Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Boiler, burner and boiler modification talk.

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Thu May 11, 2017 8:37 pm

Hi Scythe,

Im at the point of just needing the welding done.

From research a plane jane 50l Milk Can boiler is $500ish? No elements etc. from Australia and thats if you can find someone with stock :)

Im still ahead on price even with all the ferrules, end caps, drain and fittings. Plus dont mind the ability to build it any way you like.

Too much invested to go back now even if I wanted to, but I did consider a Milk Can boiler at one stage.

Cheers
Amfamora
 
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equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Fri May 19, 2017 6:53 pm

Keg is with the welder being finished.

Had a delivery this week..... Getting close to turfing the T500 :)
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Amfamora
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Lockyer Valley, QLD
equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Plumby » Fri May 19, 2017 7:05 pm

Very nice. I wish one of those would show up on my doorstep.
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Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby bluc » Fri May 19, 2017 7:22 pm

:text-+1: would be awesome will get there eventually :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Fri May 19, 2017 7:49 pm

I wont totally turf the T500..... thinking of keeping the boiler at least for heating ingredients for ferments, saves me buying a $100 crock pot to throw on the stove....

Anxious to get this all up and running. To be complete still need a packed section and another Bubble plate and t section... Then Ill be content :)
Amfamora
 
Posts: 56
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Location: Lockyer Valley, QLD
equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Lowie » Sat May 20, 2017 7:12 pm

Mate, you won't know yourself when you get that bit of kit running!
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Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Wed May 24, 2017 6:59 am

One step closer. Bottom ports are leak free after leaving it overnight half full of water.

Should be set for a cleaning run on the weekend.
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Amfamora
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Lockyer Valley, QLD
equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby bluc » Wed May 24, 2017 9:49 am

Looks awesome :handgestures-thumbupleft: Good job.
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Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
Location: sunshine coast
equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby hillzabilly » Wed May 24, 2017 12:36 pm

Thumbs up mate ,have ya done anything about a drain port,I had a piece of 3/4inch with a 90' bend TIGed to a 2inch blanking plate that I drilled a hole thru,then had a 1/2inch bsp fitting welded to the other end to suit a 1/2inch stainless drain valve.cheers hillzabilly
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equipment: 10 gallon OZARK pot still ,2inch and 3inch Nixon Stone coloum stills ,10 and 18 gal beer keg boilers,5gal thumper keg.And the one and only 4" Five Star Southern Cross .

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Wed May 24, 2017 1:30 pm

Not yet but I will. At the moment just a end cap triclamped over the original keg opening to get it operational :)
Amfamora
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Lockyer Valley, QLD
equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Fri May 26, 2017 6:01 pm

Its alive... if only a vinegar run :)
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Posts: 56
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Location: Lockyer Valley, QLD
equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby EziTasting » Sat May 27, 2017 12:42 pm

Haha. Now the excitement starts!

Just note, the vinegar run is NOTHING like any other run!! So just do it and clean up afterwards. Read and reread "How to run a big bled" in the newbie section (helped me no ends!) then when you do your Sac run THATs when you first learn about your still.

Go forth and still!
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Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Sat May 27, 2017 2:00 pm

Did a sac run this morning with some cheap watered down goon. Ran 93% down to 20% after keeping it in full reflux for 20 minutes.

Loving the heat up time with 4800w vs 2000w. Turned one element off after it got to temp and adjusted the water flow to have a pencil stream coming out.

The cuts between fractions are definitely more defined. Loving it so far.

Putting a 200l WBAB ferment down as I type this :handgestures-thumbupleft:
Amfamora
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Lockyer Valley, QLD
equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Lowie » Sat May 27, 2017 2:29 pm

Welcome to the bubble club mate! :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Location: Crow eater
equipment: 4", 4 plate "Frankenfurter" copper bubbler and blockhead on a 50L 3000W electric boiler, 10000W controller - don't even know why I need that much, all grain HERMS system through 18G HLT keg and 50L mash tun.

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Lowie » Sat May 27, 2017 2:30 pm

Can anyone tell me why the need for a temp gauge at the top?
Lowie
 
Posts: 712
Joined: Sun May 24, 2015 1:32 pm
Location: Crow eater
equipment: 4", 4 plate "Frankenfurter" copper bubbler and blockhead on a 50L 3000W electric boiler, 10000W controller - don't even know why I need that much, all grain HERMS system through 18G HLT keg and 50L mash tun.

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby hillzabilly » Sat May 27, 2017 2:38 pm

Is there a breather hole or tube between ya PC and the parrot,otherwise ya alcometer in the parrot may jump around a lot.I would also give the inside of the boiler a good scrub with stainless scrubies when ya rinsing and cleaning up.cheers hillzabilly ;-)
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Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby EziTasting » Sat May 27, 2017 2:43 pm

Lowie wrote:Can anyone tell me why the need for a temp gauge at the top?



:laughing-rolling: to measure the temp! Haha, sorry, couldn't resist.

There's lot of data about temps at the top of your still (vapour) and how it correlates to ABV. Just another tool to use (if desired) to manage your hobby. I haven't quite figured out if I need it, but I'm doing OK without it at the mo.

I believe, some use it to know 'when the distillate is about to come...?!?!
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Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Amfamora » Sat May 27, 2017 3:07 pm

Hi hilzabilly,

Yep there is a vent tube :)
Amfamora
 
Posts: 56
Joined: Thu Jun 09, 2016 5:23 pm
Location: Lockyer Valley, QLD
equipment: T500 Pot and Reflux :/
50l Keg Boiler
4" Bubbler

Re: Keg Boiler Build - Need Advice

Postby Zak Griffin » Sat May 27, 2017 3:17 pm

You can use the vapour temp to predict ABV. A thermometer at the top will tell you when you're about to start seeing product in the parrot, or if you're in full reflux or not.

It is by no means necessary.

I've got a thermometer in my boiler, through practice it tells me when I'm about to start collecting, and when tails are about to start coming through.
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