Messages

346

Equipment and Software / Re: "Sparge arm" with "flex" tubing?

« on: July 29, 2011, 07:39:57 am »

I know people use this stuff, with apparent success, but I'd be a little worried about the material.  Its made of acetal plastic, the stated max temperature is 170F which you'll pass during sparging.  Acetal is also susceptible to acid hydrolysis (mash is pH 5) and degradation under hot water conditions.

If it works for you, great, but I'll stick to a length of stainless tubing bent to form.

347

Equipment and Software / NPT fittings leak in a hard plumbed system

« on: July 28, 2011, 09:28:08 am »

Thought I'd reach out to those of you who have built hard plumbed systems for some advice.  I've got a single tier, HERMS system coming together, but I'm really struggling to get the NPT fittings (valves, elbows etc) around the pump to seal properly.  I have not problem with my compression fittings (Swagelok) since I've worked on that stuff for years, but NPT is new to me, and frankly rather frustrating.  The real challenge is getting it to seal, and have everything line up.

It's 1/2" stainless steel NPT, right now I'm using regular white PTFE tape.  I'm about to try the triple density pink tape which is ASTM rated for 1/2" fittings and above.  Any other suggestions from those of you who've been through this already?

 

Thanks!

348

Equipment and Software / Re: BeerSmith 2.0 reviews

« on: July 22, 2011, 02:48:42 pm »

So you need increased precision on the ratio.  It will be "rounded".  Is 2 decimal precision adequate for you?
I haven't checked, have you asked for this on the BeerSmith board?

It would be enough for me.  For instance, I want to enter 1.66 qt./lb. and not have it rounded to 1.6 or 1.7.

I set mine to 1.25 and it rounded to 1.3 as i expected, but then it looks like the calculations are using 1.25 since its telling me 12.5 qts for 10lbs of grain.

349

The Pub / Re: Good food and brews in Los Angeles?

« on: July 22, 2011, 11:04:28 am »

I like Quadrupel in Pasadena.  They've got a great bottled Belgian beer selection, some interesting drafts as well, and a really good bistro menu.

350

Pimp My System / Re: Barley's Bar

« on: July 20, 2011, 09:18:10 am »

awesome looking build

351

Ingredients / Re: Hazlenut Beer

« on: July 14, 2011, 11:08:19 am »

I've dry-"pecanned" before, with a pound of chopped pecans into the secondary of a porter.  It was good but had to drunk young; the aroma would go and the last bottle got a little foamy i'm guessing from something wild on the nuts.  No issue with head retention though...

352

All Grain Brewing / Re: Small Batch Test Brewing

« on: July 05, 2011, 10:58:02 am »

i have 6.5, 6, 5, and 3 gal carboys. i often do a 2.5-3 gallon test batch, primary in a 5 gal then secondary in the 3 gal.

353

Equipment and Software / Re: Beersmith

« on: May 19, 2011, 08:04:23 pm »

Sweet! Free upgrade.

+1

354

Equipment and Software / BrewsStand Costs?

« on: May 16, 2011, 06:19:33 am »

I'm in the process of planning out, and building a single tier HERMS system.  As I started to cost it out, I'm seeing the bottom line getting bigger, and bigger, and bigger.  For example, if I go hard plumbing beer lines, I'm looking at $500 in stainless pipe fittings alone.  Is it really a ~$2500 build?

I'd love to know ballpark costs, from other brewers out there, and any tips / hints suggestions to save a buck.  I get the feeling this wont be a quick build otherwise.

Thanks in advance!

Ross

355

Equipment and Software / Brew Stand Build - Newb Questions

« on: April 21, 2011, 02:14:06 pm »

OK, so I'm about to design my first brew stand, having seen some beauties on here.  I want it to be upgradeable, so while I'm currently using a cooler mash tun, I'm building as if its a 3 kettle system.  Is there a good step by step you recommend, or does anyone have any tips?  I've got a few questions, but the most important are below;

I'm planning to use 1.5" square tubing.  Is 1" insufficient?  Would 2" be overkill? Does everyone use stainless?  Would aluminum work instead (I have the welding capabilities for Al) or will that have too low a melting point near the burners?  Does a 16" x 60" surface sound about right for a 3 burner system?

Thanks in advance for everyone help.  I might have keezers and draft systems down, but I know nothing of brew stands, other than I want one...

356

Equipment and Software / Re: Wort Chillers

« on: April 18, 2011, 11:00:16 am »

i've got 100ft of 3/8" copper tubing that i wrapped around a corny, connected to a 200 gph pond pump.  i fill a bottling bucket with cold water, drop the pump in, and when its half empty (having taking the real heat out) I drop 15lbs of ice into the bucket and let the ice water do the rest.  i'm boiling to 60F in 10-15 mins normally.  since i brew in the garage, cleanup is a breeze. i take the IC outside, and blast it clean with the hose.  on brew day, it gets a rinse in said bottling bucket of cold water.

357

Equipment and Software / Re: keezer help

« on: February 25, 2011, 03:29:42 pm »

I did the collar, and went from 2 taps, to 3, to 5, to 6...  Its the Pimp My System feature this month if you want to look at ideas

358

The Pub / Re: For all you engineers.....

« on: February 03, 2011, 08:18:48 pm »

As a sales engineer, this seems like any normal day at the office for me 

359

The Pub / Re: I hate shoveling snow!

« on: February 03, 2011, 08:15:46 pm »

It wasn't so much the 8" of standing snow (I can drive over that) as much as the 2'+ drift blocking the garage... (Central OK for anyone interested).

[

360

The Pub / Re: I have joined the very exclusive group of brewers.

« on: February 01, 2011, 09:00:58 pm »

Oatmeal stout all over the laundry ceiling. And the laundry. And under the washer. And...