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Author Topic: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.  (Read 10298 times)

Offline Waterlogged

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counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« on: September 18, 2018, 03:41:13 PM »
Hi all,

I am looking into purchasing or building a Counter Flow chiller.  There is one at Noble Grape for about $80 it would require some connectors.

https://www.noblegrape.ca/collections/beer-equipment/products/chiller-counter-flow

The other options is a DIY from BYO.  Im sure the required materials would run me about the same as the one from Noble Grape.

https://byo.com/project/build-counterflow-chiller-thermometer/

Has anyone built one or purchased the one from Noble Grape?  Looking for some wisdom from the Brew Mob!

Reid
« Last Edit: September 18, 2018, 03:46:26 PM by Waterlogged »
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Offline Roger

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #1 on: September 18, 2018, 11:10:09 PM »
Hey Reid,
Just out of curiosity what made you choose a counterflow over an immersion chiller?
Either way I'd just build one if I were you.

Offline Waterlogged

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #2 on: September 19, 2018, 08:21:33 AM »
Hey Reid,
Just out of curiosity what made you choose a counterflow over an immersion chiller?
Either way I'd just build one if I were you.

Hey Roger, I remember using Chris's at a mash-occur and it seemed to work really well.  I share a whirlpool immersion chiller with some friends but am trying to get a few pieces of equipment for home so I don't need to arrange for gear swaps.  The plan for the immersion chiller looks pretty easy until you get to the fittings.  I'm "OK" with soldering but if I don't have to do it I K with that as well.
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Offline jamie_savoie

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Offline Waterlogged

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #4 on: September 19, 2018, 09:23:40 AM »
Thanks Jamie, that is exactly what I have seen in the DIY video.
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Offline Waterlogged

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #5 on: September 19, 2018, 09:29:15 AM »
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Offline feldmann

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #6 on: September 19, 2018, 05:41:59 PM »
Hey Reid,
Just out of curiosity what made you choose a counterflow over an immersion chiller?
Either way I'd just build one if I were you.

Hey Roger, I remember using Chris's at a mash-occur and it seemed to work really well.  I share a whirlpool immersion chiller with some friends but am trying to get a few pieces of equipment for home so I don't need to arrange for gear swaps.  The plan for the immersion chiller looks pretty easy until you get to the fittings.  I'm "OK" with soldering but if I don't have to do it I K with that as well.

I didn't solder my immersion chiller. I just put vinyl tubing over the brass tubing and clamped it on. Clamped the fittings onto the other end of the vinyl tubing.

Offline Two Wheeler

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #7 on: September 24, 2018, 08:01:00 AM »
I built my own immersion chiller, and used compression fittings with 1/2" NPT threads. From there, I screwed on garden hose fittings. They were a bit more expensive, but not terribly so. They don't leak and easily connect to my hoses.
Jordan Harris
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Offline HopHead

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #8 on: September 27, 2018, 02:58:36 PM »
I have a counter flow chiller that I'm looking to sell. Paid $330. Asking $200.  It's a copper tubing setup. Just putting it out there. I only used it once. Decided to continue using my plate chiller.
Richard

Offline Waterlogged

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Re: counter flow chiller: buy -vs- DIY.
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2018, 11:50:56 AM »
I have a counter flow chiller that I'm looking to sell. Paid $330. Asking $200.  It's a copper tubing setup. Just putting it out there. I only used it once. Decided to continue using my plate chiller.

Hi Richard,

I got 50' of 1/2" tubing from home depot the other day so will be building an immersion chiller.  Thanks.

Reid
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