Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
I’ve always wanted a little one-gallon system to go alongside my main brewery, partly for more variation and partly for experiments.
People always say that small-batch brewing is a lot of faff for not much beer, and they’re probably right, so I made ease of use and a quick brewday my top priorities. A one-pot recirculating system, like the Grainfather but smaller, seemed like the best solution.
And so the Grainbaby was born!
THE BUILD
To begin with, a ten-litre, 3kW Buffalo tea urn, on sale at Nisbets:
IMG_0121 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Punching a hole for the steam to exit.
IMG_0138 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Grinding the tap hole into a circle.
IMG_0148 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
A 15mm x ½” elbow goes into the tap hole, with a back nut inside. The o-ring from the original tap sits between the flange and the vessel wall.
IMG_0177 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Hop filter, 10mm copper pipe, and a ‘street’ elbow which wedges into the back of the elbow with the help of some silicone tube:
IMG_0565 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
On the outside, a Topsflo TS5 pump and a Quick Disconnect:
IMG_0577 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Back inside, a PT100 probe for the mash. It seemed neater to go in through the base:
IMG_0562 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I wanted all the leads to be detachable, so added an XLR socket for the PT100:
IMG_0514 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
IMG_0570 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
… and a kettle socket for the power cable:
IMG_0517 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
… and banana sockets for the pump. Here it is with everything plugged in and ready to roll:
IMG_0528 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
The underside …
1) pre-tinkering:
IMG_0147 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
2) Post-tinkering, with the thermostat removed and PT100 added:
IMG_0521 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I tried and failed to find a right-sized saucepan for the malt-pipe, so had to make one from a sheet of stainless wrapped around a piece of plastic chopping board, secured with stainless screws and bolts. It’s what you might call a bit agricultural but it works:
IMG_0505 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
IMG_0541 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
IMG_0561 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
The finished Grainbaby slots into the existing five-gallon brewery, replacing the boiler (which you can see here relegated to the third division) and using the same chimney:
IMG_0592 (1) by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I mash at full-volume:
IMG_0532 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
During the mash, the element is switched by the PID/SSR combo which in the five-gallon brewery controls the HERMS system. I should probably reprogramme the PID but apart from an initial overshoot it keeps the temp fine as it is.
IMG_0610 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
During the boil, the chimney comes down…
IMG_0543 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
... and the Phase Angle Controller takes over:
IMG_0606 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
4.5 Amps for a nice rolling boil.
IMG_0582 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Mini-chiller:
IMG_0556 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I made a Jamil-style whirlpool return, but I’m not sure it’ll work at this scale:
IMG_0550 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Before you know it, there’s a gallon of freshly-made wort put to bed in a £1.20 fermenter:
IMG_0555 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Verdict so far: It’s amazing how quick and easy this thing is! Even during the trial run I was twiddling my thumbs and wondering why I didn’t have more to do. The only downside so far is lousy efficiency — 54% yesterday — but I may be able to improve that. If not, it’s only a few pence of grain.
Yup, definitely pleased with my baby so far!
People always say that small-batch brewing is a lot of faff for not much beer, and they’re probably right, so I made ease of use and a quick brewday my top priorities. A one-pot recirculating system, like the Grainfather but smaller, seemed like the best solution.
And so the Grainbaby was born!
THE BUILD
To begin with, a ten-litre, 3kW Buffalo tea urn, on sale at Nisbets:
IMG_0121 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Punching a hole for the steam to exit.
IMG_0138 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Grinding the tap hole into a circle.
IMG_0148 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
A 15mm x ½” elbow goes into the tap hole, with a back nut inside. The o-ring from the original tap sits between the flange and the vessel wall.
IMG_0177 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Hop filter, 10mm copper pipe, and a ‘street’ elbow which wedges into the back of the elbow with the help of some silicone tube:
IMG_0565 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
On the outside, a Topsflo TS5 pump and a Quick Disconnect:
IMG_0577 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Back inside, a PT100 probe for the mash. It seemed neater to go in through the base:
IMG_0562 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I wanted all the leads to be detachable, so added an XLR socket for the PT100:
IMG_0514 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
IMG_0570 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
… and a kettle socket for the power cable:
IMG_0517 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
… and banana sockets for the pump. Here it is with everything plugged in and ready to roll:
IMG_0528 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
The underside …
1) pre-tinkering:
IMG_0147 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
2) Post-tinkering, with the thermostat removed and PT100 added:
IMG_0521 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I tried and failed to find a right-sized saucepan for the malt-pipe, so had to make one from a sheet of stainless wrapped around a piece of plastic chopping board, secured with stainless screws and bolts. It’s what you might call a bit agricultural but it works:
IMG_0505 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
IMG_0541 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
IMG_0561 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
The finished Grainbaby slots into the existing five-gallon brewery, replacing the boiler (which you can see here relegated to the third division) and using the same chimney:
IMG_0592 (1) by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I mash at full-volume:
IMG_0532 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
During the mash, the element is switched by the PID/SSR combo which in the five-gallon brewery controls the HERMS system. I should probably reprogramme the PID but apart from an initial overshoot it keeps the temp fine as it is.
