AG1 – The Eve of Darkness

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AndyBWood

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A chill wind curls around the very foundations of my abode, icy fingers scratch at glass and door and our warmth giving sun hangs low, desperate and forlorn. Have I unwittingly summoned demons by what I have done ? Should I repent now whilst there is still time ? Surely I can be forgiven and salvation granted if, by my hand, grain and water have not yet met ?

As predicted by many of those who entice the unwary on this site, this journey was inevitable and its history carved many moons ago; there was but only ever one conclusion, one fate, one outcome….. I have crossed, I have summoned the Dark Side………


I feel it only right to publicly admonish those who have played no small part in my decent; Aleman for his deft attention to my ill fitting pipe work and Rob (The Malt Miller) who generously offered a similar service. There was no charge, no cost involved; they knew I had been taken……

Without doubt, however, there is one, one so vial that he cares not who reads his published alchemy, he tempts the unwary, he knows our weaknesses, he knows we will fall……… His name is Vossy; fear him – much of the following account is based upon his evil works…..

The Mash Tun

32.5 litre Thermobox

I considered all the pros and cons of this conversion and really wanted to follow Vossy’s lead with the negative dead-space solution, but, in the end I went for an easier bulk-head fitting.

Unfortunately, I’ve no pictures of the build itself but the (semi) finished article took shape as follows :

8396122402_7095935d97_b.jpg


Just as per Vossy’s guide I cut a slot through the bottom skin of the tun to allow access. If anybody ever wanted to ask the question; “can you do this with a Dremel ?”, the answer is yes ! All I had, went through a couple of cutting wheels but it worked.

I then Q-Maxed a 20mm whole through the inner skin.

I thought long and hard about how to fit the drain but in the end came up with this :

Skin-fitting for boats. NB – not my photo (found this on the internet) but I cut the 60mm thread down to a short stub exactly as below.

8392779073_f486c641ff_m.jpg


The fitting then passed through the inner-skin with a ‘really decent’ amount of Fernox LS-X on the understand of it to form a seal. I would have used JB Weld but I wasn’t confident though that if I did need to strip it down and start again the silicon might be easier to deal with.

On the underside, the drain screws directly into an ½ inch elbow, again with a goodly amount of sealant to keep things together and the remaining pipe work is fashioned as per Vossy’s guide.

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Again, taking Vossy’s lead I commissioned John at Hop and Grain to supply the perforated disk for the false bottom. No legs as requested which I made from 3mm dome-head bolts. I’m especially happy with this, perfect ‘engineers’ fit with the beer line taking up any irregularities in the pot wall.

8395040831_32ee334348_b.jpg


8395039659_31451f5248_b.jpg



The HLT and Boiler

Very much as per Vossy’s guide. I did, however, plump for the stainless steel bulkhead solution available via the forum; a real quality piece of kit.

Lock nuts replacing the poor plastic items provided with the elements.

8396125208_9742f4c42d_b.jpg


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3-part ball valve in place with hose-tail.

8395041823_b0678135e0_b.jpg


Sight-glass elbow and (slightly chewed) 10mm fitting for the polycarbonate tube.

8395041947_8eeac0b6dd_b.jpg


For the hop filter I came up with the following :

8395042113_e8a3d967c4_b.jpg


I put a bit of a curve in the pipe so that the 15mm T-fitting sits snugly on the base of the pot. ( I bent the pipe using an Ikea pipe bender – aka – the arm of my sofa – very clever those Nordics..... ) With a length of tubing attached to the ball valve on the outside, and a deft tilt backwards towards the end of the drain, I can remove all but a spash of liquid due to the syphon effect.

8396126020_e94f4000ab_b.jpg


Different arrangement in the HLT; I used a bent tap-connector with a short stub of 15mm pipe to get ‘close to the bottom’.

8396124762_6533706766_b.jpg


So, returning to our story……..

I shall rise early tomorrow filled with a mixture of hope and trepidation. Who knows what will follow, who knows what will ensue but the Dark Side must be embraced and cannot be denied. Every ounce of mustered strength will be needed if I am to prevail; I hope your spirit will be with me oh brothers, I hope AG1 will be kind, I hope ....……

Andy
 
looking good!

What are you going to brew? Might join you and have a brew tomorrow something with alot of Challenger.

rememeber to close those taps, and thread something though you mash screen so you can remove it easily.

Have a good one! :cheers:
 
Thanks All,

AG1 will be Timothy Taylor Landord recipe from Graham Wheeler book. Of that pale ale style, TTL has always been a firm favourite of mine. If I can come anywhere near to half as good as the perfect pint of TTL served up at the West Riding Refreshment Rooms on the platform of Dewsbury train station I'll be more than happy.
 
