Alright lads. I have a buffalo boiler which cuts out once it reaches temperature. So no rolling boil. Can't try modify it as the wife will shoot me. My buddy was also telling me that his broke down, blew a fuse or something mid boil. So thinking about building a home made job. So two questions.
Is a 20 litre bucket big enough for the job and was there a specific brand of kettle you took an element from that you found best?
Look into making your own heatstick if your DIY skills are up to it
At one point I would have recommended a 33L brew bucket and a couple of argos budget kettles but with pecos so cheap now no point really anymore for the sake of a few quid for your time and personal safety.
great satisfaction in starting from scratch though
True as thats how I did all my early stuff but great talk by Sorcerers Apprentice at Brewcon has me thinking differently these days.
Quote from: Ciderhead on June 04, 2015, 03:18:25 PM
True as thats how I did all my early stuff but great talk by Sorcerers Apprentice at Brewcon has me thinking differently these days.
So which model would you reckon is best one to get atm CH ? ;D
the cheapest from your preferred supplier!
this one (https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/peco-beermakers-professional-boiler-32lt-includes-hop-strainer-p-2211.html) has a hop filter but they may all come with that now
Quote from: Ciderhead on June 04, 2015, 03:31:21 PM
the cheapest from your preferred supplier!
this one (https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/peco-beermakers-professional-boiler-32lt-includes-hop-strainer-p-2211.html) has a hop filter but they may all come with that now
That is a good one,probably change the tap for a ball valve though if it were me. ;D
Dont know if there's a hop strainer included in this one but HBC also has this https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/biab-starter-kit-peco-boiler-chiller-mashing-bag-mash-kit-p-2805.html (https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/biab-starter-kit-peco-boiler-chiller-mashing-bag-mash-kit-p-2805.html) in the weekly bargain section atm. peco boiler, mash bag,chiller and a free mash kit for 90 euro.
If you want a boiler, get a bigger one than you think you'll need. 20L boiler can only handle around 18L preboil without risk of boil overs and will only give you ~13L into the fermenter. A bigger boiler can easily handle larger or smaller volumes if thats what you want to do
+1 on the the boiler size and I wouldn't boil more than 25 in a 30l vessel
I'm doing between 25 and 27 in a 30L these days and it's horrible. So much stirring to stop a boil over and watching it like a hawk.
I was looking at the 20l last night and you're right its way too small. I do think I'll build one though. Might struggle on with the buffalo for another brew. If I find a simple heat stick build it will go straight into the boiler. Keeping the cash for a mill at the minute
Quote from: molc on June 05, 2015, 08:42:37 AM
I'm doing between 25 and 27 in a 30L these days and it's horrible. So much stirring to stop a boil over and watching it like a hawk.
a spray bottle works as well, got that tip from Rossa
Ah good tip there. Will give that a go next time.
Quote from: Drum on June 04, 2015, 11:34:58 PM
Dont know if there's a hop strainer included in this one but HBC also has this https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/biab-starter-kit-peco-boiler-chiller-mashing-bag-mash-kit-p-2805.html (https://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/biab-starter-kit-peco-boiler-chiller-mashing-bag-mash-kit-p-2805.html) in the weekly bargain section atm. peco boiler, mash bag,chiller and a free mash kit for 90 euro.
It does not come with a strainer. But a couple of muslin bags do the trick. Or you can add a strainer for 11 quid.
I got a keg and added two argos kettle elements which works great and i can do decent size batches. The conversion was easier than i thought it would be
Here's the videos i used as reference
Installing the elements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLAcxHTvu4U
Cutting keg and adding tap
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXLkua13P3k