Suitable HLT Vessle

[Rich747]

Any recommendations (possibly a link?)

Doesn't need a tap as going to do some modifications.

Ta!

 

[evanvine]

30 ltr bucket + Asda/Tesco kettle element!

 

[Rich747]

Erm, thanks. Realised that but wanted 'bucket' recommendation as dont think all will stand high temperatures.

Cheers.

 

[graysalchemy]

I use the blue food grade barrels you sometimes see on ebay. like this. They are food grade and are quite thick about 3mm and easily withstand water being boiled. However some people say you shouldn't use plastic as the temp around the kettle ellement may be higher than 100c. Having said all that I have used mine for about 15-20 brews and they are fine no problem.

Mine are 60L i use one for HLT one for kettle and one for the mash Tun, I also have 3 for fermentors. You can also get the smaller 30L ones which you find have had mango chutney in them so perhaps a visit to the local curry house. :whistle: :whistle:

Hope that helps.

 

[Baldbrewer]

+1 on Grey's set up.
I've built the same set up 1x HLT 1x copper.
Insulated with YSL superquilt multifoil insulation.
:thumb:

 

[alanywiseman.]

You can also get the smaller 30L ones which you find have had mango chutney in them so perhaps a visit to the local curry house. :whistle: :whistle:

I have one of said ex-mango chutney barrel that I am planning on turning into a boiler. I have searched the barrel and can not find the trangle witht he number to tell me what plastic it is made out of. Are they HDPE or PP?

The only symbol present it is a 1 and a 2 with a arrow pointing up inbetween them (I will try and post a pic later)

 

[graysalchemy]

Mine I think are HDPE but mine are the 60l ones.

 

[Fil]

HDPE can go soft at high temps, i use a hdpe 45l mango barrel as a boiler fitted with 2 kettle elements.. at boiling temps the plastic softens to the point the container can settle on its base a bit and if the top is unsupported the mouth can oval a bit.. also fittings such as valves can need supporting when used, the first time i tried to open the slightly stiff lever ball valve i fitted to my boiler when the water inside was HOT the valve didnt opperate but bend to the side as i tried to open it. and after a few uses heavy unbalanced/unsupported valve arrangements may start to sag in place slightly..

you can see the slight sag in the tap even tho its balanced with an internal syphon and hop filter, the lid helps maintain a circular mouth.

PP is a better material as it doesent go as soft, and the copperkettle online brewshp sell 67l PP buckets suitable for boiler/hlt use..

http://www.copperkettlehomebrewing.co.u ... pp-buckets

 

[evanvine]

HDPE can go soft at high temps

Damn me, that's a new can of worms!

 

[Rich747]

Thanks for the replies - I will probably avoid the 'blue' route.

I've lost the thread where someone posted a link to a 30-40 sturdy plastic bucket, suitable for a couple of kettle elements for my HLT.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[bobsbeer]

I got a plastic bucket from the The Home Brew Shop. I have the 33lt one but they also do a 60lt. Both state they are suitable to be made into boilers. HERE. Mine works fine and doesn't deform or appear to soft when full of boiling wort.

 

[calumscott]

Those German peeps could do you some shiny for not much more!

I was quoted 35.90 euro for a 50l pot. That's about 30 quid. Delivery is about £7 for a single.

The 70l that I bought was 41.90 Euro. About £35.

You shouldn't get any flacid pipework with one of them!

 

[Rich747]

German peeps?

Any clues??

Ta!

 

[calumscott]

http://www.ebay.de/sch/catering-portal/ ... m=&_ipg=25

Contact them direct and they'll do you a deal. :thumb:

I got a 70l pot and a 50l thermo delivered for £107...

 

[LeedsBrewer]

Rich747 - I thought you had decided to go for a 40L Buffalo boiler?

I'm saving up in preperation for going AG and am doing research as to the best equipment to get. I don't have lots of money but dont want the cheap DIY plastic buckets either. I'm thinking, for a HLT, of either a 50L electric boiler from thebrewshop (£200 is a bit pricey though) or buying a 50L pot from themaltmiller and converting it myself (though i'm a bit worried I might mess it up!) a 45L cool box Mash Tun and another 50L boiler or converted pot for my Copper.

It'll probably be another couple of years before I can afford to convert to AG though. :cry:

 

[calumscott]

Converting the pot is the expensive bit!!

My 70l pot was about £40 delivered. To fully convert to a boiler the way I want it is going to be another c. £50.

Then gas bottle, burner, reg and hose will be another 90 quid...

Building a counterflow wort chiller: c. 70 quid

Add another 25 quid for general pluming bits and bobs and there goes an estimated £270!

Then another hundred an odd for the mashtun.

And another hundred or so for general plumbing bits and pumps...

So at £470 I'm really quite pleased that I picked up a burco for nowt from freecycle for my HLT!

But then we get into the fermentation environment, arduino controllers, raspberry Pi data logging, SSRs, probes, heaters, solendoid valves and coolant pumps and it all gets just a bit silly...

But fun!

 

[Rich747]

Rich747 - I thought you had decided to go for a 40L Buffalo boiler?

Yup, for the boiler but not HLT

 

[LeedsBrewer]

I have looked at the burco boilers and like them. Don't know how much work you need to do to swap the taps or add filters etc. Might go down that route though if it's working out cheaper.

 

[beermaker]

If its just for a hlt rather than a boiler then hdpe or pp should be fine. I usually sparge at about 75C - my hlt is just an old fermenting bin with a tank boss and lever ball valve and i've had no probs from it in 12 years! It doesn't have a heater - I heat my sparge liquor in the copper whilst mashing and then pump it up to the hlt.

Wassail!
Phil