Pot size for BIAB

[Patrick]

Hi everyone, I have been lurking for a while on this site so I though I'd better create an account and get posting!

I returned fairly recently from 4 years living in the UK, doing a lot of travelling around the UK and Europe and drinking lots of different beers and I am now trying to get set up for home brewing. Money is tight so I am gradually getting the equipment together for BIAB. I have a 41L aluminuim pot and I am wondering if I will be able to do 23L batches without over-filling the pot. How do I work out how much water to use at the start, and is there a formula for how much water the grain displaces?

Also, I am looking for copper pipe on Trademe and I have seen some 15m rolls of 12.7mmOD pipe, is this a good size for an immersion chiller?

For the thermometer, should I go for a digital one or just one of those long metal ones that are used in the food industry?

Finally, what is the cheapest way to get a fermenter? Can I just get a 30L food-safe bucket with a lid and add my own airlock etc? Or will it not work out much cheaper than buying one that already has all the accesories?

I already have 3 dozen swappa crate bottles so I will be looking for a capper soon as well.

Sorry for all the questions - hopefully I will eventually learn enough to srart helping other learners like me!

Cheers
Patrick

[Arron]

Hey Nick. Im sure its not illegal to import those burners etc. Its just things here designed to work on 2.75kpa.

[Nick T]

Everyone overseas seems to have these massive F.O. noisy burners, and we here in NZ stuff around with the wimpy Bunnings Campmaster 3 ring kettle blackeners. I suppose they use less gas though....

Hmm, perhaps another potential product line for Joseph at Liberty Brewing, that fine online brewers store for the discerning brewer, at www.libertybrewing.co.nz ;-)

[JoKing]

I just made up a 47 Liter pot with a welded socket in the bottom and a valve for $160 for a customer. It's all stainless, and the valve is heat resistant for use with Gas Burners. I'll be getting in some swiss voile soon.

[Reviled]

Mean, thats a good as deal!! $160 and youre good to go without any faffing about!! :o) I wouldve jumped on that when I was setting up, my 30 litre pot was $130!!!

[Mike Neilson]

Swiss Voile??? WTF4!! Hahaha!!

[Reviled]

Dont you know Mike, youre not a 'real' brewer these days if you dont use a bag ;o)

[Mike Neilson]

I still stand buy my word!! I will try it one day!!

[RopenutS]

Are you goin to be selling these??

[JoKing]

Yeah - but I'm a bit scared to advertise on this site...

[Glynn Foster]

We need photos! Obviously no photos of you BIAB'ing as you do have standards to keep up, but would love to see the pot! Stellar effort on your first few days of taking over libertybrewing!

[denimglen]

Yeah keen to see the pot, may be in the market for a new one.

Chuck some details on the site oi.

[JoKing]

Hopefully no-one minds me sticking this up here... but bugger it! The level of water in the pot is 35 Liters... it's been there for 5 hours now - so my weld is holding up. A mean feat - because this stainless is some thin as shit! So there - it's not advertising if I say the quality of the product is crap. The weld is good though... and it'll make beer for less than $200... which is potentially a good thing... but then probably not... as excessive drinking leads to stomach cancer and cirrhoses of the liver.