Expressions of Interest - SS fermenter cones- Melb, Syd, anywhere

[5150]

Hi Tex,

This sounds like a fantastic project. I'd be in for 4 units if you were to go down the path of setting up a jig. Otherwise I am more than happy to come and do the laborious work that takes no skills. I'd be happy to pay for your time.

Where is that thread about no innovations going on here anymore??? I don't think you could get much more innovative than this. Well Done.

 

[Tex N Oz]

Where is that thread about no innovations going on here anymore??? I don't think you could get much more innovative than this. Well Done.

Thanks for the vote of confidence mate!! I'm drafting up the design for a jig now. I have to admit this is going a little slower than I thought it would and having doubts we'll hit the 50 at best..
Maybe if I put it together a "welded" package there will be more interest? Dunno... :unsure:

 

[welly2]

Thanks for the vote of confidence mate!! I'm drafting up the design for a jig now. I have to admit this is going a little slower than I thought it would and having doubts we'll hit the 50 at best..
Maybe if I put it together a "welded" package there will be more interest? Dunno... :unsure:

If you can build anything remotely like an SS Brewtech Chronical, put me down for at least one

 

[Mardoo]

I'm sure there would be more interest if you put together a welded package. There are far more people on here, myself included, who are far more able to do the fittings on brew equipment than doing the sort of welding you describe.

 

[5150]

Thanks for the vote of confidence mate!! I'm drafting up the design for a jig now. I have to admit this is going a little slower than I thought it would and having doubts we'll hit the 50 at best..
Maybe if I put it together a "welded" package there will be more interest? Dunno... :unsure:

I think if you put a complete package together you might find yourself in full time employment.

The offer stands that I am more than happy to come and help out with anything I could be useful for.

Ps. if you head down the beaches way give me a yell, not that this weather is encouraging and probably wait till July is over. :beerbang: :lol:

 

[dug]

I'll tentatively put my hand up for one.

 

[Tex N Oz]

Ps. if you head down the beaches way give me a yell, not that this weather is encouraging and probably wait till July is over. :beerbang: :lol:

Yeah, that would be great. I get that way once in a while.


I've got a suspicion that if I put up a "welder for hire" price list, we might get more interest in this project. I'm designing the gear as I type this and hopefully I'll have something put together soon.
While I'm definitely not looking to turn this into a career (as I'm early retired with a bit of a dicked up heart), it would keep me from playing up in the brothels. :wub:
I'm hoping we can at least hit the 50 price break.

 

[Grainer]

watching this thread.. I got a friend who weds stainless for beer apparently,..

 

[Tahoose]

Just an idea, which has started bouncing around in my brain from this and the pressure fermenting question that has popped up elsewhere.

How about a 50ltr keg, the 2inch opening can be fitted with a tri clamp fitting and end cap, then install a gas ball lock post to the 2" end cap.

Cutting the other end of the keg and welding on a 4" ferrule like this;

http://www.5stardistilling.net/4-ferrulle/

http://www.5stardistilling.net/4-x-1-2-bsp/

Keg $125 (new)
4" ferrulle and 4"plate -1/2" bsp $38
2" end cap and clamp $20
Gas ball lock post weldless $15
Seals,disconnects and other fittings $25-30?

Welding labour $?? Or beer?

Pretty sure there is a liquid ball lock connection that fits 1/2" bsp.

 

[MastersBrewery]

Just an idea, which has started bouncing around in my brain from this and the pressure fermenting question that has popped up elsewhere.

How about a 50ltr keg, the 2inch opening can be fitted with a tri clamp fitting and end cap, then install a gas ball lock post to the 2" end cap.

Cutting the other end of the keg and welding on a 4" ferrule like this;

http://www.5stardistilling.net/4-ferrulle/

http://www.5stardistilling.net/4-x-1-2-bsp/

Keg $125 (new)
4" ferrulle and 4"plate -1/2" bsp $38
2" end cap and clamp $20
Gas ball lock post weldless $15
Seals,disconnects and other fittings $25-30?

Welding labour $?? Or beer?

Pretty sure there is a liquid ball lock connection that fits 1/2" bsp.

Or do this for the top 2", and this is the cap with 1/2" and thermowell

ED: yes 1/2" ball locks are used for Mytton Rodd kegs, $20 each from the right retailer

 

[Tahoose]

Even better! Looks like a great option the 2" conversion kit in the above post plus the 4" ferrulle at the bottom.

Pressure ferment, gas at the top, liquid at the bottom, thermowell. Bigger hole for cleaning. Have we missed anything?

 

[Tex N Oz]

Have we missed anything?

Yeah, the whole point of a conversion as opposed to using a standard keg. Without the cone with a 60° to 70° angle you won't direct/collect the trub for an easy dump. That's what this entire project is about.
Otherwise just use a keg? If cleaning is your issue just use one of these. They're $15 on eBay all day long and will fit the fitting you already have on top.

 

[MastersBrewery]

Yeah, the whole point of a conversion as opposed to using a standard keg. Without the cone with a 60° to 70° angle you won't direct/collect the trub for an easy dump. That's what this entire project is about.
Otherwise just use a keg? If cleaning is your issue just use one of these. They're $15 on eBay all day long and will fit the fitting you already have on top.

yeah but looking at the pic the ball won't fit through the hole!

 

[Tex N Oz]

I shoulda went all in with this one!!

