All grain gear

[MHD]

Do people generally weld their own gear, such as sparge rings or manifolds? or do some HBS shops sell assorted gear?

[grabman]

MHD, I made my own manifold out out copper pipe, the joints are press fits so I can pull them apart for easy cleaning.

I haven't yet made a sparge ring, but will use a similar process although out of PVC pipe, but again press fitted to enableit to be pulled apart.

Grabman

[undercover1]

MHD, try here- http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/brewingsystems.htm for an idea of what's on the shelf.
Most people seem to make their own bits & pieces- it's fairly easy and very satisfying.

[Dogger Dan]

I made my own, and seeing I am not really useful at these things it can't be hard

Dogger

[MHD]

so, as far as I can tell you need:

*An old eski or insulated drink tub
*Modified with a manifold and feedthrough
*A largish (~10L) pot for water for mash/sparge
*some way of making a shower for sparge
*a Big pot (size of wort + room for boil over) for the boil
*A method (iodine) for determining starch content
*Thermometer for boil and mash/sparge (so 50-100 degrees)
*A stove powerfull enough to boil 23 odd litres...

[MHD]

oh yeah and some method of cooling the wort quick!

[undercover1]

They are called wort chillers- single flow or counter flow.

[MHD]

yep... Do people use immersion ones much?

[undercover1]

Yes.

[gregb]

I use a big bit of muslin in the esky as a manifold, and for cooling I am still sinking the pot in a sink of ice water. Works ok and is really easy to make.

Cheers,
Greg.

[Dogger Dan]

If you can get a plate heat exchanger, they are really awesome and extremly efficient

Dogger