Just received my shiny new immersion chiller and I’m wondering if this is normal for all IC’s. There is a ton of solder on the chiller, seen this on other chillers? The website mentions “silver based lead free solder used”, but I’m just getting the groups opinion. Pictures below…
It is fine. Not the cleanest of jobs, but soldering two tubes together like that is very hard due to the lack of contact.
Did you buy it new? From whom?
Its not okay from a consumer standpoint. You paid for a cleanly-made IC and received a hack job. I’m assuming the website didn’t show an IC with solder everywhere, and if that’s the case, ask for a replacement.
From an operational stand point, lots of solder is tough to clean. I made my own hack job lautering manifold for my first mash cooler. Lots of solder - lots of scrubbing.
I have not had good luck with equipment this past week! It’s from Jaded Brewing…I think another person is getting the same IC on the forum here.
I’m going to send 'er back, at this point, Fedex and UPS know me by name.
I disagree that it is a hack job. Until you have tried to join two tube crossing like that, you have no idea. They could have made it cleaner by wrapping in copper wire and sealing the wire or slightly flattening the tube where the join.
I wouldn’t think anything of it if were me, but I also never really clean my chiller. A quick dip in bucket followed by a rinse with the hose sprayer.
+1 to what Steve said. I dip mine is a kettle with Oxyclean filled with first runnings off the chiller, rinse the chunks off, and done.
When I first started brewing I had one of these. It was not a cleaning nightmare. I actually got a lead testing kit to make sure what they said was true - it was (free of lead). I don’t think I’d return it if it were me.
+2
My first thought was “wow! those joints are pretty clean for the type they are”. As others have said that type of soldering is very difficult and requires a lot of heat with good control (a real torch with oxygen not a cheapo-stick-a-rose-bud-on-the-end-of-a-propane-bottle torch).
I wouldn’t send it back but that’s just me. My IC gets cleaned maybe twice a year, maybe. I’ll soak it in the the pbw blanket for 10 minutes when it starts looking bad. For the most part I rinse it with warm water immediately after use and hang it to dry. I’ve never scrubbed it off.
Paul
Good points by everyone. I don’t understand why they need to use solder at all? Why not just let the cooper do what it wants, if it moves a bit who cares?
I may get this one, I know there is a SS vs. copper debate raging but More Beer said it’s only soldered up high closer to the vinyl tubing. In this example, I imagine the coils may dangle a bit.
If you are thinking about getting a stainless steel immersion chiller, check out the “silver serpent” over at Northern Brewer.
If you really want a good shine on your IC, soak it in Starsan for 20 minutes after rinsing off the pbw. Looks like new.
I just watched their youtube video for it the other day. Looks pretty nice.
Copper has better heat conductivity and is good for prefermentation beer. Why go stainless? Is it cheaper?
Copper is good to drive off sulfur,too.
Maybe less solder?
Stainless is less expensive. That is the main benefit. As others say, a bit of copper is good. You could just toss a copper pipe fitting in the kettle and be good.
I guess I’m happy with my old school homemade copper RIC. I wouldn’t worry about silver solder. Silver is good for you, unless you’re a werewolf
(leaves thread quietly…)
I my opinion, the fact that they took the time and effort to stabalize their chiller is a big plus. the style chiller depends a bit on having the tubes spread out… but if you spread copper tubing out… it acts more like a slinkey.
i would keep it!