DIY weldless spigot and all grain ?

[Graham]

Hey there BNers I'm making the jump to AG...finally. I have a couple questions.

1. Does anyone know how to make a weldless spigot for my kettle? I'd like to try my hand at making one but don't know what parts to get

2. How much grain do you think a five gallon brewpot will hold? Enough for a high gravity five gallon batch?

Thanks for the help.

[Nimzomitch]

1. Does anyone know how to make a weldless spigot for my kettle? I'd like to try my hand at making one but don't know what parts to get

I looked at getting the weldless stuff together, and found the parts really and I mean really hard to find. $13.50 at morebeer.com seems a good price imo.

2. How much grain do you think a five gallon brewpot will hold? Enough for a high gravity five gallon batch?

I just brewed Jamil's Russian Imperial Stout a couple weeks ago (23 #s of grain) , and I would say no, probably not. It was more than half-filling my 15.5 gallon mash-keg I think.

[BeerMan]

1. Does anyone know how to make a weldless spigot for my kettle? I'd like to try my hand at making one but don't know what parts to get

2. How much grain do you think a five gallon brewpot will hold? Enough for a high gravity five gallon batch?

1. I used 1/4 brass ball valve designed for water shut off to sinks and toilets (ensure you use ball valve not a gate valve) 2 thick rubber o-rings 2 stainless steel washers, all acquired at home depot, except the washers, which I picked up at a marine supply store inside diameter of washer had to be drilled out to match the outside diameter of the valve. Total cost was under 10.00 bucks and the chrome valve looks nice on a SS pot. Tools required a good 7/8th inch drill bit drill press with vice and basic hand tools.

2. I use a 5 gallon cooler for mash tun. My false bottom sits about an inch off the bottom of the cooler I can mash about 16 lbs of grain before it gets to messy. When I'm brewing big beers I formulate my recipe for a 4 gallon batch.

[beer_bear]

I bought all of my valve stuff at Home Depot. I use brass lever vlaves and fittings. E-mail me if you have any questions. I could send you pics.
I also used SS washers from HD and for gaskets I cut up one of the flexible baking pans. That stuff is rated up to 600F, so I figured it would work fo rwhat I need it for. I even use it on my boil kettle. It's a turkey fryer set up, so the flame is really close to the gasket. Hasn't been a problem yet.

[brewsters millionths]

when the hell are home depot opening a uk branch?

[BeerMan]

for gaskets I cut up one of the flexible baking pans.

Great idea I will keep the heat rated gasket in mind as I expand my system.

Sounds like the UK could use a big orange store.

[brewsters millionths]

certainly could my friend. everyone seems to get so much of their kit from there.

[BeerMan]

Home Depot is convenient little bit of everything under one roof but the selection is limited, if I were you I would find a plumbing supply house (they specialize so the selection will rock) give the counter guy a pint or two each visit and you will be amazed how helpful they will become.
Cheers Mike