Beer Forum

I'm in the market to get a new boil kettle /mash tun.
I've always used a regular turkey fryer pot that came with the fryer to mash and boil in. It has no ball valve or thermometer. To chill I have an immersion chiller. When I rack off of the boil kettle I use a racking cane and tubing and go from the top, to try and not get any break material. I want to buy a new stainless pot but. The only use I can see for a ball valve is if you mash in your pot, but then it seems if you consider the price of your false bottom and the ball valve it would be cheaper to find a cheap 5 g igloo on ebay and convert considering they hold temp longer. (For single infusion mashes anyways)

For boiling:
Why would you drain your wort out of the ball valve, wouldn't you get all the break material ifyou drained from the bottom?

When using Jamil's whirlpool method, doesnt' that stir up break material?

Keep in mind I'm not making an argument for pots without ball valves, I'm in the market for a new pot and gathering information to evaluate all options, such as just getting a regular pot and saving the saved cash for a ranco temp controller.

Any pot suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

the Whirlpool sets the break in the center so it DOESN'T come out the valve.
Ball valves drain faster, unless they get cloged.
I would suggest the valve because it is easier, but certainly not a requirement, you can always add one later with a no weld kit if you want.
BUB

I just brewed with my new boil kettle with ball valve for the first time last night. I did get more break material in my fermenter than I did with a siphon, but with a good whirlpool that should be less of a problem. It's definitely more convenient to use the ball valve than a siphon, but I wouldn't consider it a necessity. I bought the kettle for the size (9 gal vs. my old 7.5 gal), not the ball valve, but it is nice to have.

For boiling:
Why would you drain your wort out of the ball valve, wouldn't you get all the break material if you drained from the bottom?

I bought a 15g stainless kettle from morebeer recently. I thought the same as you. The increased cost to get that kettle wasn't worth the ball valve in m opinion. Ball valves are a convenience, no doubt, I'll stick to siphoning anyway.