StillSmart

The copperwork on my still is coming along and I have it pretty much fixed in my mind what I want to do. While I am filing away I have started to think about the boiler.

I have seen 33 litre stainless steel stockpots advertised for around £60.00 and offered by homebrew websites as "Beer Boiling Pots" - has anyone tried them? Are they strong enough to mount a column on? Are the lids sealable?

Has any one used a tea urn (Burco Boiler)?

What do you use?

Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a T500 boiler without the column?

Is this any good for you
http://www.homebrewmegastore.co.uk/shop ... pment.html
cheers

Thanks for the responses and the links.

Bill, I thought I had googled every possible name for a boiler but for some reason I forgot to try "Green Fern Wort Boiler"

Al, I will follow up on your lead today.

YHB wrote:Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a T500 boiler without the column?

I'd imagine so, they come in seperate boxes - made me laugh as the boiler box says on the side that it's for use for boiling lobsters or somesuch! Guess that's to get it all through customs, neither package contains a still so it probably goes through as catering supplies and plumbing items or some other fudge.

Is the controller on the T500 a thermostat or a power controller?

T500 is binary, on or off! Boiler is always on, still controlled by coolant speed.

Thanks folks.

Thats another alternative that I can stop worrying about.

Has anyone seen these on eBay?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-ACE-25ltr ... 336e2af833
There must be something wrong with them at that price but they do specify many coded uses similar to what we're all looking for. They have 22l useable capacity, thermostatic control and run-dry safety cut. For £70 they seem incredible value. I'm going to message him and ask what power the element is and if the material in contact with the mash would be SS or if it has some dodgy lining. If they're no good though feel free to bash me down!

I am not bashing you down, but I think you should consider;

This urn appears to have a thermostat. Themostats switch the boiler on and off, so that the temperature will keep going up and down in cycles. This will affect the stabilisation of the heat in the column.

With a thermostat, turning it down will just stop the water boiling until it cools down to the new temperature that you have just dialled in.

From what I have read, most people with Burco's and the like either remove this bit or by-pass it and hook-up a power controller that you can adjust the amount of power used.

With a power controller you can select, say, 3kw for a quick start up and once the wash is boiling, turn the power imput down to, say, 1kw to get a rolling boil for take off.

If you have a look the "Build Your Own / Power Controllers thread where there is a bit more of an explanation. This link should take you there.

[url]http://www.stillsmart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=735#p6462[url/]

So I think that if you are going this route then you should be prepared for modifying the electrics / controlls which could put 30 to 50 pounds onto the bill.

Yes, sorry was thinking the thermostat for boiling some beer and making a dual use boiler. It does say on one of the adverts that the 110C setting on the thermostat is for permanent boil i.e. thermo over ride.
The element is 2.5kw, do you think this would be too powerful for a 2" column with about 1.5 - 2m reflux?

The reading that I have been doing seems to indicate that 1200W is the order of magnitude you will be looking for for take off.

Running 2.5kw for hours will be expensive and you will need to make sure your condenser can handle the extra heat.

Just stumbled on these 32L stainless pots at 40pounds

http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/item2898.htm

I am thinking that sitting one of these on a 1500w hotplate (9.99 Pounds )would be a nice cheap quick fix.

If you wanted a ready made solution, for 100 pounds the same site has the same pot fitted with a 3000w immersion heater - put a 50 pound controller on the power side and that would be a nice set up.

http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/item2872.htm

Just starting my first project, all copper all being well.
Will post a few pics.

BarnsleyBrewer wrote:Just starting my first project, all copper all being well.
Will post a few pics.

See the bug as got to you J.....you've made your mind up quick..
So what's the plan sunshine?? are we going with a pot or a reflux????
can't wait for the photos.

BJ.