Galvanized steel, will it rust? Is it safe?

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fury_tea

fury_tea

Landlord.
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I'm planning on making an extraction system for my garage (which has no windows). I use a Robobrew, I was thinking of using an in-line extraction fan with some kind of lid that I can put over the top during a boil connected to the garage vent (which is about 0.5m from the ground). I thought an incinerator lid could be a good option as I can buy the diameter I need and it also has a vent already moulded on top, but it's made of galvanised steel.

My wife once bought a galvanised mop bucket and that became extremely rusty after a couple of months.

The other option (which I talked about with @foxy) was using a stainless steel catering bowl, and cutting a hole in that, but that's obviously more work.
 
foxy said:
Use the gal and dry it after each brew, getting a bit of zinc in the brew won't hurt. Do you have to cut it?
Click to expand...
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I wouldn't have to cut it, no. I was thinking of attaching the pipe directly to the top of that.
 
foxy said:
Ideal. Are you going to use flexible ducting?
Click to expand...

Maybe, maybe not, maybe both.

As my vent is lower than the *kettle, I think solid pipe would be best to allow condensed steam to flow out of the vent. Plus I think solid pipe would just look better, even if I just use plastic. What I may do is install the solid pipe and extractor the wall and then when I want to use it just attach the lid with flexi pipe. Then I can cap the vent when not in use to stop drafts coming in, as well.
 
Last edited:
fury_tea said:
I'm planning on making an extraction system for my garage (which has no windows). I use a Robobrew, I was thinking of using an in-line extraction fan with some kind of lid that I can put over the top during a boil connected to the garage vent (which is about 0.5m from the ground). I thought an incinerator lid could be a good option as I can buy the diameter I need and it also has a vent already moulded on top, but it's made of galvanised steel.

My wife once bought a galvanised mop bucket and that became extremely rusty after a couple of months.

The other option (which I talked about with @foxy) was using a stainless steel catering bowl, and cutting a hole in that, but that's obviously more work.
Click to expand...

You should be fine with a Galv hood for your extractor, it only gets iffy and releases fumes when it gets very very hot, so all should be good there.
If you cut it or drill it, you will expose the steel underneath, which will in time rust, as it will if it gets scored or scratched.
Ever thought of looking on gumtree or local recycling centre, you may get a small used, clean, unwanted cooker hood that you may be able to use, which can just be plugged into a socket. It will have a suction fan and light which may help your cause also.
 
Good idea, slope the pipe so all the drips run away from your brew. I wouldn't have thought of that.
 
Mavroz said:
You should be fine with a Galv hood for your extractor, it only gets iffy and releases fumes when it gets very very hot, so all should be good there.
If you cut it or drill it, you will expose the steel underneath, which will in time rust, as it will if it gets scored or scratched.
Ever thought of looking on gumtree or local recycling centre, you may get a small used, clean, unwanted cooker hood that you may be able to use, which can just be plugged into a socket. It will have a suction fan and light which may help your cause also.
Click to expand...

I did think about a hood, and I am still considering it. I think that would look better, but then I would have to deal with moving the Robobrew to the hood while full of hot wort after sparging. The suction needs to be as close to the source as possible to catch the most steam, so that's why I was looking for something that I can place directly on top of my unit.
 
Hi. Ensure you thoroughly dry the cover after use. Maybe buy a couple of spares in case rust develops (dependants on how good the galvanising is.
If using plastic ducting make sure it cam handle steam temperatures, I have hade some melt under these conditions.

You will need to leave a gap between the boiler and lid to allow for a positive airflow, and yes you do get some dripping but hopefully it is sanitised by the steam.
 
fury_tea said:
I did think about a hood, and I am still considering it. I think that would look better, but then I would have to deal with moving the Robobrew to the hood while full of hot wort after sparging. The suction needs to be as close to the source as possible to catch the most steam, so that's why I was looking for something that I can place directly on top of my unit.
Click to expand...
The mash would not really produce steam, mash with the lid on, going into the boil a vented lid comes into its own, giving a good vigorous boil. Moving the Robobrew is not advisable if picking it up by the handles they are only spot welds. Could you not slide it into position so it comes under the hood?
Also get some distilling conditioner to prevent this.
003.JPG
 
One possibility is to have it on some sort of trolley that can be locked into position, sparged etc in one place then pushed over to the hood for the boil. This sounds somewhat dangerous though which is why I was thinking of ideas to bring the hood to the robo, not the contrary.
I could come up with some sort of contraption to move a kitchen cooker hood out of the way, using drawer slides or something, but now it's all getting a bit Wallace and Grommet. Next I'll have a tilting bed which will tip me out when my alarm goes off in the morning...
 
fury_tea said:
One possibility is to have it on some sort of trolley that can be locked into position, sparged etc in one place then pushed over to the hood for the boil. This sounds somewhat dangerous though which is why I was thinking of ideas to bring the hood to the robo, not the contrary.
I could come up with some sort of contraption to move a kitchen cooker hood out of the way, using drawer slides or something, but now it's all getting a bit Wallace and Grommet. Next I'll have a tilting bed which will tip me out when my alarm goes off in the morning...
Click to expand...
You will come up with something, home brewing fires up the imagination somewhat.athumb..
 
If the incinerator lid is oversize so the outer lip is way past the top of your brew kettle then any drips that form should drip outside of it and not into it.

Have a look for 100mm fire resistant flexible ducting. It is made specifically for cooker hood extraction, is grey, and made from silicone reinforced with fibreglass mat. It will be more robust than the aluminium type and the plastic type used for tumble dryers won't survive the heat.

I would use solid ducting for the fan near the wall which could be 100mm plastic as it will just be getting damp air by then.

The galvanising should last for years as long as you don't use alkaline cleaners on it and it gets dry after use.

I did manage to buy a cooker hood from a car boot sale for £5 so is worth keeping a look out -even if you just strip the fan out of it.
 
fury_tea said:
Maybe, maybe not, maybe both.

As my vent is lower than the *kettle, I think solid pipe would be best to allow condensed steam to flow out of the vent. Plus I think solid pipe would just look better, even if I just use plastic. What I may do is install the solid pipe and extractor the wall and then when I want to use it just attach the lid with flexi pipe. Then I can cap the vent when not in use to stop drafts coming in, as well.
Click to expand...
Having a downward sloping outlet pipe is a good idea but you should also make sure the diameter of the hood is quite a bit more than your pot because even with a fan helping you (which must be designed to get wet) you will still get a lot of condensate on the underside of the hood that will run down and drip off the edges.
 
I agree with making sure you dry the galvanised steel

I made this mistake with a washer and had to change it as it was badly rusted
 

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