Kettle & Chiller

[Chris]

I'm on the lookout for a brew kettle and wort chiller and could use a bit of advice.

 

I brew from extract, and have never bothered boiling the wort with some good results and only ever one total write-off. However I have decided to start boiling up so will need a kettle and chiller.

 

Now I usually brew in batches of 20-25L. How big a kettle will I need? I've seen 35L ones available, would this be OK? 

 

I also plan to brew all-grain eventually (when the girlfriend thinks it's a good use of renovation funds) - would a 35L pot be OK for that too?

 

The ones I've seen do not have taps, I have thought about investing in a pump eventually so I would need to do that I guess.

 

The pots I've seen (35L stainless) are $150 from various homebrew shops. This seems like a fair bit, can anyone suggest a cheaper source or do I just have to suck it up and pay that?

 

Lastly, a wort chilller - I realise it's possible to make your own, but does anyone know where I can get a commercial one? Just want to compare prices.

 

[James P]

Yep, piece of cake to set up I made one of stainless from Anzor.

 

100 ml 1/4" threaded pipe (min order is 600mm IIRC)

2 x nuts

2 x silicon o-rings / washers (not from Anzor)

2 x washers

1 x 1/4" ball valve

1 x hose tail

 

[Chris]

Ah so you just made your own instead of buying a pre-assembled one. Good work, not thought of that (doh).

 

Did you use the high-temp o-rings?

 

How about a false bottom, any ideas for DIY construction there?

 

Many thanks

[Tilt]

You could cut high temp silicone washers out of a silicone baking tray - pretty cheap on sale from Briscoes or the Warehouse - and then you've got heaps to play with and can make them any size you want.

False bottom - there was a bloke (he goes by the name of Ironmaiden4 on Trademe) selling perforated stainless sheets in Auckland a couple of weeks back - a few of us went in together to buy some but he had more there when I picked a sheet up.

[Chris]

Thanks Tilt, good idea.

 

Pretty finely perforated I imagine? Could in theory do it myself with a drill press but there is a limit to my cheapness...