Wort Chiller

[Vincent]

I'm using a 30L kettle, what size (length/diameter) should I be looking for? 

Plan A. Is there somewhere in New Zealand that I could buy one?

Plan B. Do I source some copper pipe and have a go at making one myself ?

Plan C. Ebay, can anyone recommend a seller?

Any help/info appreciated. 

Cheers, 

Vincent

[jt]

If you're buying copper, look for listings from brass123 on trademe, seems to be the accepted best buy around
From there, either bend it yourself or look for someone with talent.

Cheers, jt

[Vincent]

Cheers Jt. 

I did a search on his name and found his email, have flicked him an email. 

[Karl Hayes]

Hi. I have the following lengths of air conditioning insulated pair copper (see photo for sample):

20Mts of 3/8" OD and 1/4" OD Tube - $172

8.5Mts (approx) of 5/8" OD and 3/8" OD tube - $100
5.75Mts (approx) of 5/8" OD and 3/8" OD tube - $80
3.5Mts (approx) of 5/8" OD and 3/8" OD tube - $40
5Mts (approx) of 5/8" OD and 1/4" OD tube - $65
15.5Mts (approx) of 1/2" OD and 1/4" OD tube - $140
3.3Mts (approx) of 1/2" OD and 1/4" OD tube - $30
8Mts (approx) of 3/8" OD and 1/4" OD tube - $80
8Mts (approx) of 3/8" OD and 1/4" OD tube - $80
5Mts (approx) of 3/8" OD and 1/4" OD tube - $50
4.5Mts (approx) of 3/8" OD and 1/4" OD tube - $40

If you only want one size, I'll split it for you. The insulation peels off - perfect for wort chillers.

If you want a counterflow chiller, have a look at the fittings here which suit 3/8" tubing and 18mm ID Nylon tube.

[Vincent]

Thanks for your reply.  I ordered a 15m coil from Brassman yesterday. 

May need some more in the near future though.  

Cheers. 

[Sam]

Hi Vincent,

Where are you located? If you don't want to make one I'm going to sell my immersion chiller (1/2" 15m) at some stage as I want to try a different design. 

Making your own one is more satisfying though, and you can make it just how you want it

[Vincent]

Hi Sam, 

Rangitikei region. I have ordered a coil of copper pipe, I'll hopefully get it next week.  I want to have a go at building my own, appreciate the offer though. 

Will let you know if I cock it up. 

Cheers. 

[Sam]

Their pretty easy to build so you should be fine, also you can get bending springs for about $10 maybe cheaper if your worried about kinking the pipe

[Liam Callaghan]

Yeah they can be easy to kink and mishape at the end you want to if your hosing so be aware of that.  Also leave a long enough tail from the bend to hang outside of your pot, the hose connections often leak and you dont want that water dripping into your sterilised wort - not if you can help it amyway.

Pipe springs or pipe benders are a great investment for the home brewer I reckon.  Cheap as chips to buy and your stuff looks pro!

Yours anyway, mine looks home made :p

[Vincent]

Where would I purchase a pipe spring from? plumbers? Cheers. 

[Chris Scott]

Hey Vincent,

Hope it's all going well for you. You've got a couple of good engineers where you are, who are handy at putting brewing equipment together... or fixing stuff ups =D

Regards

[Vincent]

Hey Chris, 

Things are great, pretty much got the hang of it, actually just got home from locking up. Hope things are going well for you. 

Yeah, I've got a few ideas I would like to put to them to see what they suggest. 

Cheers. 

[Peter Smith]

I  got the 1/2 inch job off trademe, its a full 15m one and in my kettle on a 23 batch the top 3 coils are in air but all under for a 46L boil, i go from boiling to 28 degress in 30 mins with a lowish flow rate, I could pump 4 times the flow through with my tap pressure in AKL.     it was $160 , best thing i have got off trademe in a long time, i am sure i could have made it etc saving $80 but time is money...   I would think that the smalled diameter copper would not be as effiecient as there is simply less contact area...    you have to "stir"   the wort to cool this fast.    you can feel the change in temp on the exit hose as you stir up

 

And i have a set of plumbers 1/2 pipe bends if anyone wants to borrow them, bottle of best brew happy accepted for the rental