Rims, Herms, Single Step?

[raven19]

Have fun whichever way you do it. One thing I do recommend considering is not creating a problem to fix a problem, really think out your design and dont just copy others people designs. Decide what you want to achieve in YOUR situation, then work out the best way to do it. There are a lot of very poorly designed systems out there that add a whole bunch of complexity for little to no gain and were put together by people who really don't know what or why they were doing it. eg. I see some herm systems with very long hoses between mash tun and heat exchanger that arent insulated-why take hot wort out of an insulated tun, through hoses where the temp is lost, into a heat exchanger to heat it back up, to then loose temp on the way back to the tun. Another great one, is people taking wort out of a well insulated mash tun, to run it through a heat exchanger where they are manually trying to hold the temp. If you are not trying to step the temp then why not just leave the wort in the well insulated tun? You'll lose more heat pulling liquid out of the vessel, pumping it around, juggling your heat exchanger temp and then putting it back in that you would have if you just left it and accepted a gradual slight drop in temp.

Some excellent points made there Justin. Taking a step back and thinking about it all before running in with a welder and grinder.

 

[tangent]

I use a hop filter in my kettle, and use that kettle as my mash tun as well. 1 vessel brewing, no sewing machine needed. Direct heated with mains gas and an Italian spiral. The only heat exchanger I use is the plate chiller after the boil. F*%ing simple and way better beer than the old single infusion esky.

 

[kirem]

I use a hop filter in my kettle, and use that kettle as my mash tun as well. 1 vessel brewing, no sewing machine needed. Direct heated with mains gas and an Italian spiral. The only heat exchanger I use is the plate chiller after the boil. F*%ing simple and way better beer than the old single infusion esky.

Interesting, 1 vessel you say. How do you remove the the spent grains to reuse the mash tun as your kettle without another vessel? I take it you put the crushed grains and water into the vessel and heat using the Italian to reach your mash temp, then what?

haven't come across a sewing machine in brewing before, any examples?

 

[goomboogo]

Interesting, 1 vessel you say. How do you remove the the spent grains to reuse the mash tun as your kettle without another vessel? I take it you put the crushed grains and water into the vessel and heat using the Italian to reach your mash temp, then what?

haven't come across a sewing machine in brewing before, any examples?

I'm guessing that he is sparging into other containers such as fermenters or cubes. But then as you suggest, this would no longer be 1 vessel brewing.

 

[tangent]

technically, i do use some mayo buckets for about an hour, you've got me there, but they're not specifically reserved for brewing.

 

[seravitae]

awesome post justin! thinking a lot about what you said, which is why im posting less in this thread. keeping my head down, thinking, and learning, optimising and lateralizing (is that a word?) until i come up with something that not only is functional, and suitable, but makes me happy.

tangent: nice work on using the mayo buckets. That's kind of what my idea was, drain into random container, clean your kettle/tun and refill with the good stuff.

i picked up my ferment/keg fridge today, will be gutting it/restoring it/painting it soon, so hopefully I will have a nice setup to start brewing in.

progress.

 

[Edgewater]

how about posting some pics of ya HERMS/RIMS for all to see..

I'm about to build a set up using 3 legal kegs and not sure if i will use a separate vessel for heating.

need to see what others have done, just to get some ideas

I found this link to be very usefull and instructional. Most likely referenced heaps previously in other threads but as far as :icon_chickcheers: ''BREWPORN'' :icon_chickcheers: goes it should keep your interest for a few nights to dream over.... http://www.brewzilla.nl/brewhalla.htm

 

[technocat]

Looking a Brewhalla the Keg and the Rubbermaid rule supreme..........great stuff.