Intermediate brewing

[QED]

2. pour contents of fv into boiler and switch on both boiler elements.

I've carried out a few searches on the site and it appears that some people are using tea urns as boilers - swan, burco, cygnet etc.

I have the opportunity of buying a 25l Cygnet for a few quid and was wondering if that was a good move? Just now I use a big 11ltr stock pot however the urn does seem a good option. My concern is about it actually reaching boiling point?

Any thoughts?

PS. Thanks for the step by step guides :thumb:

 

[Aleman]

If it does not reach boiling it is a relatively minor tweak to ensure that it will do so. Best practice says to boil down to your final volume. It improves all sorts of things in the brewing chemistry, and boiling 20L and making it up to 23L will make bettter beer than boiling 11L and making the same volume.

If you can get the cygnet for a good price go for it.

 

[prolix]

as aleman says boiling down to full volume is better than topping but to boil down to 23 litres I would boil about 28L evaporation and losses to dead space so would want a boiler at least 35l to avoid boil overs.

I used a 25L bucket and that regularly boiled over so went 33L for 20L brews and now use a 70L for 40L brews

thats why I suggested 18l boil to avoid boil overs in a 25ish L boiler. with the cygnet you will have to add water at the end to make up the volume or risk boil overs. If it is cheap then go for it if no then wait or make one.

 

[QED]

prolix,
At present I brew 5USG at a time (19 ltrs) therefore with your recommendations, the 25l should be fine for 19l. (i know you said 18 but we're in the ballpark)

Thanks

 

[richardagutteridge]

: What is the minor tweak Aleman as I also have the chance for one of these.

Regards Richard

 

[prolix]

remove the thermal cut out that turns the element off as you want a full boil and not 95%

 

[Aleman]

There is a thread in brewing equipment with pictures that shows how to modify the Burco/Cygnet urns. Unfortunately the important image has gone missing :evil: perhaps Dave (corby_brewer) could post a piccy of his . . . I knew I should have copied the pic to my website

 

[Aleman]

prolix,
At present I brew 5USG at a time (19 ltrs) therefore with your recommendations, the 25l should be fine for 19l. (i know you said 18 but we're in the ballpark)

If you want to brew bigger brew lengths in the future, it is possible to top up with treated boiling water from a kettle towards the end of the boil, when a boil over is much less likely

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Then I guess because he is a published author his techniques must be absolutely perfect. :hmm:
Despite the variable quality of information on the internet . . . new brewers are much more advised to look on the internet rather than use TNCJOHB or even John Palmers How to Brew, Forums like this one, UK Homebrew, and JBK are doing a lot to try and bring knowledge levels up to a point where you can look at books and at least question the techniques

I agree Aleman, some of the info in various/different books is often contradicting and very confusing.
The first brew book I read was the great Dave Line's, "How To Brew Beers Like Those You Buy" but looking back now his recipes are very hard to achieve and didn't often taste how they were supposed too, Guinness is an exception, that was very good!
I learnt more from the owner of an homebrew shop in Wakefield who'd built his own brewery "Fernandez", he taught me loads
But I have to give more credit to people on here and Jim's, especially Aleman and Chris-x on the other site. :thumb:

BB

 

[corby_brewer]

There is a thread in brewing equipment with pictures that shows how to modify the Burco/Cygnet urns. Unfortunately the important image has gone missing :evil: perhaps Dave (corby_brewer) could post a piccy of his . . . I knew I should have copied the pic to my website

When i get home from work ill post a picture.
But as Aleman says in the original post, all you have to do is -
Disconnect both ends of the grey wire that runs from the upper element connection to the back of the thermostat - and discarding this wire
Disconnect the end of the blue wire at the back of the thermostat and reconnecting it to the now vacant upper connection of the element

 

[QED]

I have the opportunity of buying a 25l Cygnet for a few quid and was wondering if that was a good move?

turns out that it wasn't a 25ltr it was an 18ltr however for £10 at 6 months old I couldn't turn it down. It's still bigger than my stock pot....and cheaper too!
Bit of limescale that I am dealing with just now with good old vinegar. Should come up a treat.