New Brewery

[will_raymo2000]

Hello all,

Been away from brewing for a long time and just planning coming back and upgrading all my kit.

At the moment I have two converted Kegs which I plan on employing as an HLT and a boiler. One already has a 3kw electric element installed which will be the HLT and the boiler will be gas fired. I also have a converted tesco kettle to use as a HERMS eventually as well as a solar pump which could be useful for other things other than the HERMS.

I have asked catering-portal for a quote on a 50L thermo pot without tap and they have come back to me with a figure of €88.20. Is this the going rate these days? Will convert it into a bottom draining tun with a false bottom.

My end goal is to be able to brew a firkin's worth ie. 10 gallon. Is a 50L mash tun big enough for this size batch? I have fly sparged in the past so will probably do this with the new set up.

Any help will be gratefully received!

[will_raymo2000]

Also...

I have this element, at the moment its just installed in the keg but not wired up. What shroud could I use to cover this up? Have tried searching the forum but can only see immersion element shrouds not this kind.

[Fil]

wot element ?? no linky...

afaik the direct quote prices are the best u will get, the 80l thermopot i recieved a few months ack was just about £100 inc delivery iirc

10 gallons is 45l so yes a 50l tun should be ample size imho

[will_raymo2000]

http://www.heatingelementcompany.co.uk/ ... roduct=231

Woops!

[bryanferry]

hey Will, I bought a similar pig tail element for my keg, to keep it simple I just used a double socket box to cover it viewtopic.php?f=6&t=51631

This was just to get me going with the plan to buy a stainless version later on to keep the aesthetic but to date been too busy brewing with it.

[Fil]

i used a single socket metal box with an earth point,,



usng the same qmax punch to make a hole in the back as used for the element hole



a dab of jbweld /epoxy secured the box on the element back and maintined an earth connection to the main metal body, just a single spot of jbweld can be pinged off with a blunt chisel and amma if needed. which it was as the elements i started using were pants , Unlike yours..

[captain caveman]

I've just ordered a 60l thermo without tap which was 93 euro delivered, so that sounds ok.

[will_raymo2000]

Is JB Weld on its own strong enough to hold the back box? I have tried with chemical metal but on further searching it seems that is a sealant rather than an adhesive which would explain why it fell off at the first knock.. Is JB Weld going to do what Chemical Metal could not?

On another note, what is best to polish an old stainless keg?

[Fil]

Is JB Weld on its own strong enough to hold the back box? I have tried with chemical metal but on further searching it seems that is a sealant rather than an adhesive which would explain why it fell off at the first knock.. Is JB Weld going to do what Chemical Metal could not?

On another note, what is best to polish an old stainless keg?

AS my plan to fix with JB weld was scuppered by the failure of the elements (the chrome fell off em after a boil) I cant say with certainty, but the few things ive used JBweld for have all held

your element however looks like it may have thread on the external legs?? if so a nut could be used to secure the box over those, and if not and i need more powerfull glasses.. with the 2 legs and 2 corresponding holes in the box u will have good stability for the expoy to grip and it will resist a sheering force which would be a weakness for any epoxy but a sharp shock could weaken it.

u could use SS machine screws to create mounting posts by drilling holes thru the wall and securing them with a nut to seal leaving mounting pegs protruding to mount the box onto.

however if sat in a static spot and the box mounted at the back out of the way its unlikely to get any weakening knocks..

My plan was for a blob of the stuff, so i could if needed ping off with a chissel with a sharp tap, if however you smear it all over and let it grip im pretty sure it will do the job very well.

the key as with any epoxy type glue is to measure correct quantities and mix very well,