I Got Me a Burco Boiler (Finally)

[Western Brewer]

Yippee :pink
Just been to Brighton to collect a secondhand Burco boiler 26 litre jobby. Tested it seems to work a treat, all for £40. Looks as if it has been standing around for a while so need to give it a clean. What's the best thing for using on what I presume is stainless steel? Did notice the plug was warm (ok one pin was hot) when I unplugged, wiring seems ok in the plug but tightened the screws down some more. Just gone out of it's little yearly test certificate so guess it may of failed because of this? Will give the rest of the wiring a check over if I can figure out how to get in to the bottom. I take it you unscrew the feet to remove the bottom cover.
Just need to wait to get on my mashing course in July then have a go myself.
I expect someone will now shoot me down in my moment of glory and say the 26L ones are no good
Any articles about modifing the taps and fitting a strainer on this forum.
Happy, happy, joy, joy!
Mark

[Andy]

My burco is 27L and I manage fine with that! I made a hop strainer from an old frying pan splatter guard rolled up and inserted into the back of the tap, works great! I then attach a piece of 5/8" tubing to the tap and fit a couple of reducing pieces of tube inside that to get down to syphon tube diameter.

[eskimobob]

Yes, unscrew the three feet and the steel bottom comes off (with the mains disconnected as the connections are easy to touch!). You might find it easier to remove the element for cleaning if it is bad - I removed mine and it went back together without any leaks.

As for cleaning, mine was badly scaled so I use one of those sachets of descaler that you can buy in the supermarket for doing the kettle and shower head etc.

Good luck

[johnmac]

Well done WB. Are you able to post some pics of it?

[Western Brewer]

Thanks for the advice all. I'll certainly try to get some pictures of it up this week. Will also give it a bit of a spruce up/ safety check. Very pleased with it though. Got let down earlier in the week with another Burco as Johnmac is aware so feeling pleased at the moment.
Mark

[Western Brewer]

At Johnmacs request some pictures of my Burco. Sorry the two ofthe labels are blurred taken on my camera phone.
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g270/ ... Burco1.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g270/ ... Burco2.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g270/ ... Burco3.jpg
http://i58.photobucket.com/albums/g270/ ... Burco4.jpg
Regards, mark

[fizzypop boy]

Go on then boys educate me ,why do you go for Burco boilers when you can make a cheaper alternative with kettle elements and a strong fv?.
I'm sure the honourable Dali Daab will enlighten his little glasshopper!

[johnmac]

Yup, love stainless steel, hate plastic :rolleyes: That's why we have corny kegs.

And I guess a boiler like WB's new one will still be shiny in 25 years time.

[Andy]

stainless will always clean up to the same shiny state, plastic will taint (colour wise) over time when boiling wort. The burco is made specifically to hold very hot liquids whereas a plastic bucket with an element in it is just that


Oh, and my burco was cheaper than buying a plastic boiler B) Had I not found the burco then I'm sure I would have built/bought a placcy boiler.

[fizzypop boy]

As i thought the road to enlightenment is much filled with the pitfalls of shiny objects and boys toys which are trinkets of status rather than necessity,iam much grateful for the enlightenment lesson from my many masters :ph34r:

[Western Brewer]

QUOTE (andy @ May 16 2006, 07:40 AM)
Oh, and my burco was cheaper than buying a plastic boiler 
Absolutley! Shiny Burco £40. Placcy bucket £50-£60 and gets soft at high temps.

[bod]

QUOTE (Western Brewer @ May 16 2006, 01:17 PM) QUOTE (andy @ May 16 2006, 07:40 AM)
Oh, and my burco was cheaper than buying a plastic boiler 
Absolutley! Shiny Burco £40. Placcy bucket £50-£60 and gets soft at high temps.
its crazy that they(plastic bopilers) cost so much, when you can make it yourself for a 5th of the price if you know where to look. i'd love a stainless electric boiler, which is why i'm working on these kegs. i like building stuff as well, theres no fun for me just pulling it out a box.

[PeterESB]

What kegs