Thermometer and gas ring

[Ian]

Hi again, I guess newbies can pester more than most. Had a chat with Cuddons Engineering the other day and it seems that having them make up a ss receptacle for a brew kettle will be less expensive than getting a stock pot and modifying it. They can put in a ball valve when they make it - I guess a 3mm or even 5mm thick bottom should be enough to take the heat?
But what I really wondered was what you guys would recommend I get as an adequate gas ring and where you get them? I would want it to be hot enough to crank up the heat but also not to hot to sustain a comfortable boil.
I also wondered what most folk do to monitor temperature in the HLT - do you have the type of thermometer that has a stalk you can insert through the side of the HLT and have there permanently, or do you go for a digital type? Any comments will be helpful.
Many thanks,
Ian

[Ged]

Hi Ian

Would be keen to see and hear all about it once fabricated...Sounds ideal..From what I have read, many people get a 1/2 inch fitting welded ( or made) into the side and then buy the thermometers that have a 1/2 thread on the back of them. Bit of plumbers tape and it seems to work well once screwed into the side of your HLT.

[Ollie]

http://www.mashmaster.com.au/p/366871/bi-metal-thermometer.html

[Ian]

Thanks guys - that's helpful stuff. I see that mashmaster are out of stock just now of those thermometers Ollie, but that looks like just the thing and I have emailed them.
Cheers,
Ian

[Ollie]

http://morebeer.com/view_product/18690/102228/Thermometer_3_Face_x_...

[Ian]

Thanks Ollie, that thermometer looks perfect. Have you ordered stuff from Morebeer and has the freight been swift and reasonable?
Cheers,
Ian

[Ollie]

I have. As have many others on this forum and their service is outstanding. Perhaps may not be as cheap as the mashmaster one with the exchange rate as it is, but if you can't wait then they really are great thermometers - though being American, the farenheight scale is easier to read than the metric, which is not anti-parallax. I have one in my mash tun. Just get a hole drilled and hold it in place with nuts and washers.
The other thing to possibly check out for your HLT is this:
http://www.mashmaster.com.au/p/365733/mashmate-hot-liquor-mash-tun-...
If you are making your own HLT and bung an electric element in it, this will allow you to just set the temperature you want. Too easy.

[Horace]

I your interested I have a 4 ring burner that I no longer use, but it's probably not worth posting as freight would be pretty expensive. So collection/ delivery is probably the best option if your interested.

[Ian]

Many thanks Horace. Where are you - I live in Picton.
Ian

[Horace]

Tokoroa - will be heading through Picton in Feruary if you can hang on that long.