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Thread: Putting together a 10gal system super cheap

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    Default Putting together a 10gal system super cheap

    So I'm getting my 10gal system together. I still need to cut the top off this keg (free!), been putting that off. I'm hoping I can sit the mash tun on a big garbage can I have (that's sanitary right? ) to drain it in to the kettle. Worst case I could carry each sparge outside and dump it in. I need a way to heighten the boil kettle so I can siphon or drain into fermenters or my small pot since it's shorter and wider (probably siphon, I'm cheap), then dump in the bucket. Do you think the legs of the burner would create too much concentrated pressure on cinder blocks, or do you think it would be fine? Burner, keg, and ~13gal of wort. Any better (cheap) ideas? I'll use my 8gal kettle for heating sparge water on the stove. I've heated 7+gal multiple times for big 5gal batches. I have a wort chiller, 50' of 3/8". Wish it was 1/2" or more, oh well. I still need to wrap it around a corny keg to fit the 1/2barrel keg dimension better. Wrapping it around an Ale Pail worked great for my wider boil pot. Anything I'm forgetting? Any suggestions?

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    Hellhound On My Ale BlindLemonLars's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ODaniel View Post
    I'm hoping I can sit the mash tun on a big garbage can I have (that's sanitary right? )
    Oh man, who would do such a thing? Technically though, this is a recycle bin. Note the sanitary cobwebs and debris around the wheels.

    I've got to say, the thing I love most about my simple brewstand is that I no longer have to Macgyver a way to put my MLT or kettle at an appropriate height every time I brew. It doesn't have to be expensive, if you get creative. Mine is built on a steel service cart from a Mervyn's going-out-of-business auction, $20. Okay, the pump helps too. Sure beats screwing around with cinder blocks and trash cans...believe me, I did my share of that.


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    I may be able to get some kind of stand for MLT and burner/kettle later this year. I sure as hell can't afford a pump. Right now I have no room for a stand, and I mean no room. Moving places at the end of summer. I am way in debt, so I'd rather do things cheaper with more time and effort.

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    Illuminati Publick House JXLT's Avatar
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    BLL, I agree. The pump is a serious back saver. I'm still working on a stand but I think I'm just going to build something that I can later convert into a RIMS system without redoing everything.
    No great genius has ever existed without some touch of madness.

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    Jewsus Lerxst's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ODaniel View Post
    I sure as hell can't afford a pump.
    IDK if I'd want to be in the situation of possibly having to horse 10 gallons around with out having a pump handy first.

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    Like I said, I would be siphoning from the kettle into fermenters. I won't have to carry 10+ gal at any time. I'll still have to dump the strike and sparge water in the MLT by hand, and lift the MLT on to the counter (or trash can), but I'm used to that.

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