So, I've been meaning to get around to making a wort chiller since my last post here asking if it was worth it and finally picked up most of the supplies today. I heard about some of the troubles with using 1/2" over 3/8" but figured I could muscle it if I have to and decided on 50 feet 1/2" for about $20 more.
I got everything home and realized I didn't have a good mold for making the coils. Searched the garage far and wide and the best I could find was a paint can but was not thrilled about the narrow diameter. I don't have any corney kegs or anything so I figured I'd have to make some abomination by hand and free form.
But, I looked in the garden and saw our bird bath just sitting there and decided to take some measurements. Sure enough, the base was wide enough to make an 11" diameter coil. But it was also tapered. Oh well, I figured what the hell, who cares if it gradually decreases in diameter with height. In fact, with this setup it would allow me to actually stir both outside and inside the coils when cooling which should hopefully speed things up even a bit faster. Proof will be in the pudding I suppose.
So, I went with it. Actually, I'm quite pleased with the results thus far. Test fit it in my 22.5 qt pot and it is almost flush with the top of the pot. For my 4.5 gal boils it should only leave about 2 or 3 of the top coils exposed above the surface of the wort. But I was hoping to step up to full boils this fall anyway so there was no reason to skimp.
Anyway, I thought it was kind of interesting how it ended up looking like a bee hive due to the taper. Here's the work in progress. I thought I would have completed it tonight but apparently my propane torch is out of gas so I have to grab another one tomorrow to sweat the fittings on. Just a few fittings, attach some hose, and get some thin copper wire to keep the coils in place and it should be ready to go :rockin:
I got everything home and realized I didn't have a good mold for making the coils. Searched the garage far and wide and the best I could find was a paint can but was not thrilled about the narrow diameter. I don't have any corney kegs or anything so I figured I'd have to make some abomination by hand and free form.
But, I looked in the garden and saw our bird bath just sitting there and decided to take some measurements. Sure enough, the base was wide enough to make an 11" diameter coil. But it was also tapered. Oh well, I figured what the hell, who cares if it gradually decreases in diameter with height. In fact, with this setup it would allow me to actually stir both outside and inside the coils when cooling which should hopefully speed things up even a bit faster. Proof will be in the pudding I suppose.
So, I went with it. Actually, I'm quite pleased with the results thus far. Test fit it in my 22.5 qt pot and it is almost flush with the top of the pot. For my 4.5 gal boils it should only leave about 2 or 3 of the top coils exposed above the surface of the wort. But I was hoping to step up to full boils this fall anyway so there was no reason to skimp.
Anyway, I thought it was kind of interesting how it ended up looking like a bee hive due to the taper. Here's the work in progress. I thought I would have completed it tonight but apparently my propane torch is out of gas so I have to grab another one tomorrow to sweat the fittings on. Just a few fittings, attach some hose, and get some thin copper wire to keep the coils in place and it should be ready to go :rockin:
