My Shiny Journey Begins..

[mr_spin]

after much thinking, head scratching and delays, today I finally decided to get a grip and order some shiny kit.

So, I've gone for a 50L thermobox and 2x70L pots for brewing the main batches, and a further 2x20L pots for smaller batches/experimenting from Nordic.

I haven't told my Mrs yet that there will be a pallet of shiny gear turning up next week whilst I'm away!

 

[Dunfie]

Well done that man :clap: Its a brave man indeed that can order so much shiney and then dissappear before it arrives. :lol:

I have the 50l thermobox and it retains the temperature wonderfully.

 

[mr_spin]

I've just told her - she gave me one of her funny looks!

Now the trawl for finding the parts/equipment for converting them begins...

I think I'm going the false bottom way for the tun but the main reason for the thermobox route was indeed reduction of heat loss = stable mashes.

 

[highwayman]

Great start Mr Spin :thumb: I look forward to seeing your brewery take shape :clap:

 

[mr_spin]

thanks - I'm not normally of a nervous disposition but watching 32litres of my hobgoblin clone boiling away in my crude plastic bucket really made me have a think about things the other week..

 

[mr_spin]

my business trip was cancelled so I was able to answer my door earlier to this small delivery:

Yum - that lot should keep me busy for a while...

super fast delivery from Nordic - ordered thurs and delivered today.

 

[highwayman]

The Shiney Show :clap: I guess you are going to be a busy boy:thumb:

 

[evanvine]

OMG MS!
You have now got an awful lot of members crying into their beers

 

[mr_spin]

goes well with the rangemaster shiny don't you think? :thumb: (well, not according to my Mrs..)

I should add that I am grateful for the conversion advice I've received on the kit. :thumb:

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

What a beautiful family you have Mr Spin... :thumb:

 

[Baz Chaz]

Phwoooooooooooaaaaarrrrr :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: almost seems a shame to start making holes in 'em :? but it'll be worth it :thumb:

 

[A T]

Me likes the shiney

 

[unclepumble]

The shiny looks mighty Finey :?

UP

 

[prolix]

That is an awesome way to start the week! :

 

[Tony]

Christ almighty!


I hate you!



(sorry)

 

[Vossy1]

Any progress reports mr_spin, or can't you bring yourself to start drilling :lol:

 

[Baz Chaz]

......... or can't you bring yourself to start drilling :lol:

that really would be my problem all that shiny needs careful handling ....... by someone who knows what they're doing :whistle:

 

[mr_spin]

Well I thought I'd post an update to this. I did mean to finish this within a matter of days from receiving the pots but new work abroad and family stuff meant I had to spread this out over a few months..

My new stainless brewery is now up and running... Here is my build process. Many thanks to those who helped with previous threads containing ideas/how to do's and PM's etc. Particularly John (Barnsley Brewer) who's own conversion inspired me to start my own process.

Mash Tun: 1x50L thermopot from Nordic fitted with a 15mm ball valve. Modified into a bottom outlet feed ala Vossey's excellent guide. About 700ml deadspace only. Splendid.

Here is the bottom feed:

not quite a clean cut - it was hard controlling the angle grinder at times and I work in IT and not engineering but I was determined to have a go anyway..

expanding foam to reinsulate the hacked bottom..

I purchased one of MuddyDisco's excellent false bottoms for my new tun. Some trial brews reveal very little grain escaping in the 1st litre or so and none after recirculating anyway.. Really great

 

[mr_spin]

The Hot Liquor Tank (HLT) build - 1x70L stock pot from Nordic with a 15mm compression gas/oil/water ball valve from Screwfix fitted with a drilled tank connector. 2x 2.4kw Tesco kettle elements.

http://www.screwfix.com/prods/80413/Plu ... Valve-15mm

The water pick up is based on a 15mm female compression elbow (screwfix part number 55471) into which I screwed a sawn down 15mm tank connector.

 

[mr_spin]

The Copper build - 1x70L stock pot from Nordic with a 15mm compression gas/oil/water ball valve from Screwfix fitted with a drilled-out tank connector. 2x 2.4kw Tesco kettle elements.

Inside the copper:

Syphon/tap arrangement:

copper lid modified for evaporation extraction ala John (Barnsley Brewer) modification..

Copper ventilation system - Wickes aluminium vent hose using a hole in the bottom of a stainless steel bowl:

Steam exit point on my shed :) No more dripping (and rotting!) condensation inside my shed.