General Category > Pimp My System
Sculpture Build For The Non-Mechanical Brewer
Pawtucket Patriot:
After 7 years of lugging kettles full of hot wort up and down a flight of stairs, I'm thinking about building a three-tier gravity-fed sculpture over the next year. I've thought about doing this before, but my limitations have always been: (1) not being very mechanically inclined; and (2) not being able to weld or not knowing someone who can weld.
Well, my next door neighbor is very mechanically inclined (and a very nice guy) and I'm confident that he either knows how to weld or would know someone who does, probably on the cheap.
Anyway, this is sort of long introduction to a few questions I have:
1) Are welders able to build a sculpture without a detailed CAD drawing?
2) What sort of details does a welder need to build the sculpture?
I've only just started looking into building a sculpture, so I'm sure I'll have other questions along the way. I would be grateful for any suggestions! In particular, it would be helpful to know what sort of materials I should procure for building the sculpture frame.
Slowbrew:
My experience with both questions has been "depends on the welder".
I would hand draw a sketch to start with including general dimensions of your vessels. Take a few pictures of examples with you and take it to welder and ask what else they need. Every welder I know will help you with the details, if they are interested in the project and have the time.
Paul.
bluesman:
--- Quote from: Slowbrew on October 09, 2012, 08:13:15 AM ---My experience with both questions has been "depends on the welder".
I would hand draw a sketch to start with including general dimensions of your vessels. Take a few pictures of examples with you and take it to welder and ask what else they need. Every welder I know will help you with the details, if they are interested in the project and have the time.
Paul.
--- End quote ---
+1
You'll need a basic design. Try researching online or getting some pointers from local homebrewers and/or local homebrew shop. You can try to simulate the Blichmann toptier design as a starting point.
mtnrockhopper:
For most a detailed CAD drawing is not needed. But a they will need a good idea of what you want - that can be communicated through drawings, dimensions, pictures, talking, etc.
For materials - Box tubing and angle iron are the two common materials I see them built from. They both come in varying dimensions, wall thicknesses, and alloys. Most of those decisions are based on your budget.
tschmidlin:
Why not build it out of wood? Wood is much easier to work with and is cheaper than welding a steel one. I have a 3-tier wooden gravity fed system, it works great.
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