Stainless steel Fusti

[Benoit]

I saw these come up on Amazon around October time & I'm gutted I didn't get them then as the postage was much much less, then they disappeared for a few weeks but now they're back!

Oil Drum Holds 30 Litres Made of Stainless Steel Wide Mouth Container with Tap Opening https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GXN8R76/ ... MwbHJ578E3

There's a 30l and a 50l so I've ordered both, the postage is only £2 for the additional item, £84 all done! Fermentation vessels? Storage barrels? My first intention was a new bigger boiler & thumper, either way I think they're a great price with lots of potential & worth sharing with you guys

Benoit

[Mash]

good find. Fermenters or still ?

I will be interesting to hear how you get on with these.
Particularly if you are thinking of using them as a fermenter.
I looked at them and then discarded the idea, as I was not sure stainless steel brought anything to the party apart from weight.

[Anavrin]

It's hard to tell from the photo but if the top opening was the same size as a 4" or 6" tri-clamp it would make an amazing boiler :-)

[Benoit]

Delivery is due sometime after the 20th of Jan so I'll keep you posted on the neck sizing.
Maybe the tap hole will fit one of those mesh filters (torpedo?) the all grain brewers use & could be used quite easily as a fermenter with a drain tap. I'm most interested in the screw lid, I'm hoping all it will need is a few winds of ptfe tape to get a good seal & it will be easy to weld a ferrule to the lid.
I'll report back soon!

Benoit

[YHB]

The column does not have to connect to the removable lid.

Perhaps you could think about keeping the lid for cleaning / filling and connect the column / riser elsewhere. It would make repeat runs a lot easier than removing the column each time.

[Benoit]

The column does not have to connect to the removable lid.

Perhaps you could think about keeping the lid for cleaning / filling and connect the column / riser elsewhere. It would make repeat runs a lot easier than removing the column each time.

I'm not sure, if I tap into it somewhere on the shoulder would that not cause a little trap for vapour under the lid?
My existing set up is all 54mm copper with 2" ferrule connections, if the big one becomes a boiler as planned then it would get left as such but the thumper could be used to ferment in between runs. I don't bother with air locks so much anymore so I could use a blanking cap on the ferrule connection & leave the lid loose like I do with a plastic bucket? Unless I'm wildly off with that thought?
I figured it was best of both, the thumper can be used to see if fermenting in stainless makes a difference or even distilling on the grain & the 50l can replace my knock off Chinese water boiler which is a pain in the backside to seal properly!

Benoit

[Easydrinker]

Benoit ,
It looks like a great find.
I am looking forward to your receipt of these and the posting of a few better photos.

Robert.

[Benoit]

They arrived this morning, not sure what I was expecting but they're huge!! Both sit 15 inches across the bottom, the 30 litre is as tall as it is wide with the 50 litre about a third taller than its little brother.
They're quite light when empty, I'll let you know how the handles hold up when they have liquid in but they feel sturdy. The neck is just over 8 inches across so the lid will have to be modified with a ferrule to make a boiler out of it, I dread to think what the cost of a reducer from 8"-2" would cost! I'm sure someone from SDE will chime in with something they sell that will work
The lids have a rubber seal in the top and they also screw on so I think ptfe on the thread plus change that seal for silicone & it's going to be good, over all I'm quite impressed! Will update as the mods go on!

Benoit

[Anavrin]

For mounting a column, if the screw on lid is strong enough, I would cut off the handle, have a 4" hole cut in the middle and weld a section of 4" tri lamp pipe about 100m long to it, it would be perfect I think.

[Benoit]

I'm not sure how strong the lid will be without the handle or with a 4" hole in it. I think the handle offers quite a lot of support so it might need a plate putting into the lid first. I had planned to leave it all as it was & put a 2" ferrule to the side of the handle but now I'm sat here with it in my hand I'm not too sure I'll get the clamp on all that easily
Time to gently remove the handle....with an angle grinder! Luckily I'm a pot still guy, what do you think your column weighs?

Benoit

[Easydrinker]

Chunky looking stuff.
Interested to see how you get on,

Robert.

[Mash]

I'm not sure how strong the lid will be without the handle or with a 4" hole in it. I think the handle offers quite a lot of support so it might need a plate putting into the lid first. I had planned to leave it all as it was & put a 2" ferrule to the side of the handle but now I'm sat here with it in my hand I'm not too sure I'll get the clamp on all that easily
Time to gently remove the handle....with an angle grinder! Luckily I'm a pot still guy, what do you think your column weighs?

Benoit

I think it will be fine. The ferrule will actually add strength.
Retain the handle. If you do find it needs stiffening, this could be welded back onto the lip and directly to the base of the ferrule (, but I doubt you will need it)

[Benoit]

I'm not too worried about it for my little pot top, I'm not sure of a column with packing etc....especially not all the crazy stainless & glass arrangement that Anavrin runs. It looks beautiful but I bet it's heavy as hell!
Without wanting to start a new thread, the smaller one being converted to a thumper is a half hour job at most and I already have ferrule so no waiting for the postman. It does then make the thumper bigger than my current pot until I get all the electric whatsymajigs, is this going to cause any problems?
Already punching well above my weight here but I can't wait to try distilling on the grain with steam, I always thought you didn't want any yeast in your wash come distilling time though so how do you get round that??

Benoit

[Easydrinker]

Is this a trick question?
Wait for the wash to stop fermenting.
I would rack off and allow the wash to settle.
I would then rack into the still.
And then run it.

I'm struggling to see how your steam is pushing yeasties into the final wash,but maybe I am missing something?
Please share if I am.

Robert

[Mash]

I can't wait to try distilling on the grain with steam, I always thought you didn't want any yeast in your wash come distilling time though so how do you get round that??

Benoit

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