[gmac]

I found a guy selling a two head canner for $6k.  It's over $20K new.  I know I don't need it, I know I can't afford it but I know I want it.  The idea of canning my own homebrew is really, really appealing.  I just wish that there were enough other homebrewers around here to make it worthwhile.
So, talk me out of spending too much on this thing. 

[thebigbaker]

Now that would be a nice upgrade to have!  My wife would be all the help I need to talk me out of a purchase like that.  Then again, she's starting to brew with me and has been on board with my last few upgrades

[euge]

What is a two-head canner? I was thinking of the same thing a few days ago; thinking that Blichmann ought to put something together for the homebrewer...

As a resale could you turn a profit on this thing?

[gmac]

What is a two-head canner?
As a resale could you turn a profit on this thing?

This: http://www.cask.com/main/index.php?page_id=152

I was thinking the same, even if I sold it at cost after a few years I'd have cans.

[Jeff M]

Honestly i dont see how this is less tedious then bottling.  how much does a  rack of cans cost?

[a10t2]

Does that include the seamer? $6k for both would be a good deal if they're in reasonable condition.

Actually, the seamer is all you really need. You could fill the cans by hand and then seam them, just like you would with a bottle.

With two operators, when everything is humming, that Cask filler/seamer system can do about 1 bbl/hr, which strikes me as a little excessive for home brewing.

[sparkleberry]

think about the keg system, fermentation chamber and/or hops you could make happen with 6gs. not to mention the extra left over you could put into an ira or cd.

and this comes from the guy who almost pulled the trigger on a brutus build 3 weeks ago because i could make it happen and think the system is pretty.

i decided to put the money into my ira and a fund to facilitate shipping beers home from belgium when i'm there in two weeks.

[a10t2]

a fund to facilitate shipping beers home from belgium when i'm there in two weeks.

That's a great idea. One of those expenses that always ends up being larger than budgeted.

[HoosierBrew]

a fund to facilitate shipping beers home from belgium when i'm there in two weeks.

That's a great idea. One of those expenses that always ends up being larger than budgeted.

+1.  I'm gonna take a beer vacation to Belgium some day, and that's exactly what I want to do.

[euge]

"Beercation"

[Slowbrew]

It may be a great deal on the canner but as I understand it (and I don't really claim to understand it) you have to buy cans at some 10's of 1000's at a time so it might not be very useful.

I know, i know, Paul's being a wet blanket again.   

Paul

[Jimmy K]

Besides the cost, the other problem is I don't think anybody sells low run cans. You'd probably have to buy a full pallet. It would be cool though!

[Vin S]

I would check out the micro's in your area if any one is bottling only growlers or bombers say I have a machine to can for you.They supply cans,you supply machine. Put the machine in a enclosed trailer that you get approved drive to there place can away. Then drive home with some cash and maybe a couple six packs.( I cant take credit I saw this someplace where the company had a mobil canning line they drove up ran lines into brewery canned away and drove off.

[gmac]

Does that include the seamer? $6k for both would be a good deal if they're in reasonable condition.

Actually, the seamer is all you really need. You could fill the cans by hand and then seam them, just like you would with a bottle.

With two operators, when everything is humming, that Cask filler/seamer system can do about 1 bbl/hr, which strikes me as a little excessive for home brewing.

Yes, canner and seamer. 3 yrs old. Way overkill for HB. But I'm sort of thinking longer term and I doubt these come up everyday for sale.

It may be the same as bottling work wise but getting bottles around here sucks and I hate lugging bottles lies when cans are so much easier and less fragile.
But storing 10,000 cans could be a problem.

[a10t2]

you have to buy cans at some 10's of 1000's at a time so it might not be very useful.

That's if you want them screen-printed, in which case the minimum is about 60,000. For blank cans, I know Ball in Golden will do sub-pallet orders by request. We had to buy them stacked to less than the default height because we had clearance issues in the brewery.