IMG_0610 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
During the boil, the chimney comes down…
IMG_0543 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
... and the Phase Angle Controller takes over:
IMG_0606 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
4.5 Amps for a nice rolling boil.
IMG_0582 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Mini-chiller:
IMG_0556 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
I made a Jamil-style whirlpool return, but I’m not sure it’ll work at this scale:
IMG_0550 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Before you know it, there’s a gallon of freshly-made wort put to bed in a £1.20 fermenter:
IMG_0555 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Verdict so far: It’s amazing how quick and easy this thing is! Even during the trial run I was twiddling my thumbs and wondering why I didn’t have more to do. The only downside so far is lousy efficiency — 54% yesterday — but I may be able to improve that. If not, it’s only a few pence of grain.
Yup, definitely pleased with my baby so far!
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Nice build!
And very shiny indeed.
And very shiny indeed.
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Wow, awesome
The controller especially looks 'steampunk'
Also I love the big copper pipe used for the steam extraction.
The controller especially looks 'steampunk'
Also I love the big copper pipe used for the steam extraction.
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Haha How did you engrave/mark the brass out of interest?
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
I designed it on my computer, printed it out with a laser printer, transferred the toner onto the brass, and etched it with ferric chloride.
Here's a thread I wrote about it. Unfortunately, thanks to F!$£***! photobucket, the pictures have disappeared, so it's of limited interest now.
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=76292&p=795367&hili ... ng#p795367
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Cheers, I've done PCB etching a long time ago, so that does make sense to me.
Pity about stupid photobucket though.
Pity about stupid photobucket though.
- Wonkydonkey
- Drunk as a Skunk
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Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
I don't mean to be a pooper on your build, (it looks very nice) but shouldn't you have a drip thingy on you steam pipe so the condensate don't run back into you kettle .?.?
But I'd be very happy to own it,,,show it off to everyone
Cheers
But I'd be very happy to own it,,,show it off to everyone
Cheers
To Busy To Add,
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- Telling imaginary friend stories
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Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Lurvely
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate
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Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Excellent build
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Actually, there are two. One’s in the box that allows the chimney to rise and fall. It’s the little pipe on the left.Wonkydonkey wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2017 8:09 pmI don't mean to be a pooper on your build, (it looks very nice) but shouldn't you have a drip thingy on you steam pipe so the condensate don't run back into you kettle .?.?
IMG_0620 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
The other is in the horizontal section between the two elbows. The short length of pipe connecting them has a V-shaped notch which catches and channels away the condensate. In the photo I’ve pulled them apart and angled it so you can see it. Usually the notch is at the bottom, and only the very tip of it is exposed.
IMG_0636 by Luke Vinten, on Flickr
Furthermore, the top of the boiler is cupped, and the hole in it is slightly smaller than the diameter of the chimney, so any condensate that makes it that far will pool in the lid.
Not that I’m complacent. A recent brew I did on my main system had an unpleasant taste to it, and I’m wondering if it’s because the condensate was returning to the boiler.
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
@WonkeydonkeyHogarth wrote: ↑Mon Aug 14, 2017 3:04 pmActually, there are two.Wonkydonkey wrote: ↑Sun Aug 13, 2017 8:09 pmI don't mean to be a pooper on your build, (it looks very nice) but shouldn't you have a drip thingy on you steam pipe so the condensate don't run back into you kettle .?.?
Get yer black plastic bag out, scoop it up and take it home
@Hogarth
Very, very nice.
I brew therefore I ... I .... forget
- Wonkydonkey
- Drunk as a Skunk
- Posts: 847
- Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:37 am
- Location: In the Stables
Re: Grainbaby Build -- pics! pics! pics!
Mr vacant, I was polite , you are a joker, if the build pics don't show it that well, I was just asking/pointing out.
Cheers
Cheers
To Busy To Add,