Would this be any good for a RIMS project?

[kisslikeether]

Stumbled across this on Nisbets site:

http://www.nisbets.co.uk/buffalo-black- ... il.raction

If I was to swap out the lid, add some stainless steel tubing and a more accurate temperature controller would this make a good heat source for a DIY RIMS project?

Any thoughts gratefully received...

[Hogarth]

Do you mean a HERMS? RIMS is when the wort is heated directly by an element. HERMS is when the wort flows through a coil immersed in hot water.

If HERMS, the 400W element is rather weedy and might be too slow to counteract temperature changes in the MT. My HERMS pot contains 4 litres and has a 2.4 kW element, which seems about right. If you're looking for a ready-made pot, a kettle might be better.

If RIMS, ignore all that.

[Matt in Birdham]

+1 to Hogarth. You really need a decent sized element and as small a water reservoir as you can. A 2l kettle is actually a pretty good option (if a little ugly), and I know a few people down under who have made it work. I use a short length of sewage down pipe with caps on both ends and an element from a £3 kettle, which is also about 4l capacity - cheaper to setup than that soup warmer and powerful enough to heat the water before mash in as well as run as a HERMS.

[kisslikeether]

Thanks both of you for the advice - much appreciated...