Have a Spike 20 gal BK. Have not used it yet. How hot does the bottom get? Reason I ask is building a table for it and want to make sure what material to use.
Are you asking about an electric element BK? I have an 18 gallon electric kettle I put on a silicone baking sheet on a stainless table and it works fine. I assume that the temp gets to about 212F with a boil in the kettle, without the silicone buffer, but I haven’t measured the table temp.
I have a propane burner under my BK. The burner was setting on a wood platform. The wood began to discolor after about a year of brewing. So, I added ceramic tile on top of the wood. Problem solved. I have an induction burner under my HLT. This burner is also on a wood platform. I have experienced no ill affects from this burner after many years of use.
Perhaps you can be more specific with your question.
Yes it is a Electric BK, was concerned on setting it on wood or something else that would scorch or burn.
Yeah, a plain piece of wood is an adequate insulator for an electric kettle. I use a half inch thick piece of isocyanate foam under my kettle and it’s been in service for about 7 years. No damage so far.
I use these. I like because when you have spills, you can just remove one kettle and one tile to either clean or if needed replace. I am on my 2nd peice for the BK. They are water proof and easily clean
It all seems to work as Martin and HopDen indicate. Here’s the idea I was saying about silicone:
Cheers.
Thanks guys for the info! Great help!
I found an inexpensive stainless steel restaurant table on Craigslist to use as my brew table. I’m brewing with an electric herms system and I set my HLT, MT and BK on scraps of 2x6. After three years of use there is not even a hint of heat damage or even discoloration.