Make do and mend ok these days or is it me just being tight?

[chassyp]

Further to my last post .....Thanks everyone. Great help!

In my impatience I have now got a tin on the go. At least I could get some sleep last night! This morning I have since been into my home brew shop and inhaled some dry ingredients and needless to say bursting to get a grain brew on the go. The array of equipment boilers/ strainers /coolers etc etc all with ££££££ signs made me gasp!

For most all I could see was things that boil, strain, and cool mash etc. Am I daft or can I not get the same results using a muslin bag my massive curry pan on my cooker?? I know its nice to have all the gear but surely a bit of innovation and make do and mend adds to the satisfaction of the result. When I used to brew many moons ago I cant remember a cool box with a tap and bit of copper pipe in it being essential! Let alone justify fifty notes! I know I could make one but 50quid!!! I notice home made devices such as boilers being made from dismantled kettles being made, now that more like it I say!
Boiling and sparging with a muslin bag was how I used to do it or is my memory blurred with age and ale??
Thanks for any constructive criticism.
:

 

[Springer]

Welcome to the Forum Chas, lots of top rate information here, not from me mind . :lol:

Never used the bag method but if it worked for you then it will work for you now. :) I think with a mash tun you will get more repeatable brews, don't know about "better", but I expect so. :?

surely a bit of innovation and make do and mend adds to the satisfaction of the result

There are a full range of opinions here, from make if you can, to buy it if its available out there, each to there own but for me, bit like this then :lol:

A homemade mash tun is cheap and easy to put together, lots of posts, do a search if you think you want / need one. Nothing wrong with a pan and cooker, .........apart form all the steam
Top boiler was out of a skip, with an element fitted, did buy the plastic one, but was younger, naive and inexperienced then . The lagging to the boiler is a multi purpose item. :lol:

Happy brewing

 

[paulpj26]

If you are the practical type then go for it :thumb: I'm very envious of people who are :mrgreen: so unfortunately I have to fork out for my equipment. :

 

[Baz Chaz]

If you are the practical type then go for it :thumb: I'm very envious of people who are :mrgreen: so unfortunately I have to fork out for my equipment. :

I agree with Paul on that one, anyone who is good with their mitts, has the tools and enjoys DIY there must be a shedload of fun there just making your own brewery :thumb:

 

[chassyp]

:thumb: Thanks for the welcome springer. Great picky by the way.
I don’t want to sound like an old moaning git, however in the black and white days we never had so much gear to hand!! I certainly never noticed a fifty quid cool box being a necessary item of brewing! Yea I think im gonna stick to my old ways of using the wifes tights for my hops and a muslin bag for the grains! As you say it worked then! I did actually get wrapped up in the excitement of it all today and paid £14 for a bucket with ltrs and gallons written on the side. What was I thinking I could just have easily measured and marked a bucket myself!! Don’t get me wrong my life is not all about being as tight as a ducks bum its about common sense. I feel happier now someone agrees with me as I really thought I was missing sommet! I don’t think it’s a case of being practical really as much as using what is at hand! Ive never made anything for my home brewing in the past as such, more like innovation. I really feel that its been made far more complicated than its needs be. I guess its down to the marketing guys eh? I suppose if people are happy using the gear available fair enough.

Innovations the future I feel, where are those tights??
Thanks again. Ooooh I can smell my brew creeping down the stairs mmmmmmm!!! Roll on eh? :

 

[Aleman]

Benefit of having equipment made to do the job rather than bodged is that it takes all the worry strain and time out of the job, and just makes life easier

 

[Springer]

No problem.
There are usually several way of achieving a result.
:drink:

than bodged is that it takes all the worry strain and time out of the job

Quite right A, with that set up, I could only brew when the Safety Office was not around. :lol:

I have improved things since it was taken.

 

[oz11]

Have a look at the Australian BIAB forum (Brew in a bag). Briefly you do without a mash tun and pop everything into a boiler/stockpot.

The method has both fans and detractors.

http://www.biabrewer.info/index.php