Best Buckets For Wort Boiler.

[Greg2013]

now be careful unscrewing them and prising them apart from the main plastic housing.

Yes Obi Wan  As can be seen below slight change of plan, woke up with a can do attitude today, don't feel well after it 

[Ciderhead]

now be careful unscrewing them and prising them apart from the main plastic housing.

Yes Obi Wan  As can be seen below slight change of plan, woke up with a can do attitude today, don't feel well after it 

Jesus you are tough feckers in the SE that plastic bucket is made of metal!
How long was that in the ditch for?
Good luck drilling that!, looking good so far tho!

btw you need to darn your sock

[Greg2013]

Trust you to sock the holy sock ya fecker. Was on the bus home after picking up my Argos kettles and i had what alcoholics refer to as a moment of clarity, i suddenly remembered where there was a big angel grinder and cutting disc. Now i have to try to locate two seperate cutting bits for SS  One 12mm and the other 38mm i believe? The FV is still on the cards just as a HLT now not a boile kettle

It was in the ditch long time but surprisingly all it needs is a good polish outside and clean inside, rust free all around.

[delzep]

should have said you were practicing cutting holes in your socks before going onto stronger materials

[Greg2013]

should have said you were practicing cutting holes in your socks before going onto stronger materials

PMSROFL Should i go step bit or hole saw ye reckon for the tap and element holes, remembering now that there is still a HLT FV to be done as well after this project.

[Garry]

That keg looks like one of the old aluminium ones? If so, it will be easy to drill. I'd say a hole saw would be better if the keg is aluminium. Step bits are designed for light gauge materials less than 3mm and the aluminium kegs would be thicker than that.

[Greg2013]

I reckon you are correct on the keg being Aluminium  Garry. Was not bloody that easy to cut the top off though

Sitting here this morning thinking (dangerous for me i know) and it occured to me that i am once again faced with the question of going Butane or electricity ? The two argos kettle elements will not go to waste either way as i will be converting my 33lt Fv into a HLT ::)This question has arisen again because if i install the elements in the keg i can't go back and use gas, however if i use gas i can always install elements DTL should the need arise. 

I am leaning towards Butane as its easier to get and i don't believe the propane offers enough of an advantage for the hike in price. Also gas is easier to control and fine tune on the boil or so i am told, i know its certainly easier to cook with anyway

There are people in both camps and it can be a somewhat contentious issue but i would like to hear from those that use Gas as to why they picked that over electricity since i have a fair idea of the advantages of the electricity side.

[Ciderhead]

or those that were on gas and switched already
38mm

[Hop Bomb]

I was propane for both my HLT & BK. Now Im propane for just my BK. Went electric with my HLT recently as I was sick of over shooting my sparge temps plus gas is just a waste heating the HLT. Im usually crushing grain & getting ready for the brew so Im not in a mad hurry for the sparge water to get to temp.  Id prefer to save the gas for the boil. Propane & butane is the same price here in Galway. Ive used both & you defo get more brews from a tank of propane. I can get to a full boil very quick with gas & it takes very little gas to keep a rolling boil once Im there. Dont ask me how many brews per tank. Im defo at 6 now though & its not empty (some 60 min boils, some 90 mins) The last few have been 50 litre batches too. 

The plus side for electric is its cheaper. But I cant see myself ever going electric for the boil (if i do dont hang me for it though haha). Its just a preference. Im asking santy for a blichmann gas boiler ring for xmas.

[Greg2013]

Thanks for that HopBomb, there are certainly for and against for both. What size gas bottle have you though and what size burner? The on below seems to be the best value for the money thus far that i have found.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Heavy-Duty-Steel-Framed-Large-Boiling-Ring-Burner-LPG-Gas-Catering-/321194379957

Cost aside is there any advantage to one over the other?

[Padraic]

those are the right elements just dont let Padraic see you doing it, charlie shiels elements are better?, buy 3 1 spare

Actually its ok he on Holidays, phew!

Don't be doing that! Use sealed elements! Electricity and boiling sugar water are not a good combination!

[Greg2013]

those are the right elements just dont let Padraic see you doing it, charlie shiels elements are better?, buy 3 1 spare

Actually its ok he on Holidays, phew!

Don't be doing that! Use sealed elements! Electricity and boiling sugar water are not a good combination!

Dammit he caught me  Padraig i actually did try both Wallace and Kavanaghs in Waterford for the sealed elements but neither  had them nor could they get them again.Its hard to justify spending 20 euro on an element from a home brew shop anyway when i can use a 7 euro Argos kettle one.

If i could have gotten the sealed ones for a tenner a piece @2.2kw i would probably have got them, as it is any of them i saw online were only 1.5kw for a tenner, i tried ebay and amazon.

[JimmyM]

Use that gear shiny shane is pimping, sugru, to insulate the exposed terminals on your element. We get a significant discount on it.

Also, Charlie shiels  (Inchicore, dublin) website looks like he is maybe shaping up to do online sales. Maybe try ringing him to see will he send you out a couple of elements and take payment over the phone - think he charges a tenner - theyre alot neater than hacked ketlles.

[Ciderhead]

Deadman don't listen to the boilover brigade you have no exposed terminals with a proper kettle lead.
Greedy pigs are trying to boil 30L in a 33L bucket, or 45L in a 50 litre keg, as long as you have plenty of head room you will be fine.

[Ciderhead]

Yep its silicone based so no problems with heat, not sure I'd be putting it in direct electrical contact though