Check out my pot!

ACTbrewer · Post by **ACTbrewer** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 4:33 pm

This arrived today. Let the All Grain begin!

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/hbmad/pot.jpg
click on this link and scroll down.

First up is a hoppy APA.

Second will be a chocolate oat porter.

Tipsy · Post by **Tipsy** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 4:43 pm

Thats a lot of pot.
how big
how much
where from???????

ACTbrewer · Post by **ACTbrewer** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 4:57 pm

80L.
Aluminium. Just have to put a ball and spigot tap in it.
Cost $150.
I went really big so I could do double brews, but also so I could put the fermenter in it in summer, stack it with ice and keep the temps down!

Emo · Post by **Emo** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 5:09 pm

That is a serious pot.

pixelboy · Post by **pixelboy** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 5:12 pm

Nice one ACT..

Ed · Post by Ed » Friday Sep 29, 2006 6:04 pm

Oh yeah, very, very nice

. I can see some double batches coming up

And it covers 4 gas burners on the stove. Will come up to boil well. For the sake of the pot I think it's best not to have flame come up the side, so just watch that. If it's a problem, position it over 2 or 3 of the burners.

Something to consider: Could be difficult lifting it up there when full of wort.

All arbitrary if not planning to do the boil on the stove.

Actually, I think Dogger used to stove top boil in a big pot and never heard him complain about it. Must be all those Heinz beans that gave him the strength

I'm just rambling. Enjoy the brewing!

Cheers, Ed

Edit: Think that the aluminium pots need to develop some oxidation first before brewing with them. This greyish layer shouldn't be ever polished back. I don't know if that's myth or not, but I heard it in an interview from Palmer.

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 6:47 pm

another...

Nice pot.

Just relaxing after an afternoons AG session.

Cheers,
Greg

blandy · Post by **blandy** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 7:37 pm

Dude, just don't try to lift that thing with 20+L of boiling wort in it. Apart from it being a risk to your back, you don't want it spilling over you.

Nice pot, though.

Beerdrinker32 · Post by **Beerdrinker32** » Friday Sep 29, 2006 11:33 pm

sweet pot

i need one of those babies

what sort of fitting are you gonna use for the tap?

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Saturday Sep 30, 2006 3:02 am

Nice,

I have one about the same size and it works a treat. I didn't have the heart to tap it so I syphon out. I use an immersion chiller to drop the temp of the wort and really it isn't bad to move around. I had to move off the stove and get real serious with a turkey fryer (Thats the baby pot on there in the pic)

[/img]

ACTbrewer · Post by **ACTbrewer** » Saturday Sep 30, 2006 6:17 am

I'm going to tap it and run the hot wort to cubes or the fermenter. There's no way I could lift that bastard!

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Saturday Sep 30, 2006 6:31 am

How much rust are you allowed on your propane bottle Dogger? I've had places refuse to refill bottles that looked like that.

I also siphon from my boil kettle, it is not touched till after it has been cooled.

Cheers,
Greg

OldBugman · Post by **OldBugman** » Saturday Sep 30, 2006 7:09 am

I'm more worried about the electrical wiring in doggers brewery.

Dogger Dan · Post by **Dogger Dan** » Saturday Sep 30, 2006 7:16 am

Greg,

I replaced that tank and have a nice shiny new one

Thanks for worrying about the electrical Bug, It scares me somedays too. But thats a dryer vent not conduit

Dogger

Beerdrinker32 · Post by **Beerdrinker32** » Tuesday Oct 10, 2006 3:05 am

ACT any pics of your spigot instalation? or does it feel too new and shiny to drill her??

ACTbrewer · Post by **ACTbrewer** » Tuesday Oct 10, 2006 8:23 am

Doing it today actually! I use the beer in a bag method, with a hop sock, so I don't get much hop trub, so I won't be including a copper pick-up tube inside the kettle just yet (although I will).

First shot is the tap assembled.

Second apart.
[/img]

I will be getting rid of the big plate thing, as I don''t want to fix it on with silastic.

I need to get a few washers today, then I will drill and get ready for brew day tomorrow.

No more dangerous syphoning of 90deg wort for me!

cleverpig · Post by **cleverpig** » Tuesday Oct 10, 2006 10:39 am

I am very intersted in how you are going to drill the hole for that tap.

gregb · Post by **gregb** » Tuesday Oct 10, 2006 10:48 am

I drilled an Aluminium pot. Put the speedbore in the drill, set speed to high and leaned it gently against the side of the pot. Went throught quicky and neatly. Was easier than some hardwoods.

Would not however try this with my stainless steal pot. Still thinking how I will (if at all) get a hole into that one.

Cheers,
Greg

ACTbrewer · Post by **ACTbrewer** » Tuesday Oct 10, 2006 5:22 pm

Here's how I put a tap in my kettle
Disclaimer: I am sure there are people who are better with tools and ideas that could do this more professionally)!

O.K Went to local HB store (you are a legend Col), and he and I drilled the hole using his drill bit.
First we drilled a pilot hole. Then used the big drill bit. It has a normal sized shaft to fit ordinary drills.

Went very smoothly. Punches through aluminium in no time.
Only problem was that I had 1/2 inch tap threads. Now these are measured from the inside of the tap, and the drill made a hole exactly that size, so...had to grind it out a little bit using one of those grinding stones on the drill.
So, I had a hole!
[img][img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/hbmad/P1070500.jpg[/img]

I then added a fibre washer on the inside and screwed it on.

I didn't screw things on that tight, and I had a slight leak when I test filled.

I put another washer on the outside and screwed it tighter and voila!
No leaks. (this pic doesn't show the washer on the outside).
[img][img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/hbmad/P1070502.jpg[/img]

From the inside.
I will put a pick up tube on later, just so I can tailor where it feeds, and avoid the trub when I whirlpool.
[img][img]http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k220/hbmad/P1070506.jpg[/img]

All in all, very easy with aluminium, bit I would suggest making sure your drill size is right for the tap. Very nerve racking to think about ruining your new $160 kettle.

*****Special challenge*****
Previewing this post I noticed my motorbike is in one of the shots. For ten points and a free spin, can you correctly identify it?

lethaldog · Post by **lethaldog** » Tuesday Oct 10, 2006 5:42 pm

Its kinda dark but ill take a stab at maybe an old trumpy