Building my first AG set - the log

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KJK

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Firstly, thank you so much for your warm welcome on the forum. I've only been here for a moment and already my understanding of the subject rose from negligible to above negligible ;)

In this thread I am going to publish, discuss and update the shopping list of my first homebrewing set. I hope you can chip in your knowledge and make it better.


Milling
Bulldog Malt Mill 84.00GBP
http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/acatalog/The-Roller-Mill.html#.VkxEn2JsjPo

My choice because it appears to me it should crush the grains and not turn them into flour.


Mashing/Boiling/Chilling
Grainfather 595.00GBP (thanks Wilfy!)
http://www.homebrewlife.co.uk/grainfather-all-grain-brewing/

Chosen because of really good forum reviews and the lack of space at home.

Stainless Steel Paddle 61cm 14.99GBP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stainless...792323?hash=item4af37f6503:g:g40AAMXQCZ1Tc3Gd


Sparging
Sparge Water Heater 85.10GBP
http://www.grainfather.co.uk/#!onli...eater-UK-Version/p/53779674/category=12389141

I have no other effortless means of heating the water up to the required temperature.


Fermenting
30L Plastic Fermenter (two) 36.00GBP (72.00GBP)
ORDERED 19/11/15,
POSTED (Parcelforce) 19/11/15

DELIVERED 20/11/15
http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk...nter_with_Large_Lid_and_Tap.html#.VkxztWJsjPp


Fermentation Chamber
STC-1000 11.55GBP
ORDERED 19/11/15
POSTED 20/11/15
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231364760091?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Fridge 20.00GBP
WON 19/11/15,
COLLECTION DUE 25/11/15

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTYwMFgxMjAw/z/JcQAAOSw~bFWLg5A/$_57.JPG

60W Electric Tube Heater 18.14GBP
ORDERED 21/11/15
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/361198329558?var=630557731010


Bottling
Twin Lever Capper 11.69GBP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Twin-Leve...301041?hash=item33ac416d31:g:q34AAMXQh8NTc~OH
or
Another Twin Lever Capper with 100 caps 13.75GBP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Crown-Cap...136089?hash=item51c49f7759:g:5BMAAOSwcu5UNRAz

Bottle Drainer 50 bottles 19.75GBP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bottle-Dr...144026?hash=item51d7feb19a:g:CkkAAOSw9NxTtWup

Bottle Filler 4.95GBP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Easy-Auto...507579?hash=item51da48133b:g:~WoAAOSwA4dWJNrp


Other
Refractometer 14.99GBP
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Portable-...451883?hash=item3aa66fdc2b:g:18IAAOSwrklVOgK8


Comments and ideas much appreciated!

Best regards,
Chris
 
For your fermentation chamber it might be easier to convert a fridge? There's lots of threads on making a brew fridge. Haven't made one myself but am planning to so have done a bit of research.

In brief (someone please correct me if I'm wrong) you connect the fridge and a heater to an stc1000 temp controller. The fermenter goes in the fridge with the heater and the temperature probe from the stc1000. If it's too warm the stc1000 powers the fridge (to start cooling) or the heater if it's too cold. You can adjust the settings then so the temperature doesn't fluctuate too much or too quickly.
 
Also if you're spending that much you may as well get a bench capper rather than a twin leaver type.

Should be a good set up.
 
Thanks for your input Dan.

I like how a bench capper looks like and operates, but it seems to be a lot bigger than the lever one, and that is really important to me. Besides, I'll be bottling no more than 50 bottles at a time - I can do it! :)

I've been thinking about adapting a fridge, but I need to read more about the subject.
 
Two 30L plastic fermenters ordered. Once they are here they will help me to assess the necessary size of my fermentation chamber.

Edit
Also bought STC-1000 for 11.55GBP.
 
Fermenters on their way with Parcelforce after a phonecall from the Home Brew Shop :)

Will collect the fridge on Wednesday:
$_57.JPG


Any ideas which heating component should I use?
 
Grainfather is ����£612.70 from Geterbrewed.co.uk with Forum discount.
They`ve put the price up by ����£45 since I bought mine about a month ago.
No need to spend ���£85 on a boiler.Get this 1 from Amazon fr ���£44 and keep track of how long it takes to get to 75C,so you can time it(around 30 mins for 18 litres in mine)http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00IECC0LS?keywords=water%20boiler&qid=1447972862&ref_=sr_1_17&sr=8-17

60w tube heater from Ebay for around ��£14 is plenty
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Message to all - please do not post discount codes in open forum. They are for members only. If you wish to advise people of the discount codes, please provide the link, not the codes. Ta.
 
Bought a small fridge and... it turns out the FV is too wide for it :doh:

Will probably try to build my own chamber capable of housing two FVs...
 
It would appear I am no longer able to edit my original post...

Anyway, bought another fridge - this time the FV fits very well, so I am going to stick with the original idea of simply adding the heating element to it. I should have some time on Saturday to wire and test everything.

I also decided to buy a hydrometer, so I can test the product both in terms of putting some numbers on it, and drinking it ;)
Additionally, I thought a food thermometer might be a good idea as well.
 

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