On the morebeer scuplture we're talking about it goes- Mash tun on top. Kettle second one down. Third one Hot liquor tank.
Doc, I do believe that you could make one of these systems using many of the same parts as the morebeer 1550 for much less. For example:
I've been dreaming about getting 3 of the 14G kettles to make my brewery more legally friendly
, they work out to be ~$250 australian each delivered separately on separate orders (Total $750). However, buy them from Northern Brewer, they cost exactly the same as the morebeer beer ones but your getting the modified kettle with thermometer coupling for $139US vs morebeers STANDARD kettle for $145US, the morebeer modified one w/ther coupling is $175US.
The stand should cost you not much using scrap steel and calling in a few favours from some welding buddies, even to get it welded up shouldn't cost too much. They use some pretty heavy steel, I'm certain you could get away with less. Go to the scrap yard, or try and source some old steel bed frames. Bed frames have a nice amount of steel in them with good lengths, they can be had for nothing often.
You already have one NASA burner, another two would set you back only about $80 (no need for 3 regulators). Or you could move one burner around but who really wants to do that, we're talking about an all out brew rig.
Your march pump from here in Australia $260ish, if you wait for the grain and grape 20% off sale you can get one for $215. And some fittings and valves for it $40. You might as well get silicone tubing from morebeer at $2US per foot, so say $30-40AUD while your getting a false bottom for about $70AUD.
Thermometers you can get for about $50AUD delivered. 3 of those for $150.
So although not there yet, you could get other goodies like stainless valves and bits, CPC disconnects, CVCFWC, some copper to plumb the burners, your still not looking too bad, well under the $5KUS price tag. So far for the above list of parts it's about $1400AUD. I'm sure I've spent more than that will all my brewing crap so far.
It's great to dream. I love that site. If I was to build that system though I'd lower it to a two tier with the kettle only a foot above the ground, then mash tun and hlt on the same tier above the kettle. That way you don't have to climb on any ladders to mash in. This is my biggest gripe with the morebeer 1550 systems. If I spend that much on a system I want the convienience of mashing in while standing on the ground-not balancing on a ladder trying to mash in 10kg of grain while stirring at the same time.
This guy here has one. It doesn't look like it functions that well actually.
http://www.bodensatz.com/upage/upic.php?mode=browse&uid=7089
Cheers, Justin
