Sculpture Questions

[El Hefe]

First off I am new to the forums so if these questions have already been answered somewhere I apologize. I have spent the last several hours searching throughout these posts seeking the answers but have not found them as of yet.

I am in the process of rebuilding my entire system from ghetto brewing to (ultimately) a Brutus10 style setup. I could use a little help here.

In the BYO issue that covered the B10 it mentioned that the QD's could be purchased at any big box hardware store, all I have found at Lowes/HD are QD's for air compressors/tools and they look pretty crappy and I don't trust the metal they use. I am currently using some of the plastic QD's for my kegging system as I have both corney and firestone kegs. They seem to work well but I just won't trust them for the brewing process. Looking around the posts here I see that everyone seems to be using something different. I have scoured McMasterCarr and B3 as well as several other specialty sites and the options are vast.
I have even seen some not using any at all http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8466&hilit=flow+control

So the first question is which is the best/preferred way to go ( plastic/SS/Brass/or none) ???

Now for a pump question, Since the Marsh pumps are basically gravity feed will they run slow enough (with a valve) to get an hour sparge on a 5 gallon batch? I have been using a ShurFlo pump ( diaphragm pump) on my system with some luck but could never get the flow rate slow enough for a 1 hour sparge. I going to switch over to a March pump (or 2) but was still concerned about flow rates. I realize a valve needs to be on the outflow and have one on the ShurFlo now but I still couldn't get the flow rate down low enough. The pump would actually shutdown due to the back pressure.

Any thoughts/recommendations?

[Intoxicologist]

El Hefe

Welcome!!

I cannot answer the first question, but I have a March Pump from B3 and it works great for the sparge. The big thing is to attach a ball valve on the "out" side of the pump. You can choke (I said choke) that back as much as you want and not worry about running it dry. I regularly run 90min sparges with no program and even occassionally shut off the ball valve with no problems with back pressure. It works great

[Mylo]

Depends on how much money you want to spend. I think they all do the job just fine. I have the polysulfone (polly-cell-phone.. tee hee hee) ones. They work swell. I like them because they don't get hot. Although, if you do a brutus right - you shouldn't have to disconnect them during the session. I have a gravity system right now and I have to disconnect. I am also designing my single tier, brutus clone.

March pumps are awesome and you can dial them down to a trickle if you want.


Mylo

[El Hefe]

Thanks for the input guys....

I have been running the gravity system for a while now and am tired of fighting temperature issues using the cooler as an MT and have my new MT on order with B3 but since I am upgrading the system I figure I might as well go all out. What surprised me was the photos of in this thread http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8466&hilit=flow+control whereby there no discernible clamps being used at all on the tubing. I also purchased some of the silicon tubing and was curious if the tubing connection is tight enough to prevent air as well as fluid leaks without the clamps or normal barbed fittings. I may be just over thinking everything at this point.

[Mylo]

They might not be needed, but they won't hurt. I have clamps on mine. You definately don't want to crank them down, however.


Mylo

[foomench]

In that photo I see ball valves all over the place, so that can pretty well control the flow.

I have the polysulfone QDCs and that work just fine with a few exceptions:
1) They have a cross internally that can clog with hops or grain if you aren't otherwise careful.
2) The o-rings can wear out, even if you use keg lube. Not a biggie, just have spares. Also, this might be an issue with the alternatives. I don't know for sure.
3) One day I just had one of my polysulfone QDCs just crack. I think the high temps and a little stress were too much for it. Luckily I had spare hardware.

I think I bought my QDCs at both B3 and NB. They also sell them at US Plastics.

As I'm outfitting my new system, I'm considering switching to the SS QDCs.

Oh, I have one March pump too. I use it to recirculate through my HERMS and to pump from my HLT to the mash tun. You might be able to run it for a full hour sparge, but I can't say for sure. I turn it off periodically. Right now I'm draining my mash using gravity and a ball valve. In my new system I'm thinking of using a grant with a float switch, but that is a little ways off.

-Eric

[Mylo]

I have the polysulfone QDCs and that work just fine with a few exceptions:
1) They have a cross internally that can clog with hops or grain if you aren't otherwise careful.

That's nothing that a dremel tool can't solve...


Mylo

[foomench]

That's nothing that a dremel tool can't solve...

I was slightly worried my dremelling wouldn't be smooth and might introduce nooks and crannies for bugs. Of course I guess I have a polisher attachment for the dremel too. -Eric