Heat stick

[Chris Craig]

Have any of you used something like this? http://www.3d0g.net/brewing/heatstick

It's pretty cheap to make, and I'm wondering how beneficial it would be for my setup.  I'd like to reduce the length of time it takes to boil.  I'm using an 85,000 BTU burner, but for a 10 gal batch, it still takes some time to get the wort up to a boil.

Is it even worth it for me?

[Jmac00]

i beleive Hawoh uses these...or has built a couple. There was a link to his page but i lost it.

are you using any type of wind barrier around the propane burner? that might increase efficiency.

[fakr]

I have a lab grade 1500W glass tube heater that I throw into my sparge water to keep it up to temperature but never used it for a boil.  Not sure it really has enough surface area to make a difference.

I was considering using it in my mash tun to keep my mash temp consistent.

[Chris Craig]

Yeah.  I probably wouldn't see much of a difference.  At least, not enough of a difference to bother making one of these.