Rock Zigger
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2009
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
Anybody ever converted food grade blue plastic drums like the attached photo into a home brew rig?
Food Grade Plastic Drum
- Thread starter Rock Zigger
- Start date
Help Support The Homebrew Forum:
Vossy1
Landlord.
I asked this question a while ago to the forum and to an eBay seller. The forum's response was that it's not worth the risk of a major accident. The seller was very non-committal and only told me that one of her customers used one for boiling liquid. I'd go with the first.
If you do use one though, I would be keen to know how you get on with it. Though I'd recommend some safety precautions to ensure that no one would be injured in the event of a sudden breakage / total volume spillage.
If you do use one though, I would be keen to know how you get on with it. Though I'd recommend some safety precautions to ensure that no one would be injured in the event of a sudden breakage / total volume spillage.
I do know of someone who does this with with the 220L HDPE barrels . . . but they enclose the barrel in a wooden box insulated with spray foam to fill the gaps . . . this eliminates the problem of bulging/splitting under boiling conditions. . . . but introduces others . . . it works very well though
I have just looked on Wikipedia at the properties of HDPE and this is what it says
"HDPE has little branching, giving it stronger intermolecular forces and tensile strength than lower-density polyethylene. It is also harder and more opaque and can withstand somewhat higher temperatures (120 °C/ 248 °F for short periods, 110 °C /230 °F continuously)."
and as the boiling point of water is 100°C, should make a very good HLT, but possibly not a good brewing copper, any one know the temps reached during the boiling of the wort ?
"HDPE has little branching, giving it stronger intermolecular forces and tensile strength than lower-density polyethylene. It is also harder and more opaque and can withstand somewhat higher temperatures (120 °C/ 248 °F for short periods, 110 °C /230 °F continuously)."
and as the boiling point of water is 100°C, should make a very good HLT, but possibly not a good brewing copper, any one know the temps reached during the boiling of the wort ?
jamesb
Landlord.
hopin mad said:
It's around 102 degC
Brewberoza
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2013
- Messages
- 186
- Reaction score
- 14
hopin mad said:
So have you tried this yet and what are the results?
Runwell-Steve
Landlord.
I have had a plastic boiler split and distribute 25 litres of boiling wort in my general direction. I was lucky I was not closer to it. It wasn't one of these blue barrels but a commercially bought homebrew boiler. I would not ever use plastic again for a boiler. I don't believe it is a risk worth talking.
31bb3
Landlord.
Steve was it bought from a hb shop just outside brum
Runwell-Steve
Landlord.
31bb3 said:
No it wasn't that one. I had that one from H B and it was quite solid. It was a friends one that split, I was showing him how to brew. It was made by ritchies.
31bb3
Landlord.
I get you not a good intro for your friendRunwell-Steve said:
graysalchemy
Active Member
- Joined
- Apr 15, 2010
- Messages
- 53
- Reaction score
- 19
Brewberoza said:
To answer your question i have been using them for boilers for the past three years no problems at all, though the plastic does get a bit soft near to the elements, though I ususally get the wort up to boil then alternate the elements only using one at a time. :thumb:
Asalpaws
Landlord.
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2012
- Messages
- 729
- Reaction score
- 0
I also use the 45 L "chutney" barrels for HLT and Boiler for over a year with no problems. The do become more flexible when hot though and I've heard of them developing splits after prolonged use. However they seem tougher than other commercial one I previously used. I guess your using them for a purpose they were never intended for so it's up to you if your prepared to accept that risk. One day I will go shiny! T
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2011
- Messages
- 4,116
- Reaction score
- 984
i used a hdpe mango barrel boiler for over 3 years befor upgrading to a bigger 100l boil pot.
the plastic will soften with boil temps, and it will settle on its base with the hot volume so if u fit a sight galss wait to calibrate it til its settled. also the mouth will oval a bit i cut the centre out of my lid and used that to suppotr a circular mouth.
tap-sag.. a front heavy tap can sag when the plastic softens with boil heat too..
depends on the h/w u select but at the end of the day it may not be that much more proportionally to go for a big ss pot fom the start, tooling up for hole cutting can increase the cost tho.
the plastic will soften with boil temps, and it will settle on its base with the hot volume so if u fit a sight galss wait to calibrate it til its settled. also the mouth will oval a bit i cut the centre out of my lid and used that to suppotr a circular mouth.
tap-sag.. a front heavy tap can sag when the plastic softens with boil heat too..
depends on the h/w u select but at the end of the day it may not be that much more proportionally to go for a big ss pot fom the start, tooling up for hole cutting can increase the cost tho.
