why on earth would you use a k2 element they were phased out in the 70's
you will bebuilding a boiler that you will have to throw away when the elemnt finally gives in. just spend the £5 and go to argos, tesco,b&q , homebase, wilko
whoever and get a cheap kettle witht an element. get some spare ones when you can and you are futur profed until you run out, then you will have to use imesrsion heater elemnts unless something better comes along or someone try to use the other type of kettle elemnts in use today ( might give it a go one day)
forget the K2 its gonna cost you in the long run twice as much as doing it with cheap kettle
Boiler build (lots of pics)
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jimw86
Re: Boiler build (lots of pics)
Someone was selling 5 on ebay and it was at 99p, so they might not be any good on their own, but having 5 lasting 2 years? would be cheaper than buying 4 kettles at £4 a pop 
Why Im at it, how do you fit an immersion element to a boiler? Any one have any pics?
Why Im at it, how do you fit an immersion element to a boiler? Any one have any pics?
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tubthumper
Re: Boiler build (lots of pics)
you need to drill a big hole 2 1/4 inch put a flange on it and screw it in 11 inch elements ok for 25lt bucket you need to bypass the thermostat but really the same as kettle element just bigger
do a search on the forum lots of people have done it
do a search on the forum lots of people have done it
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Bodders
Re: Boiler build (lots of pics)
How do you find out if taps are rated for boiling temps ? I've got a Young's 25L FV which I want to convert to a boiler. I have the Argos kettles from which to strip out the elements, but will I need a new tap too like this http://www.screwfix.com/prods/13103/Plu ... VE-_-13103?Andy wrote:Yup, only use taps rated for boiling temps. You don't want a tap popping out and a stream of 100 degree wort spewing over you.
Thanks for your help
Bodders
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prolix
Re: Boiler build (lots of pics)
a 15mm tank coupler and a 15mm non compression fit ball valve with a 90 compression elbow are ideal. BnQ have non compression fit ball valves can't find them on screwfix.
Re: Boiler build (lots of pics)
Need some help please.
I've got the same boiler as the one drew has built in this thread (water butt plastic tap included). I only have a single element but do small batches ... so it works ok for me. My question is around the tap. The tap does indeed take a hammering from the heat and I have indeed had problems. The back nut broke mid way through boil meaning that wort started to leak all over the place.
I want to replace the tap but im having trouble finding a metal replacement. When i take the plastic tap (like drews) out of my boiler Ill have a 22mm hole ... so any replacement needs to fit 22mm. Also, I use the boiler with a hop strainer, so the inside fitting of the boiler needs a screw thread (again 22mm in size) for the hop strainer set up to screw down on to.
Any ideas? I spent hours on sunday (no joke) in b&q looking at ball valves etc but none of them looked like they would screw on to the boiler and be water tight. None of them had a flat disc that would press up against the bucket (inside and out) and form a water tight seal. Some fittings had it but wouldnt have left a screw thread in the inside for the strainer to screw down onto.
I've tried searching through other peoples designs but I've found it difficult to decipher the names of the parts they've used and excatly where and how theyve used them. The plumbing aisle in b&q is crazy ... everything is always all over the place!
Appreciate any help. I cant brew again until I get this sorted, so Im really eager to find a solution.
Cheers.
Here is a picture of my hop strainer (as described above): http://twitpic.com/1urpf9
I've got the same boiler as the one drew has built in this thread (water butt plastic tap included). I only have a single element but do small batches ... so it works ok for me. My question is around the tap. The tap does indeed take a hammering from the heat and I have indeed had problems. The back nut broke mid way through boil meaning that wort started to leak all over the place.
I want to replace the tap but im having trouble finding a metal replacement. When i take the plastic tap (like drews) out of my boiler Ill have a 22mm hole ... so any replacement needs to fit 22mm. Also, I use the boiler with a hop strainer, so the inside fitting of the boiler needs a screw thread (again 22mm in size) for the hop strainer set up to screw down on to.
Any ideas? I spent hours on sunday (no joke) in b&q looking at ball valves etc but none of them looked like they would screw on to the boiler and be water tight. None of them had a flat disc that would press up against the bucket (inside and out) and form a water tight seal. Some fittings had it but wouldnt have left a screw thread in the inside for the strainer to screw down onto.
I've tried searching through other peoples designs but I've found it difficult to decipher the names of the parts they've used and excatly where and how theyve used them. The plumbing aisle in b&q is crazy ... everything is always all over the place!
Appreciate any help. I cant brew again until I get this sorted, so Im really eager to find a solution.
Cheers.
Here is a picture of my hop strainer (as described above): http://twitpic.com/1urpf9
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Kev888
- So far gone I'm on the way back again!
- Posts: 7701
- Joined: Fri Mar 19, 2010 6:22 pm
- Location: Derbyshire, UK
Re: Boiler build (lots of pics)
Hi,
I can't tell for sure, but your hop strainer may have a tap connector on the end, rather than a 22mm pipe fitting as such. e.g. http://www.screwfix.com/prods/64190/Plu ... 22mm-x-3-4 I couldn't be certain but if so its probably a 3/4" rather than 1/2" one.
EDIT: Does that seem likely? If so it may be worth double checking the size of your hole, as it were. If it is a 3/4" tap thread sticking through there then the hole would be just over an inch or around 26.5mm rather than 22mm.
I guess you could then look for a 3/4" tap with back nut, they're fairly common home brew plastic affairs though not sure I've seen any up to boiling temperatures so maybe brass would be better, or if you believe the tap is sound you may just need a new 3/4" back nut - of which either plastic or brass ones are available (although to be frank I've not personally seen a plastic one without the tap).
cheers
kev
I can't tell for sure, but your hop strainer may have a tap connector on the end, rather than a 22mm pipe fitting as such. e.g. http://www.screwfix.com/prods/64190/Plu ... 22mm-x-3-4 I couldn't be certain but if so its probably a 3/4" rather than 1/2" one.
EDIT: Does that seem likely? If so it may be worth double checking the size of your hole, as it were. If it is a 3/4" tap thread sticking through there then the hole would be just over an inch or around 26.5mm rather than 22mm.
I guess you could then look for a 3/4" tap with back nut, they're fairly common home brew plastic affairs though not sure I've seen any up to boiling temperatures so maybe brass would be better, or if you believe the tap is sound you may just need a new 3/4" back nut - of which either plastic or brass ones are available (although to be frank I've not personally seen a plastic one without the tap).
cheers
kev
Kev