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Author Topic: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?  (Read 6380 times)

Offline pliny

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Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« on: September 22, 2016, 10:59:40 AM »
I was shopping around a saw some Stainless Steel immersion chillers?
I own a copper one and it's fine. It's a bit tarnished from many batches but it doesn't  stop me or bother me much.

I'm upgrading to 10 gallons and need a bigger chiller.

Just wondering if stainless is the way to go or is it all the same and should I just go with the better price?

Offline robcoombs

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #1 on: September 22, 2016, 12:12:14 PM »
You should talk to @blisster  about his hydra chiller

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« Last Edit: September 22, 2016, 12:16:33 PM by robcoombs »

Offline blisster

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2016, 12:39:16 PM »
I don't think there are any advantages of a SS chiller over copper one, other than aesthetics...  Copper is a much better thermal conductor than SS and much cheaper.

This is the one I have, quite pricey but works very well and highly recommended:

http://jadedbrewing.com/products/the-hydra
http://jadedbrewing.com/pages/chiller-comparisons

You are welcome to borrow it for a test if you are thinking of going that route.  :cheers:

Give a man a beer and he'll waste an hour, teach him how to brew beer and he'll waste a lifetime.

Offline Alain2

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #3 on: September 22, 2016, 01:31:01 PM »
I have a 3/8"x 25' SS immersion chiller and it takes for ever to cool the wort.

Buy cheap, cry twice.

I'm personally thinking about a counter flow chiller, something like this: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/CounterFlow-Wort-Chiller-The-ExChilerator-25-MAX-/251537252257?hash=item3a90c9dfa1:g:mF0AAOSwQiRUpwp-

Offline pliny

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #4 on: September 22, 2016, 01:46:16 PM »
I have a 3/8"x 25' SS immersion chiller and it takes for ever to cool the wort.

Buy cheap, cry twice.

I'm personally thinking about a counter flow chiller, something like this: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/CounterFlow-Wort-Chiller-The-ExChilerator-25-MAX-/251537252257?hash=item3a90c9dfa1:g:mF0AAOSwQiRUpwp-

@Alain2 it takes a long time to cool? Are you on a 10 gallon system?


Offline robcoombs

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #5 on: September 22, 2016, 02:10:42 PM »
I just have a 50' 1/2" but it works quite well. I've never thought about switching.

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Offline pliny

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #6 on: September 22, 2016, 02:34:53 PM »
I just have a 50' 1/2" but it works quite well. I've never thought about switching.

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50' is a good size in my opinion. And you're 10 gallon, correct? Or maybe you switch between 5 and 10 gal.?

Offline Alain2

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #7 on: September 22, 2016, 02:39:41 PM »
I have a 3/8"x 25' SS immersion chiller and it takes for ever to cool the wort.

Buy cheap, cry twice.

I'm personally thinking about a counter flow chiller, something like this: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/CounterFlow-Wort-Chiller-The-ExChilerator-25-MAX-/251537252257?hash=item3a90c9dfa1:g:mF0AAOSwQiRUpwp-

@Alain2 it takes a long time to cool? Are you on a 10 gallon system?

5.5-6  gallon and it takes 20 minutes. The temperature drops quickly to 50-60c, but it takes for ever to bring it down in the 20s.

Offline robcoombs

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #8 on: September 22, 2016, 02:58:52 PM »
I just have a 50' 1/2" but it works quite well. I've never thought about switching.

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50' is a good size in my opinion. And you're 10 gallon, correct? Or maybe you switch between 5 and 10 gal.?
Usually 5 gallon but I do the odd 10. It is generally 10-15 minutes to chill based on the time of year. I'm also on a well so the water is pretty cold. I'm brewing 10 gallons this weekend, I'll time it.

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Offline nagirroc

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #9 on: September 23, 2016, 08:52:20 AM »
I purchased these http://www.everwoodavebrewshop.com/product-p/ebs-tbd-00089.htm from everwood and built a ~47 ft counter flow chiller with 1/2" SS tubing. It cost ~$150. It chills 11 gallons to 60F in ~25 minutes. Not as pretty or compact as a plate chiller but cleans up nicely by flushing with hot tap water.

Offline robcoombs

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #10 on: September 25, 2016, 07:33:31 PM »
Chilled a 8 gallon batch today down to 60F in 17 minutes.

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Offline ECH

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #11 on: September 26, 2016, 12:54:54 AM »
I have an SS one, and never had an issue cooling wort down in reasonable time.

Never timed it myself, but wouldn't be any more then 20-25min for a 5 gal batch.

Offline Roger

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Re: Does anyone own a SS Chiller?
« Reply #12 on: September 26, 2016, 07:34:56 PM »
I have a 50', 1/2" copper imersion chiller and it takes me 15minutes to chill 12 gallons to 68° using a recirculating/ whirlpool arm and pump. If I we're in the market for a new one I'd probably get a Hydra chiller like @blisster has.