Today I built a 60’ 1/2" recirculation immersion chiller. Ordered a pump and assorted connection hardware. I also ordered a second 15 gallon kettle. That will give me a 15 gallon MT, 8 gallon HLT, 15 gallon BK, all moved by pump. Grabbed a 50’ RV supply hose and installed a ball valve on the end of it. No more carrying water. Woo hoo!
While I had the soldering going I built this little guy for my BK. Inspired by a photo Denny posted a while back.
Is that a pickup tube for your BK? Looks good man, altho im not sure about copper/bronze in hot wort. Arnt there some issues with how acidic wort is and the reactions it can create in copper?
I assume not since Denny showed a picture of his. Looked like a fitting with a bent copper tube.
This was just luck. Mpt fitting and a couple elbows. I wasn’t sure there was room to thread it in without hitting the bottom, but it misses by a fraction.
I’m hopeful it works with my new RIC and pump whirlpool
Copper is considered beneficial in brewing and distilling. You need to have some copper in your brew kettle.
Nice solution that I haven’t seen tried before. Have to let us know how it works.
Will do. Here’s my chiller by the way. I think it will do the job. I was kicking around using copper wire and solder to hold it together but I think zip ties are a better idea. Easier to clean that way. I’ll just have to keep a bag of zip ties around.
Dang! That thing looks like it could freeze hell over. I hope it does because there are a lot of women who will go out with me when that happens.
Great work Jim!
Thanks. Not pretty but functional. It makes my old chiller look pathetic. It was 20’ of 3/8. I’m looking forward to testing it out.
Nice job! Jealous I can’t be as crafty. Not an expert but from what I’ve heard from John Palmer and others no need to worry about the many of the metals people say are dangerous. Listen to the Brew Strong episodes on metal- but I bet you have already.
Haven’t done that one yet but I will.
There a recent episode and a rather old one as well. I didn’t know this but Palmer is a metallurgist.
Yeah, somewhere I read or heard that some brewers throw a piece of copper in the boil since they are using only stainless elsewhere. Supposed to be healthy for yeast.
I love automation and organization. And beer.
Nice work Jim ! Looks great. You’ll have to let us know how it works compared to your old one.
Great work! That chiller looks really nice. Look forward to hear how everything works out!
Good to know about copper:) Looks good jim, keep us posted!
pH during the boil isn’t low enough to be a problem for copper. After fermentation, though, don’t use copper.
Goodies came today! This is going to be a sweet rig.
Doing a test run with water. No leaks!!! Rookie solder job held great.
I immediately see a need to build a 4" weather proof J box with a switch and a 20’ cord. Mount it next to the pump.
Looks nice. Very minimal. Right up my alley. Great job!
Looks great Jim! If I’m seeing things correctly, I think that pump might work a little better if you flip it so that the inlet is on the bottom and outlet is on the top. There’s a couple great threads pinned to the top of the equipment and software section by someone from March pump that is pretty helpful. Cheers, thats exciting!