Stainless Steel Conical Fermentors

[Justin]

Holy Mongolian meatballs! $1700 bucks. I was thinking they might be say $800, which is scary enough but $1700 is a lot. Good luck on building yours on the cheap. Hope it all works out.

Cheers, Justin

 

[GMK]

Hoops

Why not try order SS tube - i think you can get orde some seamless tube upto 350mm diameter.
Then you can just get sheets and wld the cone on the botomm etc...

Might be a little easier...and cheaper..

Just an idea...

 

[Hoops]

GMK

thanks for the ideas but I can think of 2 reasons that it may not be feasable.

1. I would think that the tube would be too expensive as the cylinder part of the conical is only $40 worth of stainless.
2. If 350mm is the largest tube then it is smaller than the plans I have which means it would have to be taller which means it may not fit into my fermenting fridge.

But thanks for the idea, I will investigate to see if it is any cheaper or easier.

Hoops

 

[Hoops]

OK an update to the conical dream.
On moving back to Brisbane I have re-joined the "Brisbane Beer Brewers" club and caught up with a few guys. One of them has had 2 conicals made up which from some photos look AWESOME! (Couldn't find a salivating smily)
They are 150L conicals with rolled edges made proffesionally and cost $1800. Compared to the ones available from ibrew they don't even compare.
I have the contact details for the guy that made them so i will do a bit of investigation and keep you all posted.

Hoops

 

[big d]

hi hoops
see if you can post a photo or two.a picture tells a thousand words.

cheers
big d

 

[Hoops]

hi hoops
see if you can post a photo or two.a picture tells a thousand words.

cheers
big d

[post="50756"][/post]​

BigD

had some photos on the work email but with the move my account changed and I lost all my emails, photos and HB links!
I'm giving him a call tommorrow so hopefully I can go round, have a good sticky-beak and take some photos.
Will post photos if I get them.

Hoops

 

[bonk]

not trying to sound like an ad, grain and grape have conicals listed now for a whole lot less then ibrew. 46L for $749,

however the 150L sounds interesting

 

[Hoops]

Wow $749?!
Isn't competition great. That's about half the price of the ibrew ones!

Here's the page on Grain & Grape with the conicals.

EDIT link and photo added

 

[Doc]

Just resurrecting this topic for Wortgames to give him ideas for his plans to build connicals.

Beers,
Doc

 

[Wortgames]

Thanks Doc, I hadn't forgotten!

Still waiting on some details, I'm getting a few favours so it's happening at its own organic, sustainable pace

At this stage I am looking at building the single batch model first. This will hold about 27L to the rim, and it will be around 300m wide / 600mm tall (rim-to-apex) before fittings.

For the lid I am planning on using a clear polycarbonate disc with a silicone seal, and a galvanised clamp band as used on oil drums. This should give a very reliable, air-tight seal with a minimum of fuss and low mfg costs. They should also handle a couple of PSI for those wanting to push with CO2. Stainless bands are available but around 100 times the price (no kidding). However. galvanised should be fine as it won't actually be in contact with the brew, and they can be replaced easily for a couple of dollars. The discs and seals will probably be custom parts, but I should be getting enough made to have spares available.

The larger size may be a bit more tricky, as I haven't been able to find galv clamp bands in appropriate sizes. I can get stainless ones in 400mm which is a good size, but they cost over $100 each from the only supplier I've been able to find.

I'm reluctant to go into an elaborate lid solution, as I think most of them are ugly, probably unreliable and labour intensive (and therefore time-consuming and expensive). Rather than jeapordise the project I'd prefer to build them to fit a standard plastic lid, which would suit most brewers, and those wanting something more elaborate can get it done themselves.

I am also planning to offer the option of a stainless coil welded around the outside. This way you can regulate temps quite simply by pumping something through the coil and insulating the thing well. It shouldn't cost too much to do.

I'll keep you posted with developments, and if anyone reckons they can help me get hold of drum clamps in different sizes please PM me!

 

[Rex]

I am also planning to offer the option of a stainless coil welded around the outside. This way you can regulate temps quite simply by pumping something through the coil and insulating the thing well. It shouldn't cost too much to do.

[post="77928"][/post]​

What about welding on a jacket rather than a coil, as it would hold a lot more liquid to help keep the temperatures stable on a hot day? Wouldn't even need to be made of stainless either. Copper instead?

here's an example:

 

[Hoops]

Here we go - finally have a photo of it I can post

 

[ausdb]

Here we go - finally have a photo of it I can post

[post="77941"][/post]​

MMMMMMM
pure Beer porn Hoops

 

[markws]

hoops,

nice gear and great pic...what was the all up cost in the end?

Regards

Mark WS

 

[Hoops]

hoops,

nice gear and great pic...what was the all up cost in the end?

Regards

Mark WS

[post="77971"][/post]​

Unfortunately it's not mine, this is the mates of mine. He now has 2 of them and cost him $1800ea with all the ball valves and fittings.
I'm very jealous

 

[markws]

Hoops,

Sorry - mis-read your segment of the thread - I was thinking the pic was pretty impressive for the number ($) mentioned.........

Regards

Mark WS