30 Litre Tea urn as a wort boiler

[Tehee2000]

I've been looking at these on Ebay/Amazon and was wondering what your thoughts were for using one of these for boiling wort?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-30-L-LITR ... 0870454470

[Dave S]

I've been looking at these on Ebay/Amazon and was wondering what your thoughts were for using one of these for boiling wort?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-30-L-LITR ... 0870454470

Yes you can certainly use them, but if you are planning 23 litre batches, I would aim for 40 litres capacity to allow for boil off.

[Pauliet]

Should be fine for small batches but a bit risky for a 23L batch. I have a very similar one i use as a HLT.

[raiderman]

I used to mash in something similar. Provided you control how much water you use and top up to 23l I don't see a problem. Having said that I'm inreconstructed in these matters and don't mash and biol in seperate containers.

[Brewtaster]

Hi- I use something very similar and it's been very good but can never achieve 23 litres easily mainly due to boil off but also can't really put more than 24-25 litres in due to overboiling risk. Seriously should have gone for 40L job. On the plus side it boils well and due to concealed element is a doddle to clean

Note: I use BIAB technique.

[Tehee2000]

Thanks for all your input gents. I've taken onboard your water volume concerns for boiling up 23l batches which would be my intended batch size. So I may opt for a larger 40l as suggested.

I never thought about using this to hot up sparge water, but I will be purchasing one to do just this , if nothing else.

Where's the best place to buy a decent brew kettle at a decent price? As I have a burner ring and could go down this avenue as opposed to the tea urn/boiler route

Cheers chaps

[Rick_UK]

I upgraded to a 50l stockpot and fitted a ball valve for the tap. The pot was about 60 quid from The Homebrew Company and it's perfect for my needs and I can now brew upto 40l brews.

Rick

[Pinto]

That bloke is also THE most unresponsive seller I've ever dealt with on ebay ! I've messaged him FOUR times now to ascertain the output of the element and whether the thermostat has a boil setting and he's ignored them all.

For that reason.... I'm out

[Dave S]

Thanks for all your input gents. I've taken onboard your water volume concerns for boiling up 23l batches which would be my intended batch size. So I may opt for a larger 40l as suggested.

I never thought about using this to hot up sparge water, but I will be purchasing one to do just this , if nothing else.

Where's the best place to buy a decent brew kettle at a decent price? As I have a burner ring and could go down this avenue as opposed to the tea urn/boiler route

Cheers chaps

If you're going gas a stock pot is probably the way to go. Mr Lard, who posts here has some quite attractive prices and he will fit ball valves etc. for you. His site is here.

[Tehee2000]

I'm prob gonna go stock pot based on your advice and uses. Smaller tea urn for sparge water