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MX's HomeBrewing thread - Thread name Change

So, was out and about running some errands around the city, and crossed a Beverage store, thought "cool" then I remembered a buddy telling he picked up a few kegs for a party there, so I quickly and illegally did a U-turn.

Walked in the store and promtly ask "Do you speak English?" he did..well some...15 minutes and 60 euro ( $80 usd give or take) later I now own to 50L kegs....

now..how in the hell do I crack these bad boys open....lol

This is a major find and a huge savings for me, as I was going to buy the 8 gallon pot off of Midwest at over a $100 each with shipping.

OK, time to stare at my new purchase...

PS anyone any good with drafting plans or using Google sketch-up.....

Tim
 
If you know anyone with a plasma cutter, that is the best option. I used an angle grinder on mine with good results too though.
 
Updated first post!!!

So, I am about to start converting 2 kegs into electric HLT and Boil Kettle.

I know I will have several questions about this process, so I wanted to post one thread to hold them all.

Thanks in advance for all the help.

1st question: Will these work for the holes? Step Bits

Next question.

I wanted to get the 50qt Igloo Cold Max for my mash tun. But it seems that here at my local Army Exchange only has the 36 or 70. I use a 40qt now so I think the 36 will be fine and I think the 70 will leave the grain bed to shallow.

So wold the 36 be ok? I will only probably brew 5 gallon batches, and I batch sparge.

Thanks
Tim
 
Elements arrived in the mail today, waiting on hardware and bits and blades.
Picked up the shelving, and some wood shelves to use to displace some of the heat.

The shelves are plug and play, so tomorrow or the next day I will fool around and get them set up. I should have enough free space to mount my Barley Crusher, I plane on sutting a hole in the shelf and placing a bin under it for the milling station.

Also, I have decided on a simple Pale Ale as the first brew.

Tim
 
Things have been moving forward at a seady but slow rate.

Have the brewspace set up, need to re-enforce it a bit.
New 60qt Maxcold Mashtun, still need to build the hybride screen manifold.
Stirplate circuit arrived, i screwed itup while soldering it, so new one is on the way
Orders 4 sets of Quick Disconnects
ordered all my bulkheads, valves, themometrs, sightglass, and diptubes ( waiting on the postoffice)
ordered 10ft silicone tubing...

I am waitng on an email from High Gravity to make sure we are on the same page about wiring my Electric Kettle Controller, and It should be ordered today or tomorrow.

Now, I just need some time to actually start the install of the various items, and time to prep and cut / drill the kegs.

Tim
 


Here is a link to a few photos of how the rebuild is going.
Ordered my last few parts today, hope the rest of the kit gets here soon so I can get back to building.

Tim
 
I didn't realize there was no color in Belgium... :sign:

Looking good, Tim. I hope it meets your expectations and gives you many joyful batches. :thumbs::thumbs:
 
Cam locks are in, kettle control is in, waiting on the weldless fittings still but those should be here by Monday.
Also waiting on my silicone tubing and a stir plate controller, no Idea when that will get here, cant get a reply from the store...

Have to rewire the kettle controller, but things are starting to come together.
Now, if i can wrap my head around water chemistry, I will be all set

Tim
 
MX said:
Cam locks are in, kettle control is in, waiting on the weldless fittings still but those should be here by Monday.
Also waiting on my silicone tubing and a stir plate controller, no Idea when that will get here, cant get a reply from the store...

Have to rewire the kettle controller, but things are starting to come together.
Now, if i can wrap my head around water chemistry, I will be all set

Tim
Click to expand...

I keep my water chemistry very simple. I have to start with RO water as our house water goes through a softener and unsoftened it's way too hard to do anything with.

I use the spreadsheet that's available HERE. It's not too complicated and the additives are very easy to find. I tried starting with spring water that I had analyzed (it probably would have been fine as is), but it is much easier for me to start at 0 and go from there.
 
And here I thought it was just yeast, barley and hops, add water and stir. I better stick to the keyboard.
 
All my fittings, valves, and such made it in today.
Hope to get them installed tomorrow, as long as my step bit is not ruined.

more pics soon.

Tim
 
Ok, so got the HLT done today, just need to find a pair of channel locks big enuff to tighten the lock nut for the heating element.
Also, got the Mash Tun finished, now just need to figure out how I am gonna attach the manifold.

Hands are sore, back hurts, it has been a good day.

Also, if there is any one out there with access to 3/8 cpvc, let me know. I have an idea....

Tim
 
Can't wait to see pics Tim! I ended up buying some big ass wrenches for my heating elements.
 
ok, all the holes are drilled...

ran out of Teflon tape, and I am waiting on some tools to get here in the mail to finish up, but I can see the end in sight.
I will try to update the pictures in a few days, maybe Wed.

I am going to need some help, I think, from someone in the states, to rebuild my hybrid manifold...hint hint

Also, not that I have 2 kegs full of cutting oil and shavings, what should I use to clean it up with?

I can almost see the light at the end of the tunnel here, and I am pretty excited.

also, also....My silicon tubing and stir plate were shipped so that is almost here too

Tim
 
Here are some pictures of the progress so far.

Almost done.....

 
DSCF2511.jpg


Ok, so above is pretty much where I set my HLT to be. When I did this I was just going to use tap water from a hose to fill it, no big deal. Well i have decided that tap water is a no-go because it runs through a water softener that uses salt.

Now i am going to use bottled RO water and add the Ions back in that I need. Problem is I cant lift the keg with the strike and sparge water up there, so I want to pump it out of the 5 gallon water bottles, but how? What kind of pump will I need.

I know i can just get a March or LG or Chugger but I really need something cheaper that will work for now. Something like a pump used in a garden or pond maybe.

any thoughts?

Thx

T
 
Ok, so today is the test run (water only) to test my new brewery, make sure I understand the work flow,
and all around excuse to drink a few beers, and smoke a cigar.

Tomorrow will be the first real brew day on the system, Pale Ale. Simple and easy. Also going to be giving a make shift class to a bunch of co-workers.
If it all goes well, I will see if I can move the equipment to NATO for this years AHA Brew Day.

I am going to use this thread to update the times and issues I come across.

1055 - started heating 7 gallons strike water start temp 53F, target temp 175F
1126 - Made temp, transferred to MLT Small Leak, think I got fixed, for now, but need a better solution.....
1145- 147F
1215 - 145F ( but had the lip open a lot trying to fix the leak
1230 - started boil 143F start temp
1300 - Boil!!
1400 - Done!!! 1.25 gallon boil off.

Tomorrow's test run will be:

3.3 LB Belgian Pale
3.3 LB Munich
3.3 LB Vienna

.4 oz Target@11.5 - 60 min
.3 oz Target@11.5 - 30 min
.6 oz Amarillo@8.5 - 10 min

London ESB yeast

Bunch of old/left over stuff figured a good way to get rid of it and test the system.

Laters

Tim
 
ok, I am bring this thread back to life in the hopes it will kick start my ass to finish my new brewery.
 
I am currently at the tail end of a brewery rebuild, but I can not find the guts to wire my control box, so things have been stalled for a while.
 
photo-1-61865.jpg

 
here is the hardware....
 
Tim
 
Looking good Tim, you are so close... Finish it out. :thumbs:
 
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