Gasssss

[Intelekt]

I'm thinking my kitchen stove isn't powerful enough for a 50 litre pot

Any pointers on using propane? I've never used it before (used methanol and paraffin stoves) but not propane gas cylinders :electric:

I have no idea where you get them from, how you use them, regulators? Prices of the cylinders? What's the best place to get gas? What size to get? How long it lasts? Is it cheap?

Sorry for all the questions
But if anyone knows you good lot will :wink:

 

[knthrak1982]

I can't answer all of your questions as I've never used propane for brewing.

However, any hardware store that sells gas barbecues should sell the bottles and accessories. I think you're looking at about £60 for 10kg full bottle initially but usually they replace an empty bottle for a full one, so you only pay for the gas, not the bottle. Homebase is one such store that offers this.

 

[fbsf]

Yup, the gas bottles are around £65-70 full (although if you are crafty, pick up an empty one off ebay for £10-15 and get it refilled for £30).

You'll need a gas burner (7.5KW upwards really - something like this), along with gas hose and regulator (like this).

So, you've just spent at least £120. Do you need to do 50L Brews? If a standard 23L brew is what you are after, how about something like this? It's what I use and does the job lovely, and is less than £70 delivered.

 

[Intelekt]

Thanks guys :party:

As a rule of thumb, how much burn or boil time do you get per kilo of gas?

I was looking at go outdoors for gas but suspect they may be EXPENSIVE!

 

[graysalchemy]

Tesco kettle elements a fiver :grin: :grin:

But you will need two and you will also need a qmax cutter to cut the holes.

:thumb:

 

[bobsbeer]

Try scrap yards for gas bottles. You can often get them for free or a couple of quid. Any size Calor Gas will do, then change to a propane one. You will need a propane burner which cost about £25 and a regulator to fit your.cylinder. They only cost about £5. Then off you go. But don't try to set this up inside. Whereas a couple of elements cost about £10-15 from kettles and the cost of the qmax cutter and they vary. I use elements.

 

[Moley]

I don't like fbsf's prices.

I bought one of these gas burners (although currently showing as out of stock) plus a 50 mbar regulator and a couple of metres of gas hose, so that's around £30 plus carriage.

You should be able to pick up an empty gas bottle for nothing on freecycle or similar, or ask nicely at your local tip.

A 13kg Calor Gas propane refill is around £25.

For a 40 litre, 90 minute boil I think I used around 1.5kg, so that's around two quid a brew.

 

[musher]

What's the difference between propane and butane?

 

[Moley]

Not a lot, unless you're brewing in the middle of winter - butane freezes, propane doesn't.

But make sure you've got the right regulator for whichever gas you're using.

 

[StrangeBrew]

I'm thinking my kitchen stove isn't powerful enough for a 50 litre pot

I use a 50L pot and have no problem on a normal gas stove getting a rolling boil... I use 2 burners to get it up to temp and then just 1 to keep it going...

:

 

[Intelekt]

I'm thinking my kitchen stove isn't powerful enough for a 50 litre pot

I use a 50L pot and have no problem on a normal gas stove getting a rolling boil... I use 2 burners to get it up to temp and then just 1 to keep it going...

:

My stove is a cannon so should be good enough :hmm:
How long does it take for you to get it to the boil and do you leave the lid on?

My pot only just gets on two burners with them lapping up the sides :hmm:

 

[Moley]

Until this year I have brewed in the kitchen where my 50L pot covered 2 burners on our range-type stove.

It took a LONG time to get up to a rolling boil, with both turned up full.

Wife and daughter moaned about the steam and the "stink" of the hops - I don't get that bit, I like the smell.

Propane burner get up to the boil in a fraction of the time.