Homebrewing "hardware"

if you don't brew all grain, you should buy a Depot 10 gallon cooler. http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/...grain-equipment/rubbermaid-10-gal-cooler.html

this cooler is maybe $40 at HD? the you build the manifold with copper for another $10. piece together the tubing and valves for $25 or so.
you just built an all grain mash tun with plenty left over for grain and yeast. easy.

or buy a GFCI receptacle. $25 and you need it if you don't have it.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Tower-Ma...nual-Reset-30338024-08/202510258#.UdNxn77D9uE

you surely need a few spray bottles
http://www.homedepot.com/p/ZEP-32-oz-Professional-Sprayer-HDPRO36/100007602#.UdNx477D9uE
because you want to have your sanitizer of choice handy at all times.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Manchester-40-DOT-OPD-Steel-Propane-Tank-1220-13/100125564#.UdNyPr7D9uE
this 40# propane cylinder will save a lot of headaches. will double your boil capacity in fact.


my wife bought a mess of these storage containers
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=storage containers&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=Search All
in various sizes to keep it all together. I divide each container into mash/boil/chill/ferment and there it is. if i'm looking for an airlock it wont be in the mash box. if I need grains or salts, its not in the ferment box etc. very handy.

and you can always buy some copper coil if you don't already have a chiller. copper is expensive these days, but the DIY method is way cheaper than buying pre-built (we didn't have any pre-built anything 20 years ago when I got started sonny boy!)

I can go on. it was fun shopping with you.
Cheers.

 

+1 for billandsuz! He didn't leave much left.

Tubing, build a furniture dolly to move buckets and carboys around...With stainless round bar, flat bar, and nut/bolt you could make a paddle attachment for a drill to whirlpool while chilling or mix mash tun or LME/DME.

 

I agree on the "get the stuff to make a 10 gallon mash tun" idea. Go all grain if you're not already doing so.

 

Another vote both for mash tun stuff and immersion chiller stuff. Get the big coil of copper tube for the chiller and if you've got money left over, never a bad idea to buy a small coil to make a pre-chiller. Actually, I would place the chiller parts before the mash-tun parts priority-wise.

 

I would get some more homer buckets, change out my rv water hoses(white hose), get some stainless steel scrubbers, and build a water filter if you dont have one all ready..Thats about 50bucks worth of stuff..

 

Get the easy-open lids along with the homer buckets, too:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Leaktite-5-Gal-Screw-Top-Lid-5GAMMA6/203205720#.UdQp96zDDz4

They cost more than the bucket does, but you can seal bulk grains in them and should last for years. 2 5-gallon buckets will hold a 50 lb bag worth, and with the screw-on lids that would be about $30 off the card.

 

My wife does this to me sometimes...buys me Lowe's or HD gift cards instead of homebrew stuff. I usually go stock up on the little red oxygen tanks and some paint straining bags for my hop spider. Throw in a propane tank refill and your $50 is gone.

 

Great post, curious what you use the GFCI for though (assuming you brew with propane)?

 

Sorry to threadjack, but how do y'all dispose of those little red oxygen tanks? I think I have 4 of them and throwing them in the trash just seems like a bad idea. I asked the big box stores if they take them back but they didn't think they did.

 

Anything electrical you use near your brewing set-up...pump, computer, heat stick, music, etc...should be plugged into a GFCI protected outlet.

 

I just throw mine in the trash. Been doing it this way for years.

 

Good enough for me. Thanks!

 

GFCI is for sissies!

Seriously, though, that's a good idea. If your house is less than 20 or 30 years old, or the outlet you're using has been installed during that time, it is likely already GFCI protected. If it's got 'Test' and 'Reset' buttons, then you're good to go. If not, then check the breaker for that circuit. It may be there.

 

I would agree that wort chiller and pre-chiller comes before mash tun. A well chilled extract batch may well be better than a poorly chilled all grain one.

My wort chiller was a huge improvement over ice, but my pre-chiller was an even bigger improvement over my wort chiller (at least when it's hot, and the tap water is well over 70F, which is most of the year around here).

 

Thanks, makes sense about the pump etc...i'm using gravity and an Ipad so I couldnt think of what would be plugged in near the kettle

 

Our recycling company that picks up from our curb will take them.

 

Perhaps your wife is trying to send a message about doing some home improvement projects instead of homebrewing? If so, perhaps she is being too subtle?