them, for some bizarre reason, have got the insulated pots to use as HLTs, heated them up with 8 - 9kw gas burners and then been surprised that they burned the insulation in the base... It's not exactly rocket science that one but I thought I'd better point into out just in case any of you have recently taken advice from French brewers.

TBH I don't really see the gain in using a thermo pot as an HLT it's not like the liquor has to sit for any length of time. heat up the mash liquor and while the mash draws to an end heat up the sparge liquor... surely. Do it in a cheaper, simple, single skinned pot.

The only reason behind the idea, was to pre heat the water + treat the night before brew day, the thermo pot keeps things nice and warm over night - no waiting around the next morning + was experimenting on thermo pot cutting and designs + wanted to use as little energy / time to heat the liqour if heating it on brew day.