Is this worth considering?

[Laner]

I’m considering an AIOB purchase before I’m binned off by work next month, money is tight (very) and wondered if this was a worthwhile machine to consider? Does the price look reasonable?

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31355054...lp:2332490&itmmeta=01JKBQ9SA6H7ZKRQTJBC1YTZF0

 

[Chippy_Tea]

before I’m binned off by work next month

If you are losing your job and money is tight why buy an AIO?

What are you currently using?

 

[Laner]

Have a 30ltr pan and a bag.. which was doable but not a great experience. Brewing gives me something to do on the days I can’t get to my allotment and pubs are out of bounds whilst on my treatment.

I hope to return to working once health allows

 

[obscure]

With the best will in the world this is not an all in one but a boiler with a thermostat, and grain basket. I have the 30L version of this but when we get right down to it this isn’t that much different from a 25L pan it just has a heating element and thermostat built in.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Brewing gives me something to do on the days I can’t get to my allotment and pubs are out of bounds whilst on my treatment.

Sorry i forgot you were having treatment when you said "Binned Off" i thought you were getting made redundant.

 

[Laner]

Sorry i forgot you were having treatment when you said "Binned Off" i thought you were getting made redundant.

No apology needed. Binned off is probably harsh on them as they have been great through all of this.

Anyway what about a grainfather S40, any thoughts?

 

[jof]

I’m considering an AIOB purchase before I’m binned off by work next month, money is tight (very) and wondered if this was a worthwhile machine to consider? Does the price look reasonable?

No. I picked up a new 35l one last Jan in the klarstein sale.

It's not as automated as an all in one, but a bit less faffing than BIAB. So fine of you like being hands on with you brewing.

I'm pleased with mine, but the height of the grain basket combined with me being a short arse means I have to use a rope & pulley to lift the grain bracket out.
Only other downside is that over winter brewing & storing in the shed has led to some condensation in the LCD screen.
I'm currently experimenting with a recirculation pump, but need to work out a more elegant way of spraying the wort back in at the top.

 

[obscure]

No. I picked up a new 35l one last Jan in the klarstein sale.

To add to this if you do go for this go for a 35L I have a 30L and it is just big enough for 20L batches but especially with higher gravity beers I have to cut the batch size down). It’s not enough of a problem to be worth upgrading but if I ever need a new one I would pay the extra £35 or so for the extra capacity.

 

[MashBag]

Are you better going preowned? More for your buck and nothing to Rachel from accounts?

 

[jof]

Are you better going preowned? More for your buck and nothing to Rachel from accounts?

Pre owned is an excellent choice, but I find it requires patience to wait for your desired item to be available at your price point and the stamina to keep checking/searching during that time.
It can be even worse on items that are collection only as you need to factor in fuel costs too.

A lot of people don't have that patience.

 

[Laner]

Thanks guys, looking at preowned as well.

What are your thoughts on the GF S40?

 

[GhostDoggyWoofWoof]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/31607314...6&customid=Dpe7dacjAAAAsuT7-zg6iRoF_jVeAAAAAA

A number of forum members have one of these (Inc me) and are happy with it for the price.

 

[Rwilts]

This seems like a good price ( no experience of the product and in London)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135508722466

 

[fluketamer]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256...kPaohOuU&utparam-url=scene:search|query_from:

do you guys have aliexpress

 

[Laner]

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807962338179.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.1ab654b3zpq8Ph&algo_pvid=fe6438e5-af48-4c85-8b32-e0344e143981&algo_exp_id=fe6438e5-af48-4c85-8b32-e0344e143981-0&pdp_ext_f={"order":"12","eval":"1"}&pdp_npi=4@dis!USD!336.77!158.28!!!2438.60!1146.14!@2103146c17388866921535787eb5bc!12000043995086597!sea!US!0!ABX&curPageLogUid=EQt5kPaohOuU&utparam-url=scene:search|query_from:

do you guys have aliexpress

Not available for delivery to UK

 

[Baldylocks Brewery]

Thanks guys, looking at preowned as well.

What are your thoughts on the GF S40?

Hi Laner,
I went from a 56l electric pot with sight glass and tap, to the GF S40 and now have a BZ G4.
I still have all three and have been meaning to sell the ones I'm not using.
The GF was decent enough to brew with as an AIO but the controller/internal probe isn't as good as some others as you will see in the forum threads.
SWMBO bought the BZ G4 after about a year of using the S40.
I'd offer to sell it to you but I'm in Kent and threw the box away so collection/shipping would be a pain to the land of the pies.
As the others have said there are some bargain used units pop up if you keep an eye out.

 

[Stu]

I've got one, although I'll probably move up to something else eventually.

But as an all-grain job, it's great and cheap, although as above, the 35 litre one was £148 this time last year - there are often codes hanging about (I can't remember what code I used).

I think it's unfair to call it simply a boiler. One of the downsides is that it doesn't have a pump, although you'll be looking at models twice the price (unless as above, you can find something secondhand). I don't find it difficult though to simply use a jug every now and then and rinse the mash.

I'm also lucky enough to have an Aldi urn and I simply set it to 70c to rinse at the end.

It does have a cooler, although you have to work out how to connect it to either a tap or in my case, a hosepipe.

I find it perfectly acceptable. It does take a bit of getting used to, but for the price, it's ace.

 

[jof]

I also have one, bought last year on the £150 offer.
I don't use the cooling coil as I favour no chill.
But I have a small cheap pump from Ali express & some silicone tubing to recirculate during the mash that I'm currently using.

I did wonder about doing the full @MashBag and fermenting in it as well, but I don't have a place to put it as I normally brew outside in the back garden. It would be exposed on the patio & I don't trust the handles to move it when full.