DIY Neoprene boiler / FV / Corny Jackets

[conorm]

I was going to purchase a grain coat for my grainfather, but at £50 I thought there must be a more cost effective way of doing it. I currently just use a big old yellow site jacket!

And I thought it would be handy to have one for my FVs, and also my cornies as they are outside this time of year. So I thought about making a set of wetsuit type affairs from 1m sheets of the stuff. Neoprene seems to be a common material for this type of application and has the right chemical and physical properties, and is dead cheap.

TL;DR

Anybody done this before using neoprene or similar? Is it enough to glue/ bond the material, maybe with a overlap/ extra strip?

 

[Clint]

Some get the yoga mats or whatever they are from Aldi when on offer.

 

[James]

Many years ago I purchased neoprene sheets from Lomo and used self adhesive Velcro as the closure. Very simple wrap around the outside.
For the bottom I used a sheet of closed cell foam (packaging) for the FV to stand on.
Then I moved to brewbucket and a brew fridge.

 

[Polcho]

This is what I did with a yoga mat, £4 in TK Max.

It's the fermentor, but same sort of thing.

 

[MashBag]

For overnight stuff I also use a black sleeping bag. Fits a treat.

Some adhesive velcro on it too.

£5 off ebay.

 

[Rodcx500z]

Proper Heath Robison here

 

[Laner]

Check local charity shops for SoftShell jackets, £1 and the FV is covered.

 

[Clint]

My current fv jacket is the pure wool insulation that came wrapped round my dogs insulin.

 

[Laner]

My current fv jacket is the pure wool insulation that came wrapped round my dogs insulin.

I use a jacket as I can then run any heater cables etc up the sleeves, and use the zip as an extra temp control.

 

[SMP Brewery]

I use aluminium double sided bubble wrap for one of mine.

 

[Agentgonzo]

I looked at making a home made version a couple of years ago, but then Santa brought me a graincoat.

In short, whether you buy or make your own, if you can afford the time/money a jacket is well worth the outfits the effort. No more accidentally burning yourself on the hot metal, and you can reduce the power too.

 

[conorm]

Thanks everyone, great suggestions. I've just realised I've a load of 50mm foil backed mineral wool insulation left over from our house build. I can double it up and tape the edges and that will be perfect for the FVs and even the cornies.

 

[MashBag]

I use a jacket as I can then run any heater cables etc up the sleeves, and use the zip as an extra temp control.

All you need is a Halloween mask in the hood, and nobody would go near it either.

 

[RichK]

I made one from a camping mat

 

[Stu]

I use aluminium double sided bubble wrap for one of mine.

I did the same as this.

I bought some of this:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/superfoil-insulation-600mm-x-5m-radiator-heat-reflector-foil/449fe

And there was enough to do not only my all-in-one, but enough over to not only do a full cover for the fermzilla, but a regular FV bucket as well!

I bought some heat resistant double sided sticky pads. Even when boiling, they haven't come off.

 

[Cwrw666]

I stopped using a fixed in place camping mat insulater on my boiler as it made the boil too fierce. So for the mash I just wrap it with a light blanket then chuck a body warmer over it. Rarely get a drop in temperature of more than 1 or 2 degrees.

 

[conorm]

Hi. Update on this.

I ordered a sheet of 6mm wetsuit neoprene from eBay, along with a 50cm zip.

I started by cutting an old bit of carpet to the height and circumference of the grainfather.

After stripping the grainfather of the PDI and cables, I started by taping one end of the carpet to the grainfather.

As I pulled it round, I used marker pen for the bits I'd need to cut. I'd then make the cuts, on section at a time, and continue wrapping the carpet. I'd remove the carpet for the more complex cuts, e.g. PID bracket and pump riser, and double check markings.


Finally, I'd finish the cuts, fit and tape on, and add any corrections with the pen plus so changes and notes.



I simply then flipped the carpet over and traced the cuts on to the neoprene. I glued on the zip for the main join, and a couple velcro straps for the cut behind the pump riser. Used evostick impact adhesive as I had it laying around... Would not recommend for this, too floppy and messy.

Overall, pretty happy with the result. Blue because it was cheap.

 

[DocAnna]

Looking good! I did something very similar for my Klarstein too, though wasn't clever enough to use a zipper which your's looks particularly smart with. I used double sided carpet tape to secure the cut edge. I used wallpaper to make a template: https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/diy-neoprene-brew-kettle-cover.99351/post-1149221

 

[Deadhead]

Looks the business!

 

[Clint]

Hi. Update on this.

I ordered a sheet of 6mm wetsuit neoprene from eBay, along with a 50cm zip.

I started by cutting an old bit of carpet to the height and circumference of the grainfather.

After stripping the grainfather of the PDI and cables, I started by taping one end of the carpet to the grainfather.

As I pulled it round, I used marker pen for the bits I'd need to cut. I'd then make the cuts, on section at a time, and continue wrapping the carpet. I'd remove the carpet for the more complex cuts, e.g. PID bracket and pump riser, and double check markings.
View attachment 107916

Finally, I'd finish the cuts, fit and tape on, and add any corrections with the pen plus so changes and notes.

View attachment 107917

I simply then flipped the carpet over and traced the cuts on to the neoprene. I glued on the zip for the main join, and a couple velcro straps for the cut behind the pump riser. Used evostick impact adhesive as I had it laying around... Would not recommend for this, too floppy and messy.

Overall, pretty happy with the result. Blue because it was cheap.

View attachment 107918View attachment 107919

It's the Pamela Anderson of brew kettles!