30L or 40L boiler

[SweetMoFo]

I am going to buy a boiler and was looking at the 40L Buffalo CC193 as many people here use but then I stumbled across this 30L Monarch Professional Electrical Catering Hot Water Boiler at a third the price. I am going to use it for extract brewing but will move to AG in a few months, so my questions are would I regret buying the 30L boiler and if not is this Monarch any good.

Links

Buffalo http://www.nisbets.co.uk/Manual-Fill-Wa ... BpAgf+dwwp

Monarch http://www.guaranteed4less.com/products ... a-urn.html

Monarch Digital (more info) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PROFESSIONAL- ... 5273wt_815

 

[dx4100]

I am going to buy a boiler and was looking at the 40L Buffalo CC193 as many people here use but then I stumbled across this 30L Monarch Professional Electrical Catering Hot Water Boiler at a third the price. I am going to use it for extract brewing but will move to AG in a few months, so my questions are would I regret buying the 30L boiler and if not is this Monarch any good.

Links

Buffalo http://www.nisbets.co.uk/Manual-Fill-Wa ... BpAgf+dwwp

Monarch http://www.guaranteed4less.com/products ... a-urn.html

Monarch Digital (more info) http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PROFESSIONAL- ... 5273wt_815

I just got the Buffalo boiler for £110 from Nisbets Ebay site...

Just checked and none left but worth keeping an eye on!

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Nisbets-Cleara ... 34.c0.m322

 

[Andyhull]

Can i ask why you want to buy a premade boiler?
I made mine very easily and cheaply from a plastic barrel and kettles!

Andy

 

[SweetMoFo]

I just got the Buffalo boiler for £110 from Nesbit Ebay site...

Is that their clearance store? If so was it in good condition and does it still have a guarantee?

 

[dx4100]

I just got the Buffalo boiler for £110 from Nesbit Ebay site...

Is that their clearance store? If so was it in good condition and does it still have a guarantee?

http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Nisbets-Cleara ... 34.c0.m322

Well to be honest i haven't turned it on yet! LOL! Will be doing later...

I unpackaged it and looked perfect...

As for guarantee... I just presumed it did... Statuary rights / Distance Selling Act etc kick in anyway so if its broke I would be getting a refund... :)

I am actually just off to give it a test... I think the ebay store is just to clear off abit of dead stock... Nothing more or less...

 

[SweetMoFo]

Can i ask why you want to buy a premade boiler?
I made mine very easily and cheaply from a plastic barrel and kettles!

Andy

I wanted a shiny Steel one with a concealed element so it is easy to clean and has a temp control on it. I was considering the home made route but ease of use and cleaning have pushed me this way.

 

[Andyhull]

Ok.
I did look at one of the Buffalo ones but decided to start with a cheap home made boiler just in case i can't get to grips with it.

They do look nice, as far as im aware the 30ltr one will only just be big enough for 23lt 40pt brews, you may have to add the wort to the boiler in stages once som of it has evaporated off, but with careful control you may get away with it.

One of the experienced guys will be able to tell you for definate.

 

[dx4100]

Had a quick play with the Buffalo boiler...

Filled it up with 35 litres of very cold water and it had it luke warm in a couple of mins... :)

Didnt go further as I have to do some work

 

[31bb3]

Personally go for the 40l more room less chance of boil over when you do 23l brews you will prob need to sparge to about 28 30l that way theres room for expansion

 

[SweetMoFo]

Personally go for the 40l more room less chance of boil over when you do 23l brews you will prob need to sparge to about 28 30l that way theres room for expansion

I was thinking the 40L will be safer. Glad I started reading the forums before I ordered the brupak 29L one for the same price as this 40L one.

 

[Belter]

40L for definite

 

[SweetMoFo]

Had a quick play with the Buffalo boiler...

Filled it up with 35 litres of very cold water and it had it luke warm in a couple of mins... :)

Didnt go further as I have to do some work

Sounds good, keep me posted when you have more time. Unless I hear somthing realy bad I'll order one after the weekend.

 

[Craven Brewer]

Fortunately I have just come across this thread and I too am looking for a decent boiler.

The Buffalo 40L looks a bargain, especially as there is FREE (my favourite word) shipping until the end of this month.

Pity Nisbets e-bay store no longer has them listed, that would have been a real bargain, but as usual I find these things too late to take advantage. I will still be ordering one this weekend.

Question:
Are the taps easy to replace with a better tap more suited to our use?

 

[Belter]

Fortunately I have just come across this thread and I too am looking for a decent boiler.

The Buffalo 40L looks a bargain, especially as there is FREE (my favourite word) shipping until the end of this month.

Pity Nisbets e-bay store no longer has them listed, that would have been a real bargain, but as usual I find these things too late to take advantage. I will still be ordering one this weekend.

Question:
Are the taps easy to replace with a better tap more suited to our use?

I recently did this. They're very easy to remove but you need a cut a larger whole (voiding your warranty) to facilitate a new tap. You definitely won't want to be using the factory fitted tap.

I can suggest you get a 21mm Q-Max cutter. Buy a 1/2" stainless steel bulkhead from either Vossy on here or Highlander on Jims Beer Kit and a 1/2" stainless ball valve from ebay. Adds to the cost but sorts out flow rates and tap issues.

 

[Craven Brewer]

You definitely won't want to be using the factory fitted tap.

My thoughts entirely, there's no chance of fitting any tubing safely to that tap.
Warranty, who bothers about such trivial matters :shock:

 

[Dave1970]

The 40 l Buffalo needs the space, it give a good strong rolling boil so the evaporation losses are quite high. I need to collect 30-31 litres pre boil to end up with 23 litres in the FV. The 40l has plenty of room for this.

The tap has been replaced with a 15mm tank connector & ball valve...I just enlarged the existing hole by a couple of mm using a cheap drill mounted grindstone from ebay.

 

[VSat]

Nisbets tend to have them cheaper after the summer. I assume a supply/demand issue

 

[SweetMoFo]

Nisbets tend to have them cheaper after the summer. I assume a supply/demand issue

You were not wrong, they are only £99 today. I'm glad I didn't buy it last week.

 

[Belter]

+ vat mind.

 

[SweetMoFo]

Nisbets tend to have them cheaper after the summer. I assume a supply/demand issue

You were not wrong, they are only £99 today. I'm glad I didn't buy it last week.

Just realised its 99+ vat but that's still only £119.98 and free delivery so ordering mine now.