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Messages - philm63

Equipment and Software / Re: Broke my glass carboy today
« on: December 29, 2013, 06:08:18 PM »
Sorry to hear, and glad there were no casualties other than the carboy. Got me thinking; I'm setting up my new pump and plate chiller, tossing in a Hop Rocket as well, and I also use glass carboys.

Seems there will be a bunch of hoses laying about during the chilling process and this type of accident is bound to happen if the carboy is just sitting there empty - light enough to be knocked over easily.

Thinking I might put the empty carboy in a crate or other device to hold it securely and protect it from such a mishap.

See? Something good DID come from this. Thanks!

Got my Chugger pump a couple of months ago - still setting up the lines and fittings - and Santa just left me a shiny new plate chiller! Woo-hoo!!

For those of you using a plate chiller AND a pump; it looks like there are a couple of ways to set it up - running from kettle to pump to plate chiller to fermenter; or from kettle to pump to plate chiller and back to kettle until temp is reached, and THEN running it to the fermenter. So, the question:

Which method do YOU use, and why? Are there specific advantages/disadvantages to each method?

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Grain Mills
« on: December 27, 2013, 06:59:37 AM »
Yet another +1 for the Barley Crusher. Mine's going on 18 months with no problems and no re-adjustments - just checked it about a month ago and it's still at 0.039 on both ends - just like when it was new.

Thinking of motorizing it soon -

...I motorized it with very little effort and get great results.

Paul - what motor did you use, and where did you get it? $$?

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: flavor contribution from dry hops
« on: December 27, 2013, 06:20:07 AM »
Assuming you're going to adjust your dry-hopping post-packaging; if you've already carbonated your kegged brew, shouldn't you de-gas it before adding the new hop charge (shake-purge-shake-purge...)? I'm imagining dropping the hop-sock in and immediately seeing this volcanic reaction, lots of screaming, mops...

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: When did you switch to all grain?
« on: December 24, 2013, 07:41:54 AM »
2 Extract batches about a year and a half ago (with steeping grains), then started exploring the steeping process and wound up doing a partial-mash for batch #3, then a couple more PM batches and I got a cooler and tried AG and never looked back.

I have to admit; partial-mash has simplicity over my present all-grain process, but I'm enjoying having seemingly total control over every aspect of the brewing process and that's what I get out of AG.

General Homebrew Discussion / Re: Denny's been keeping his pencil sharp!
« on: December 11, 2013, 07:10:09 AM »
Wouldn't that have been Spiro? Crap; just aged myself!

Equipment and Software / Re: Counterflow chiller questions
« on: December 09, 2013, 01:08:57 PM »
If you are using a counter-flow chiller - can't you still just recirc it back to the BK until it's at pitching temp?

Equipment and Software / Re: Counterflow chiller questions
« on: December 09, 2013, 12:40:32 PM »
...better yet add a pump and recirc the wort back into kettle.
I too was getting tired of sloshing my IC about in the kettle to get the temps down faster, so I just added a pump and modified my 10-G kettle for this very purpose - recirc the wort while chilling with an IC - but I'm thinking of also adding my Hop Rocket as a filter to trap the hop sludge and cold break - should clear the wort while it chills. Anyone see any potential issues with this?

I'm not aware of any special flux, but most of the flux will burn away during the soldering process, and what is left behind is normally wire-brushed away.

It's always a good idea to thoroughly clean soldered joints and seams before using for the first time. A good spritz of star-san on those parts that won't be submerged prior to dropping in the kettle doesn't hurt either...

The only risk I can see is if really old solder was used - it may contain lead. Still; there likely isn't enough exposure time in the boiling wort for leaching to be a concern considering the pH is in the 5+ range.

If you use solder on brewing equipment and it will be in contact with wort, be sure it is "lead-free" solder. New solder will be lead-free, which is what I used on my IC.

Equipment and Software / Re: Chest Freezer Brands
« on: November 18, 2013, 03:17:09 AM »
Kenmore is made by different manufacturers and they all just put the Kenmore name on it. Like any other major appliance purchase; if you can get it from a reputable store (Sears, Home Depot, etc.) you've got the store standing behind that purchase. I personally tend toward Kenmore appliances.

My conditioning fridge, however,  is a Frigidaire upright (with no freezer compartment) that came from Sears and so far it is the only major appliance I've had a problem with, and Sears came back out within 2 days with a replacement (this was within 2 weeks of purchase). No problems since.

My fermeezer is a Kenmore chest unit (Sears) and has been plugging away faithfully for over a year now with nary a problem. The rest of my house (basement freezer, entire kitchen, etc.) is all Kenmore and thus far (several years) I've had no problems.

Equipment and Software / Re: Best PH Meter
« on: November 13, 2013, 03:36:44 AM »
I like my Milwaukee MW 101. Replaceable probes, solid build, under $100.

...I don't understand why you'd recirc with a hop rocket. Kind of defeats the point, eh?

I'm using an immersion chiller presently, and in the interest in getting used to working with a pump during my brew day, I thought a good place to start would be simply circulating the wort while I'm chilling it, and I also thought I'd get a two-fer by implementing the new Hop Rocket as well - not for hop infusion this first run - but as a filter (I'll just stuff a couple of hop-socks in there instead of 3 or 4 ounces of whole-leaf hops).

My hope this first time is to get chilled and modestly filtered wort to run to my fermenter, all with the pump.

This is all just to get the basics down like when to open what valve and by how much, priming the pump, dealing with leaks, what does it look like when it's working, etc. First time pump user - should be, er um... fun?

« on: November 05, 2013, 08:59:39 AM »
...Duda diesel is fine place to buy bigger brazen chillers.

If you want it for commercial setup, you might have a problem with brazed chillers. Depends on inspector and state.

I'm also looking at Duda Diesel for a plate chiller (sorry, don't mean to take this thread off course - but this may be relevant) and I have to ask; how would a brazed plate chiller pose an issue with local or state inspectors? Are you referring to health inspectors? Is this a "lead in the brazing material" thing, or were you referring to something completely different?

Reckon I didn't even think of using the pump to run off to the fermenter - tons of uses for a pump, no? Just got the last of my cam-lock fittings and will start setting up the pump system this week.

I think what I'm hearing (reading) is that I can recirc until chilling is done, shut the pump off, pull the line from the BK and put it in the fermenter, turn the pump back on, and pump the wort from the BK to the fermenter - nice and neat!
