Building a 3 keg system

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backhousebrew
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Building a 3 keg system

Post by backhousebrew »

Started the framework for a 3 keg system.
It will burn natural gas. I'm looking for better burners than the ones I have. Any links?
Thank you to BackYardBrewer for providing me some good information regarding what type of welder to buy and some encouragement to weld it myself.
Brewstove2.JPG
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Last edited by backhousebrew on Fri Apr 09, 2010 3:03 pm, edited 3 times in total.
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maltbarley
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by maltbarley »

Very cool, Don. Can you explain why you went with that particular design?
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backyard brewer
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backyard brewer »

So which welder did you end up going with? If you want to email me that image I'll resize it for you so it fits the space better. Or if you resize it to 600 wide it'll be easier to view without scrolling.
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DrDually
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by DrDually »

Don, Try this site... http://www.cpapc.com
Chris
Chris aka Dr Dually
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backhousebrew
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backhousebrew »

Response to Maltbarley and BackYardBrewer

Maltbarley, this design only requires one March pump. The HLT drains directly into the mashtun without using a pump.

BackYardBrewer, the welder I bought is a Lincoln 180 HD MIG. I found it on line. I hooked up the 220v in my garage and it works great!
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backyard brewer
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backyard brewer »

Oh cool, you should be pretty happy with that welder. It'll glue those stands together like no one's business!
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backhousebrew
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backhousebrew »

The New BrewStove
P1000857(2).JPG
P1000857(2).JPG (90.72 KiB) Viewed 2023 times
Welded together with the Lincoln 180HD 220v Mig welder.
Installed file cabinet for storage.
Three 23tip 100k natural gas burners.
GFI protected hook-up
One March pump
One Therminator
Thanks for all the support from fellow BrewCommune members!
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maltbarley
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by maltbarley »

Very nice, Don!
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backyard brewer
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backyard brewer »

Looks nice!

Couple things: Those 23-tip burners are kind of a PITA. It's difficult to supply them enough gas and they tend to soot really bad when you try and turn the boil down to maintain heat. I ended up taking the 23tip off and going with 10 tip when I used them as I found them to be way overkill even on my 20 gallon system. They were also difficult to balance when trying to run more than one. A lot of people remove several jets and replace them with screws (metric of course) Remove them in groups of three, otherwise they don't light quite right if you leave an orphaned jet.

I like the gas valves up high and running down the side, good idea. I'd suggest some heat shielding horizontal on that side to prevent heat wash from running up that side and heating the gas pipe.

Just my .02 You might have already brewed with this configuration with no problems at all.
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oc eric
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by oc eric »

Looking GOOD Don!
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jward
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by jward »

Yes, look great. To add a little to BB's message. When you take out jets in groups you want to remove them as they point at each other on the flame tips, not at the base. This may be obvious, but it wasn't to me. Big burners put out a lot of wash heat. It's one of the things I like least about my system.
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backhousebrew
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backhousebrew »

I haven't done a brew on it yet. The "burn-in" test was yesterday.
The burners do seem like overkill so I am going to try plugging the outer ring of jets. I should be able to fill the orifice with solder using the same Mapps gas torch that I use for sweating copper pipe.
Looks like I will need some heat shielding around the boiling kettle burner.
Thanks for the input!
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backyard brewer
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backyard brewer »

backhousebrew wrote:I haven't done a brew on it yet. The "burn-in" test was yesterday.
The burners do seem like overkill so I am going to try plugging the outer ring of jets. I should be able to fill the orifice with solder using the same Mapps gas torch that I use for sweating copper pipe.
Looks like I will need some heat shielding around the boiling kettle burner.
Thanks for the input!
That would be disaster!!! THe burner will easily get hot enough to melt solder! In free air, it would not, but once you throw a keg over it the trapped heat will melt the solder and you'll have uncontrolled gas everywhere! I had the 23 jet burner melt a .084 wall aluminum heat shield 3" from the burner once a kettle was put over it.

DO NOT SOLDER THEM SHUT!!! Go get the bolts!!!
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backhousebrew
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Re: Building a 3 keg system

Post by backhousebrew »

OK I'll get the bolts.
Thanks for the heads up Derrin.
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