Kin Hell Andy...when I started reading the first paragraph I thought I was into the new Stephen King book, scared the bejesus out of me. I was waiting for the smegging Devil himself to appear.. :twisted: :lol: :tongue:

Brill writeup & photos....well done, may the beer gods smile down on your first brew.

ps.. The Eve of Darkness, would be a great name for a brew. :thumb:

pps..your right..Vossy is to blame. :lol:
 
Kin Hell Andy...when I started reading the first paragraph I thought I was into the new Stephen King book, scared the bejesus out of me. I was waiting for the smegging Devil himself to appear.. :twisted: :lol: :tongue:
You called :lol: A cracking post Andy, not seen that much brew porn for a while :cool: ..but no shiny warning...who's the evil one now :lol: :tongue:
Without doubt, however, there is one, one so vial that he cares not who reads his published alchemy, he tempts the unwary, he knows our weaknesses, he knows we will fall……… His name is Vossy; fear him – much of the following account is based upon his evil works…..
:rofl: :rofl: resists at your peril :twisted:

Bet you cant wait to wet your steel :party:

Edit...surely this should be on the shiny section...lol
 
Vossy1 said:
resists at your peril :twisted:

See I told you...the old folk would say " call his name and he'll appear".........you wouldn't listen to an old fart like me....now your in BIG trouble.... :lol: :lol:
 
Nice build.

What fitting have you used for the sight glass? I have only seen the plastic john guest push fittings used.

Cheers
K
 
Evening All,

Thanks for all the comments; apologies for the delay in response - work getting in the way of brewing :|

Captured a few notes and picks of AG1 and I'll post in the Brewdays area.

Keevan,

Regarding the fittings I'm not sure who the manufacturer is. I telephone the place quoted in Vossy's build to enquire about John Guest fittings, they didn't have any in stock but, a nice chap called Roy said he did have 'thousands' of others. I turned up to collect and these are nice and heavy for their size and made from plated steel. So, may just need to keep an eye on them but they seem fine for now.

Came in at less than £8.00 for the four of them.

Cheers

:cheers:

Andy
 
Regarding the fittings I'm not sure who the manufacturer is. I telephone the place quoted in Vossy's build to enquire about John Guest fittings, they didn't have any in stock but, a nice chap called Roy said he did have 'thousands' of others. I turned up to collect and these are nice and heavy for their size and made from plated steel. So, may just need to keep an eye on them but they seem fine for now.
That'll be Airflow in Wigan, they're a compressor/pneumatics supplier.
If you do a search on E-bay for "10 push fit 1/2" you'll get loads of results :thumb:
 
Vosseys builds and how to's should come with a government warning.....

May cause poverty.....

:D :D
 
Vossy1 said:
Regarding the fittings I'm not sure who the manufacturer is. I telephone the place quoted in Vossy's build to enquire about John Guest fittings, they didn't have any in stock but, a nice chap called Roy said he did have 'thousands' of others. I turned up to collect and these are nice and heavy for their size and made from plated steel. So, may just need to keep an eye on them but they seem fine for now.
That'll be Airflow in Wigan, they're a compressor/pneumatics supplier.
If you do a search on E-bay for "10 push fit 1/2" you'll get loads of results :thumb:

Andy / Vossy

Cheers for the reply. The ebay ones seem to be rated only up to 60 degrees. I'm going to have a decent search on google at the weekend for 15mm SS versions as i've already bought the tube. Here is a decent place for the JG versions: http://www.airlinkcompressors.co.uk/pro ... r-metric-2
Already bought a set but silver looks better :cheers:

piddledribble said:
Vosseys builds and how to's should come with a government warning.....

May cause poverty.....

:D :D

I know what you mean :D
 
Hi Keevan,

If you turn up a SS fitting let me know; I'd be interested.

When I collected the ones I used the chap I had spoken to wasn't there. So, the question was asked; "do you want the angled ones or the straight ones ?" I answered; "the straight ones please"

Didn't think anything of this at the time but....... if such a beast exists as the angled 1/2 inch male BSP to 10mm push-fit fitting then it looks like it may be possible to do without the 1/2 inch elbow and nipple all together ?

Bob the fitting through the Q-Max hole, bob the 10mm poly pipe in place, bob on a lock nut, bob on a smear of JB / sealant and..... Bob's a close relation of your Mum or Dad.

I might look into this.......

A
 
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