Help me build the CHEAPEST possible grain setup

[Motorbikeman]

I was thinking of ways around getting a complete grain setup .

2 of these 


A plastic fermenter bucket with 2 cheapo kettle elements for the boil.

A few ball valves and plumbing stuff. 

A few bits of copper pipe with holes drilled for sparging .

What would you recommend.   In list form and possible recycled junk.
   I could spend more after I build my  steel shed,  but I enjoy being thrifty and frugal . Never pay full price is a rule of mine when it come to this sort of thing..    

[Eoin]

A boiler and a BIAB bag, cheapest possible route to all-grain.

Sent from my HTC One

[Motorbikeman]

Any links or advise into the exact method of using them With just the burco and bag?

I was thinking of the boiler heating the mash water,  then tipping it into the HLT  drinks cooler.  Then mash and sparge in the second cooler .  Then back into the bucket(or burco) for a good boiling. 

[Garry]

Biab is the way to go if you want minimal equipment. Look it up on YouTube.

If you really want a mash tun, the cheapest way is a fermenter bucket in a fermenter bucket. Have a look at this:
http://m.instructables.com/id/Build-Your-Own-Brewery-for-Under-100-STEP-1-/. 

He also shows you how to build a cheap boiler.

You don't need 2 coolers. Use your boiler for the strike and sparge water. Drain the mash into a spare fermenter bucket. Then transfer this into your boiler.

[Motorbikeman]

Barry ,  that link to building your own equipment is fantastic.

 

[Garry]

Your welcome Botormikeman   

[Motorbikeman]

Was in Tesco and Argos  considering the boil bucket.

Tesco Kettle is 10 euro.
Argos kettle is 7 euro.
The bucket will cost a tenner  plus 2 kettle elements  Then the fittings and sealant will make it more expensive than a big stock pot.


Loads of big pots on ebay .   Sets of 5 .   My parents live in Derry so I  can get free postage as well.   

Any thoughts on how to convert all those spare  pots into a little beer factory?   

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5-Piece-Large-Stockpots-Stainless-Steel-Deep-Stew-Soup-Pot-Saucepan-Lids-Spoon-/400683657765?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Kitchen_Cookware_GL&hash=item5d4a9b6a25

I have one of those wok burners on my kitchen stove that can heat bigger pots.  Should be well able for a 15l boil.

[Hop Bomb]

You'll need an Arbor bit or qmax cutter to drill the holes to take a tap. Silicone baking sheet to make your own seals as the ones that come with stainless steel weldless tap kits are shite. Mybeer&wine sell the weldless tap kits.

[DEMPSEY]

You can buy that set in "Living Island" shop in Talbot street.
https://maps.google.ie/maps?q=16+Talbot+street&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x48670e8f565d6467:0x5f1a1edfe67a2278,16+Talbot+St,+Dublin+1&gl=ie&ei=BXBCU8rvIoSe7AblmoDwCQ&ved=0CC0Q8gEwAA

[headgasket]

Hi motorbikeman.. I've just gone down the route of making my own All Grain equipment. I got some of my ideas from the instructables website mentioned in the earlier post above.

I've posted up the process of making both mash tun and boil kettle on my blog :

Boil Kettle:

http://homebrewandharleys.weebly.com/1/post/2014/03/how-to-make-homebrew-boil-kettle.html

Mash Tun:

http://homebrewandharleys.weebly.com/1/post/2014/03/how-to-make-a-homebrew-mash-tun.html

I got the thermos cooler box (28l model)for my mash tun from Amazon - £20 delivered to my folks house in Co Derry! I think deal is still on Amazon last time I looked.

Brew gear has been used once since I fabricated it and seems to work well... But still refining certain aspects of it.

Shout if u need further info on any parts of this equipment build.

[Motorbikeman]

Thats a great blog.  Im from Derry originally myself and my folks still live there.  Must order one.      I was looking around for one. 

But then today I past a shop on the Naas road caller the packaging company.    They sell buckets .  Food grade 25l buckets for 5 euro with a lid.     Cheap as chips , so I bought 4 . 

I also got two kettles in Argos for 6.25 euro each and stopped into the plumbing store and got a ball valve and and tank connector. 

for this set up so far not including the spare buckets, 

27 euro.    I need to get insolation for the plastic mash tun.   Woodies are asking 25 euro for a roll of the shinny stuff.   There must be cheaper out there.   I will find it ..    I also still need a tap for the HLT/boiler, a hose and a connector for the hose.   I plan to rack the wort from the boiler through a sieve with voile fabric  to clean up the hops without the need to plumb anything other than a basic ball valve tap.

I got my grain and ingredients .  And i'm bursting for a go at a 20l batch.      I bottled the 5L true brew kit and only got 8 330ml bottles, so im not going to bother with 1 gallon batches again.   Although the beer is quite lovely. 

[Motorbikeman]

So i went out to the building site today and the nice man gave me the end of a roll of the silver insolation.  nearly 5 meters of it.

The bucket got 4 layers of it.  I might add more as I can feel heat after I added hot water to the bucket.   

Tesco Everyday duct tape was 3.50 a roll. 

got another ball valve with fittings for the boiler for a tenner. 

So this thing is into me for 37 euro so far.     

Im not sure 100% how to use it best as there is a space between the bottom of the sparge bucket and the mesh tun of about 5 liters . 

A recipe I want to do requires 9l of water for the mesh.  Im wondering should I just add more mash water and use less  sparge water later.
I still need to find a wort chiller, but I might leave that as the copper seems to be expensive. 

[Bazza]

Hi Motorbikeman,

Great effort so far but I've a question about your boiler i.e. the bucket with the 2 elements. Are you using a standard Youngs fermenter bucket as a boiler? I'd be concerned about using it to house boiling liquid for a prolonged period. Those things get very wobbly and flimsy when full of hot liquid. I'm not sure they're made to hold anything over 80 or 90 degrees. You might get away with using it as a hlt but as a means of boiling bubbling sugary wort for 60-90 minutes is, in my opinion, dangerous.

Maybe some of the other guys on here can chime in and say that all's fine and to get back to me knitting but just thought I'd mention it.

Cheers,

-Barry

(never thought I'd see a Tyrone man showing concern for a Derry man)

[Motorbikeman]

I thought that also, but I seen it being done on the brew section on Board . ie and it seemed to work for them. 

I will be using it outdoors  and might just test it with a full boil right now .     I had it boiling twice for 10 mins at a time and it seemed to retain it strengh ok.   Not the sort of thing you would want to try and move when hot though.

  I thought motor bikes were dangerous.    This brewing business could be worst!!

[johnrm]

Fermenters as boilers are fine.
Just don't lift them when they are full (and boiling).