I guess the next question is “What kind/size kettle do you have?”, the KAB4 is a little too narrow for a 15.5 gal keggle. I have a 82 quart Bayou Classic SS kettle and it works great with the KAB4, but when I need (want) a new one I will probably get the Blichmann burner (more flexibility).
Are the Blichmann burners worth the price relative to some of the other, cheaper choices? The Blichmann with the leg extensions is around $175, which is 2-3x more expensive than some other choices.
I have just ordered the Blichmann floor burner with 24" leg extensions and from what I hear, I will not be disappointed. I say go for it!! Sometimes you do get what you pay for.
That’s right. They start out with a standard burner like this one High Pressure Burner, 100,000 BTUs, Cast Iron Burner and then mount it in their stand or an outsourced stand, put their brand on it & sell it for what their brand name can bring. Marketing 101… Cheers!!!
I don’t doubt that they make quality equipment. I’m just wondering if there’s someone here who has owned both a Blichmann and say, an SP-10 like I have, and can tell us what the additional $125 premium buys you.
One thing to consider with the Hurricane/Banjo/KAB5 type burners is that they are hungry for gas. If you run them hard to get that boil going, you can literally freeze up a small propane tank. I converted mine to natural gas using the orifice from Williams brewing. When I built my new stand, I got one of the 20 tip wok jet burners. They are a bit noisier, but work well.
In sum, good burners, but you’ll use a lot of propane and can freeze up a half empty tank without trying too hard.
I bought the banjo burner you are considering but the heavy duty model, I think it was KAB6? After a couple boils I decided the burner was too far below the bottom of my keggle, about 6 inches. So I fabricated my own stand and used just the burner. It is now about 2 inches below the keggle and I am reaching a boil and using much less propane.
In summation, the burner is great but the stand is not adjustable and just too far away from where you can place the pot. FYI, you can buy just the burner and high pressure hose/regulator, wish I had. Now I have the stand and haven’t figured a use yet.
I’m using a 15.5 gallon keg to boil in. I had to modify my existing burner (pic # 1 ) to seat the keg, I want to buy one without having to modify it.
The KAB4 says it has a 17x17 cooking area. A keg is only about 15" in diameter, will it still not sit on there? Anyone have this burner and use a half barrel keg?
The KAB4 is app. $60.00 cheaper than the Blichmann model. Same burner it looks like too.
It’s like rims on a car…sure, steel rims will get you where you’re going but chrome 20’s let you get there in style! 8)
That said, I think the reason I would go with the Blichmann is because I think I might get their top tier system eventually. I’m sure the other burners boil wort well enough without the high cost.
The big thing with burners is their design, not so much the physical burner, but the housing. Blichmann designed the burner for max heat output when using brew pots (such that if you put the burner on the ground without leg extensions you could scorch the surface), as compared to banjo that as already stated has the pot sit higher up not keeping as much heat under the pot. I know a guy in my club that got a 600k btu wok burner but when he fabed his heat shield lost all the BTUs by blocking the burners air flow. When you do chose take a look at how your pot will sit and the expand ability too so you can buy a burner once and have it last your brewin career.
I’m in the same situation. I have read the Blichmann uses less propane than the cheaper ones, and of course you can potentially use it on the Top Tier system should you go that route someday.