The various hardware items for producing beer or wine. Includes buckets, carboys, kegs, hoses, airlocks, etc.
Questions tagged [equipment]
273 questions
17
votes
4 answers
First Time Homebrewer Setup
There was a request for difficult questions, but having never brewed, this is all I've got:
Can you describe the most basic setup (preferably one with a reasonably low difficulty and high success rate) for a first time brewer? Information on where…
tcabeen
- 171
- 3
11
votes
5 answers
Best way to mill grains
I've brewed many extracts but want to get into whole grain brewing. What equipment do I need? Any recommendations for beginner / low-cost grain mills?
Tim B.
- 111
- 4
10
votes
5 answers
What material should I make my brew paddle with?
I've been using the cheap plastic spoon that you'll typically find at your local homebrew store. It's pretty terrible when it comes to agitating my mash tun. Heat + Resistance = Bent plastic spoon.
I've been thinking about making my own wood paddle.…
chrislarson
- 1,412
- 1
- 15
- 21
5
votes
2 answers
Brass vs. Stainless Steel for fittings
I see both brass and stainless fittings for sale. Which is appropriate to use when?
Rich Armstrong
- 5,197
- 4
- 39
- 61
5
votes
1 answer
After remaining inactive for a long time, what gear would need to be replaced and what gear can be cleaned/reused?
It's been over 5 years since I brewed my last batch. I'll be moving in a few months into a new place and I'll be able to start brewing again, the problem is what equipment is toast from sitting idle after that long and what equipment can be…
Pulsehead
- 1,918
- 3
- 20
- 32
4
votes
3 answers
Quick disconnects - cheap alternatives?
I'm looking to get some 1/2" NPT & barbed quick-disconnect fittings for my little brewery, making it easier to break down and clean, as well as give me some flexibility in what I'm sending where.
I was expecting to find the fittings in brass for…
Jeremy Holovacs
- 579
- 1
- 8
- 15
4
votes
3 answers
Is there a standard siphoning hose size?
We have a hose that fits some of our equipment (bottle filler wand) but it is loose on both the racking cane and auto siphon. Is there a standardized size for this equipment or does it vary?
Joe Phillips
- 2,169
- 5
- 24
- 35
3
votes
3 answers
Should I upgrade my thermometer or just re-calibrate it?
I'm asking this because I recently made the switch to all grain brewing, and I'd like to make sure I'm as accurate as possible for mash temps.
I have a plain dial thermometer that I used for some extract brews (bought for ~$10 at my LHBS), but I'm…
Jeremy
- 147
- 2
- 6
3
votes
1 answer
What supplies to bring to a beer festival?
At the risk of being flagged off-topic, as this is a bit tangential to actual brewing and fermentation...
It's Spring, and the beer festival season isn't exactly in "full-swing" yet, but I don't know too many homebrewers who don't try to attend at…
baka
- 6,613
- 4
- 24
- 43
3
votes
1 answer
Is normal PVC tubing okay for a racking tube?
I'm having a few issues finding food-grade plastic tubing to use a racking tube.
Is normal clear PVC tubing that you'd get at a hardware store okay for this? (Once it's been sterilized etc of course)
For sterilizing these, is it okay to boil them in…
smylie
- 463
- 5
- 10
3
votes
2 answers
Closed immersion system
I want to build a closed immersion wort chiller system. Does any one have a suggestion for the type of pump I should get? I figure since the water isn't actually going in the beer it doesn't have to be food grade. Any suggestions would be…
Two2one66
- 161
- 5
3
votes
4 answers
Is it possible to use beer taps to control water to a faucet?
For my basement bar, I would like to mount 2 beer taps (1 hot, 1 cold) to the wall. Water would come out a faucet just like a normal sink. You would pull the beer tap to turn on water, with temp adjusted based on how far open hot water or cold water…
MDW
- 31
- 1
- 3
3
votes
2 answers
Equipment for Raising Mashout temp
We are currently using a pump to circulate the mash through a coil in the heated sparge water, this works well and reaches mash out in under 20 min. The only worry is with the water in the sparge being around 90 c will that have an effect on the top…
Maxi
- 31
- 1
2
votes
3 answers
Can a water heater element be installed in a conduit punched hole?
I'm thinking I want to build myself a kettle with a heater, a valve and a cooling coil. So four holes. probably, two different sizes
Perusing the electricbrewery.com site, they stress the need to use a chassis/radio punch, but they're expensive. For…
mmccoo
- 153
- 6
2
votes
2 answers
My question is about Disconnects
Ok, I am an old dude with arthritic hands and would like to know just how hard is it normally to attach a disconnect to a post. I push as hard as I can but have to hit the top with a rubber hammer for it to finally connect.
Would this be over the…
Ian McGrigor
- 31
- 1