Hi everyone. I'm about to start my first ventures into home brewing and I'm pretty excited . I've already ordered everything I need, except I plan on building my own wort chiller.
I have a 9-gallon SS kettle on the way, and I'll be doing 5-gal batches to start. My local hardware store is selling their 25' rolls of 3/8" and 1/2" copper tubing for the same price (okay, the 1/2" is one cent more expensive). If I go with 25' of 1/2", would that be good enough? I've read in some places that 20' of 3/8" is plenty, and others who say you shouldn't go with less than 50'. I know the 1/2" gives you a bit more surface area though, so would I be alright? I don't want something that is the bare minimum either.
If I end up going to 50', I'll be going with 3/8" as then there is a giant price jump between the two sizes.... I don't get how they price copper tubing. Everywhere has wildly varying prices, it's almost like they just randomly come up with numbers in their head. I can get two 25' rolls of 1/2" for less than one 50' roll... but one 50' roll of 3/8" is cheaper than two 25' rolls.
I have a 9-gallon SS kettle on the way, and I'll be doing 5-gal batches to start. My local hardware store is selling their 25' rolls of 3/8" and 1/2" copper tubing for the same price (okay, the 1/2" is one cent more expensive). If I go with 25' of 1/2", would that be good enough? I've read in some places that 20' of 3/8" is plenty, and others who say you shouldn't go with less than 50'. I know the 1/2" gives you a bit more surface area though, so would I be alright? I don't want something that is the bare minimum either.
If I end up going to 50', I'll be going with 3/8" as then there is a giant price jump between the two sizes.... I don't get how they price copper tubing. Everywhere has wildly varying prices, it's almost like they just randomly come up with numbers in their head. I can get two 25' rolls of 1/2" for less than one 50' roll... but one 50' roll of 3/8" is cheaper than two 25' rolls.