Building a brewing tree

[andybrock]

Hi,

I'm considering building a 3 tier gravity brewing tree dohicky.

I'm currently using plastic tubs and kettle elements.

A friend who is a publican can kindly liberate two or three stainless steel 11gal kegs.

That I was going to make into a HLT, Mash Tun and Boiler.

Then probably reuse the Mash Tun as a fermenter.

I've seen a couple of photos of other people setups.

Anyone got any guides on building/convering ss kegs and any resources on building a brewing tree?

I can borrow an arc welder to assemble but also considering slotted steel/dexion.

Andy

[tribs]

I think you are talking about a Brewing Sculpture which is an american concept. I doubt you'd find much help here. It sounds like a lot of work and space compared to a typical UK homebrew setup.

Most brewers on this forum use a converted coolbox or bucket in bucket type mash tun and either a burco type boiler or a heavy duty plastic bucket fitted with kettle elements like yourself.

For help with Brew sculptures I'd check out http://forum.northernbrewer.com/index.php and http://www.brewboard.com/ over the pond.

[Western Brewer]

Hi,
Guess you mean this kind of http://just-brew-it.com/ only this one is pumped. I thought about one but decided it was to much effort

[andybrock]

Thanks for the links.

I've seen a photo of someone (UK) on the UK Homebrew smartgroups forum/list.

http://www.smartgroups.com/pictures/ope ... D=35380538

You need to be a member to view I think.

As for the Kegs, Well I was planning on using a propane ring and heating the keg, yes.

I'm currently using coolbox/buckets, just musing on a way forward.

Thanks for the replies.

Andy

[eskimobob]

I guess these sort of systems should tidy up the whole process rather than having a messy collection of bits and bobs.

This image is interesting:


I wonder if I could knock up something similar using my Burco, Coolbox Mashtun, Brupaks boiler and home made CFC. I guess I'm just thinking of making the stand to hang it all from....

[Frothy]

I recently got a 50L stainless keg fabricated into a boil kettle. Fortunately the keg cost me £0 because we've had it knocking around for at least 20 years and the fabrication cost £100 at a local metal fabricator including fittings. I had a hunt around until I found one who was into dairy fabrication and knew what he was talking about with regards to polishing the weld on the inside of the pot etc. to make it sanitary.

I'm personally hoping to go HERMS using a burco boiler as a heat exchanger and using a £12.50 washing machine pump to recirculate the wort. Thats a way off at the moment though as I'm still such a noob.

Matt
P.S. The burner is an 8.5kwatt propane burner I got for £35 on Ebay and I made the stand myself from angle iron.

http://www.willmottw.fsnet.co.uk/ebay/DSC03144.JPG
http://www.willmottw.fsnet.co.uk/ebay/DSC03143.JPG
http://www.willmottw.fsnet.co.uk/ebay/DSC03142.JPG

[andybrock]

Yep, that's the biscuit.

That's what I'm thinking of anyway. SWMBO might even go for it on the grounds it might actually keep the mess minimised to one area. And streamline the process a bit.

It also probably lends itself to possibly going to a RIMS setup if I'm feeling geeky enough.

[andybrock]

Jeez,

£100 on fabrication.

I was thinking more of drilling holes and threaded steel, nuts and washers.

Disassamble and boil for sterilisation.

I'm trying to keep costs to a minimum, but don't mind spending some obviously.

Hop and Grape, and probably others, do steel vessels/fermenters etc. Their SS 50L vessel is only £112

Andy

[tribs]

I think it worth mentioning that those propane burners are only suitable for outdoor use.

[eskimobob]

If I was going to make a setup like in the photo, I think I would avoid the propane burners and fit kettle elements instead. The wiring could be neatly attached to the central stand and I could even fit a thermostat to set the desired temperature of the HLT...

[Frothy]

QUOTE (andybrock @ Aug 17 2006, 01:31 PM) Jeez,

£100 on fabrication.

I was thinking more of drilling holes and threaded steel, nuts and washers.

Disassamble and boil for sterilisation.

I'm trying to keep costs to a minimum, but don't mind spending some obviously.

Hop and Grape, and probably others, do steel vessels/fermenters etc. Their SS 50L vessel is only £112

Andy
Yeah they're vessels do look good & come with a tap. The ball valve I had fitted is most of the cost as its a 3piece stainless (~£40) - obv' if your just doing beer you don't need everything to be stainless. I picked up some 1/2" ball valves at the weekend for £1.50 each and they're chrome plated brass.

Matt