Hows My Kettle?

[Keifer]

This is where im at so far with my kettle, thanks to Mark @ MHB for cutting the lid open!
I got some s/s valves from T&S Valves n Fittings in Sydney for $13 each, and got my mate to weld on last nite the 1/2inch s/s connectors (hidden in pics).
I will get one more done on the inside opposite the valve so i can attach a pickup tube to get more out.
Gave it a hit with the angle grinder and a brass wire brush, i will get around to polishing it later

I filled it with water and it only very slightly leaks, this might close up enough when heated tho to stop leaking? i'll have to check... if not, how about a little plumbers tape?

So am i on the right track?

 

[devo]

plumbers tape, yes.


mmm shiney

 

[AndrewQLD]

Plumbers tape is the go, you can get some yellowish plumbers tape that is rated to a higher temp as well. Nice and shiny, looks great .

Just curious, is this your boiler or your HLT, if it's the boiler why did you put in a thermometer? A 100c thermo is going to max out in a boiling wort that gets over the 100c mark due to the sugar content, and a thermo in a boiler is sort of wasted IMHO.
Keep the pics coming.

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Keifer]

Good point Andrew! When i get my next keg, i'll make the new one into the boiler and my current into the HLT, these are the sorts of things i tend to miss by jumping straight in

I guess it wont hurt coz i'll be able to easily get my water up to strike temp, coz it's gonna double as both till i get a second keg. Will i need to take out the thermometer while it's boiling to prevent ******* it up ? or will it be ok?

Cheers,
Keith

 

[bindi]

What about a sight gauge or even a 'dip stick' or sorts ? I, like others here have one on the HLT and boiler and no thermometer on the boiler.
It will make a good HLT .

Sight Gauge.

 

[warrenlw63]

Just curious, is this your boiler or your HLT, if it's the boiler why did you put in a thermometer? A 100c thermo is going to max out in a boiling wort that gets over the 100c mark due to the sugar content, and a thermo in a boiler is sort of wasted IMHO.
Keep the pics coming.

Cheers
Andrew

Particularly wasted if you're going to be using a C/F chiller. The thermo's really only of use if you're chilling with an immersion chiller and want to know when you've reached pitching temps.

Warren -

 

[SJW]

That looks good. I was going to ask the same question as Andrew. As I have a similar set up for my mash tun, but insulated, and I would bet that the thermometer is to high in the keg to be in the grain when doing 6kg or less brews. As my thermometer is a bit lower, just on top of the bottom rib, and with 6kgs of grain it is only just under the top of the grain, and I have a false bottom.
Anyway it looks great and MHB strikes again.

 

[Pumpy]

AB Good value for the SS Ball valves .

Well done Mark @ MHB for the technical assistance


Pumpy

 

[devo]

I don't use a sight gauge, thought about it but cause I know that the weld in the middle of the keg is at 26ltr and the bottom fold of the upper extruded rim is 30ltr.

 

[Keifer]

What are the sight tubes made from and where do you get em?
Im guessing like pyrex or something?
Do you leave the top of the tube open?

EDIT: And that looks like a NASA stand Chris, they're not bad hey. All my neighbours come round to ask what the noise was when i first fired it up lol

Thanks bindi, that link answered all my Q's!

 

[lou]

do a search on 'polycarbonate' or 'sight glass'

there are heaps of threads on this

lou

 

[doglet]

If you have the cash then I think a thermometer can be handy in a boiler. I have one and it allows me to keep an eye on things coming to the boil as I am doing other jobs. Just as the wort is coming to the boil I make sure I am right at the kettle to adjust the burner and prevent any boil overs.

 

[Darren]

Hi Apprentice,
Your kettle is similar to my HLT
View attachment 8762

A sight tube makes measuring the vols very simple, bit easier than dip sticks as I have a gravity fed system.
View attachment 8763
Note the high tech sight gauge marks. A better set up is on the list of to do things!!
Cheers
Chris

Hi Tas,
Kettle looks good. I would recommend against a sight glass in the kettle. It is hard to sanitise and COULD lead to infections later on. Probably the worst feature of polycarbonate sight tubes is if you accidently hit them with something, hot wort/water will spurt everywhere.
I have a similar sight glass on my HLT but it really is of no use and a possible danger.

cheers

Darren

 

[bindi]

Hi Tas,
Kettle looks good. I would recommend against a sight glass in the kettle. It is hard to sanitise and COULD lead to infections later on. Probably the worst feature of polycarbonate sight tubes is if you accidently hit them with something, hot wort/water will spurt everywhere.
I have a similar sight glass on my HLT but it really is of no use and a possible danger.

cheers

Darren
[/quote]


WHAT the <_< your joking right? ? :blink:

Edit: I am calm now, and cut out the abuse. Deap Breath....

 

[warrenlw63]

Note if you're paranoid about nasties in yer sightglass like Darren (show me the blueprints :lol: ) you can always quite easily fabricate a kettle gauge. Thanks to Borret for the inspiration and idea.

Easy enough to knock one up with a bit of aluminium (my pot is ally) or stainless strip. Bunnings sell the numbered metal stamps for around $15 a set. Probably not as effective as a sight glass but they work very well.

Warren -

 

[Coodgee]

easiest way to measure wort volume in keg is with an old fashioned dip stick. I have a length of skirting board marked in 5 litre increments with a hack saw that does the job just fine.

 

[Screwtop]

Hi Tas,
Kettle looks good. I would recommend against a sight glass in the kettle. It is hard to sanitise and COULD lead to infections later on. Probably the worst feature of polycarbonate sight tubes is if you accidently hit them with something, hot wort/water will spurt everywhere.
I have a similar sight glass on my HLT but it really is of no use and a possible danger.

cheers

Darren

:blink: Your kidding, right?

-Ve

 

[Screwtop]

Note if you're paranoid about nasties in yer sightglass like Darren (show me the blueprints :lol: ) you can always quite easily fabricate a kettle gauge. Thanks to Borret for the inspiration and idea.

Easy enough to knock one up with a bit of aluminium (my pot is ally) or stainless strip. Bunnings sell the numbered metal stamps for around $15 a set. Probably not as effective as a sight glass but they work very well.

Warren -

Pale wort Warren, must be the No Grain Method

 

[warrenlw63]

:lol: I'm experimenting with zero EBC beer. I'll get back to you with my findings.

Warren -

 

[TasChris]

Hi all,
I don't have a sight gauge in my kettle for cleanliness reasons and just use a dip stick for this with cut marks in it to mark volume. The sight gauge shown previously is in my HLT. It is a prefab one that I bought from Grain and Grape with a weldless kit!

Not going to get to heavily into the possible source of infections of sight gauges in kettles but Darren's reasoning in a previous post on this topic ( can't remember which thread) does make sense to me so I decided not to go down that track.
Will make a permenant stainless depth gauge like Warren's at some stage.

PS I have a replacement goat after the untimely death of Casper following my first AG.
Hopefully Gibo will be more tolerant to spent grain!!


Chris