 

[Yob]

you have a link to those on ebay? My google fu is letting me gown

 

[Tex N Oz]

you have a link to those on ebay? My google fu is letting me gown

Oh young grasshopper... You must first feel the chi.. :icon_drunk:

Here's the ones I was referring to. The 19mm will fit perfectly welded to a 1.5" sanitary fitting.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/19mm-51mm-Pipe-OD-Sanitary-Cleaning-Spray-Ball-OD-45mm-91mm-SS-SUS-316-HOT/321740553937?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140106155344%26meid%3Db77427dec34e45c08913f6d85036fda0%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D161466778274

 

[Tex N Oz]

Ok.. I get that not everyone is interested in building a fermenter as it does require a fair bit of TIG welding.
In the future I'll buy 200 of these and hire myself out as a "TIG gun for hire" and hopefully I can move these along.

I just gotta share my awesome welding hood.. It fits a "Yankstralian" to a tee..

 

[Brewhart]

I'd be interested in 3 completed fermenters at the right price.

 

[seamad]

Would be interested in one. Don't think my plasma cutting/ tigging is up to it, my welder is a 3 in 1 ( mig/tig/stick ) and the tig is dc, no idea what the frequency is, can't adjust anyway. I've used this stuff http://www.solarflux.com instead of backing gas and it works OK, not sure if it's ok for a hygenic weld though.
Had looked at getting a brewhemoth from the states ( they're out of business now ) but the postage even via sea frieght was a killer and then the dollar dropped.They were a good size, 22 gallon ( @ 80l ) and skinny to fit easily in a fridge, but the cone wasn't as steep.
With regards to the CIP ball, you need a pump that can supply enough water at pressure to make em work properly, and most domestic pumps only handle water up to @40 C without potentially buggering the seals. Some of the brewhemoth guys did use sump pumps ( grey water pump ) without problems though.

 

[Tex N Oz]

Hi Seamad,
I have used Solarflux before and it does a great job for a lot of processes, however, for sanitary fit-ups it can't be used because it leaves a layer of residue. This residue is very hard to remove and if it's not removed can harbour bugs. Back purging is the best way but it does cost a whack more in equipment, setup time and argon.
A straight DC TIG machine can easily weld stainless steel. I use pulse frequency and duty cycle to control the width of the puddle and heat input. Stainless warps so easily it's not even funny. By keeping a narrow/deep puddle and controlling the heat input, you can get some amazing strong welds that are very obscure with little distortion to surrounding metal. If all I had was a straight DC machine, I would still give it a go. I'd just run short beads of about 25mm and let it cool, repeat.
As for cleaning, I think I've way over-thought the process and it will be quite easy.
Fill with 80°C cleaning solution. Fill to the top, let it sit over-night. Drain.
Pressure wash first through the cone side, then through the top side. Just a cheap Aldi pressure washer. Hand clean all the sanitary fittings.
put covers on all the ports, fill with about 5 litres of iodophor solution and give a good swish around. Set in the corner until it's needed again. Iodophor solution will stay active indefinitely absent anything that will absorb the iodine or react with it. Also, while resting, the iodine will gas out and keep everything sterile. Phosphoric acid based cleaners only sanitize what is in contact with the liquid.
If you really wanted to go all ballz and ensure even the hardiest of alien bugs are made dead, buy some bulk hydrogen peroxide and put a couple litres in at 12%. Nothing can survive that **** and it's no rinse as well, but that's serious overkill.

 

[Weizguy]

355mm is the diameter at the chime of a DIN keg. Carefully plasma cut at the chime and it's exactly 355mm and would give you a 60.5 litre fermenter.
Before anyone goes on a rant about illegal, knocked off commercial kegs, I'll add that you can buy brand new DIN kegs for $150 each and that would be the road to travel.
Used kegs wouldn't suit because even the slightest ding would put your critical weld at risk and it wouldn't be worth it. I calculate that with the price of a new keg, you could put together a very nice pressure fermentation vessel for about $350 that would fit nicely in many upright fridges. Go the extra mile and having it pickled, passivated and electro polished would make one sweet fermenter. There are a few companies here in Sydney that will do it for not a lot of money. Again, you don't want a nasty assed keg that been thrown off the back of a truck or rolled down stairs. You want a nice clean new one for something like this.

Would a KK keg be DIN?
If so, I'm keen to be part of this Bulk Buy, say 3 cones, and some more free instruction.
Would definitely want some advice on sourcing/ buying racking arms and flanges too.
I'm in. I'd love to see this get up.

 

[Tex N Oz]

Hey Les,
I'm not sure if his are Euros or DIN kegs. I'm sure he can get you anything you want though.
Iv'e seen a few come and go on eBay and I know they are readily available out of China for next to nothing if you search aliexpress.
The sanitary flanges are all over eBay and the racking arm is something you build or have someone build for you. My design is going to be a simple 19mm arm bend 90° to fit.
I'll probably build a few and put up for sale

Do a quick eBay search for "sanitary fittings" and you will come up with shitloads of sanitary clamp stuff from China land. I've never had any problems with their fittings but don't believe it when you read SS316..... I've had some tested and they are from 302 to 308 and everything in between. They weld fine and I'm not doing anything mil-spec, but they aint 316. That's ********..

For my intents and purposes, the $5 one made by some dude sitting on a dirt floor with a file in his hand works just as good as a $100 Triclover outta the states.\

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/1-Pair-2-Pcs-2-51mm-Weld-on-Ferrule-Sanitary-Pipe-Fitting-SS316-PTFE-Gasket-/111410112495?hash=item19f08f67ef

 

[Weizguy]

Fair enough, should be easy enough to source 3 DINs from a legit supplier. May talk to NNL and see if they have availability and prices if we want a bulk buy? (I assume a min of 50).

 

[scooterism]

Interesting thread, any advancements?

 

[Brewhart]

Yeah I'm keen to go all stainless in the next few months.