Cheap and cheerful stock pots >20L

[SchemieRadge]

Sorry this has been asked a fair bit in the past but not quite found what I'm looking for (maybe if doesn't exist)

I do BIAB and have been using a 15L stock pot. I feel I could do with slightly bigger batches so I got a 19L stock pot.. this type: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221451443027
Cheap and cheerful.. but turns out it's not really any bigger than my 15L one (maybe they sent the wrong one - not sure - the dimensions quoted seem right). They don't go any bigger than 19L.

So does anyone know where I can get a pot maybe 25-30L at a similar price range (£20-30)?

I know these stock pots are fairly poor quality but I really don't feel the need to get ones any better than this - they do the job fine for me - except for the size.

[rpt]

maybe they sent the wrong one

I ordered one of those 19L ones (although possibly from a different seller) but they sent me the 15L. I didn't realise at first although I must have confirmed it by the dimensions. I got them to refund the difference in price.

[SchemieRadge]

Do you still have a note of the dimensions by any chance?

[Pinto]

The pots 25-40l sadly seem to push into the realms of at least £1/litre - I've spend a LOT of time looking for cheaper ones over time but I've not found much worth reporting. If anything, my current thinking is to go smaller - Im looking at making a Micro AG kit with a 10-12L batch capacity, both from the viewpoint of making more styles of brew, and improving my technique somewhat - where I'd rather make mistakes with 10L than 30L.

Same time, im looking to build a 50L kit, which will be based around ex-brewery 50L Stainless kegs, running on Propane - once I have something worth brewing, it'll be time to fill my 30L polykegs

[rpt]

Do you still have a note of the dimensions by any chance?

I could measure my 15L pot for you if you like.

[AnthonyUK]

Do you still have a note of the dimensions by any chance?

From the ebay page

Code: Select all

Available in 6 sizes

Diameter      Height                Capacity  (APPROX.)

19.5 cm       15.0 cm               4.5 Litres
21 cm          16 cm                  6.0 Litres
23 cm          21.3 cm               8 Litres
25 cm          23  cm                11  Litres
28 cm          25.0 cm              15 Litres
30.0 cm       26.5 cm              19.0 Litres

[themadhippy]

biggest issue with the buckingham stock pots is if you fill em up past the handle,the riveting aint great and they tend to leak from the 4 rivet holes

[Rick_UK]

I ended up building a bucket boiler and going AG for this reason. I've now upgraded to shiney but it served me well and I still use it as a HLT.

Plenty of examples around and can be put together for under 30 quid with a few basic DIY skills and tools.

Rick

[sbond10]

The problem I've found rick is the elements for a quality piece your looking at 25 quid for an element then 25 for a complete tap kit then another 25 for a pp bucket. Still reckon the biab starter from get er brewed could be worth a punt.
It amazes me why boiler makers don't included a head space amount so 32 litre boiling volume with a 40 litre total size

[SchemieRadge]

Yeah Rick I did think about that.. But I seem to be losing some convenience that way. I don't have much space for storage, so BIAB in a stock pot works really well. Once boil is done stick the pot in a cold bath and it's cool in about 15 mins (one of the advantages of very thin cheap stock pots!).
Using a boiler I imagine having to syphon hot wort into another container, then perhaps using a separate cooling device.

My main thing is I don't want to make the process any longer or involve extra bits of kit that need stored (and more importantly, cleaned!)...

[SchemieRadge]

The problem I've found rick is the elements for a quality piece your looking at 25 quid for an element then 25 for a complete tap kit then another 25 for a pp bucket. Still reckon the biab starter from get er brewed could be worth a punt.
It amazes me why boiler makers don't included a head space amount so 32 litre boiling volume with a 40 litre total size

This what you're talking about sbond? http://www.geterbrewed.com/peco-boiler- ... -biab.html
Looks interesting actually. I could do my mashing and boiling in the same bucket?

[Rick_UK]

The problem I've found rick is the elements for a quality piece your looking at 25 quid for an element then 25 for a complete tap kit then another 25 for a pp bucket. Still reckon the biab starter from get er brewed could be worth a punt.
It amazes me why boiler makers don't included a head space amount so 32 litre boiling volume with a 40 litre total size

I used a basic 3kw immersion element that cost a tenner plus a couple of quid for the back but. Fitted this in a 33l FV (£12) ball valve tap for £4. I already had some cable and a plug. I didn't fancy the hacked kettle element approach and the immersion element is bomb proof and plenty powerful enough. Once I realised this was going to be a long term hobby I felt it was worth investing £70 in a 50l SS pot. But it served me well for about 20 brews and still works great as a HLT.

The one above does look like decent value if you don't enjoy DIY mind.

[sbond10]

How did you manage to get a ball valve and it's fittings for 4 quid

[sbond10]

The problem I've found rick is the elements for a quality piece your looking at 25 quid for an element then 25 for a complete tap kit then another 25 for a pp bucket. Still reckon the biab starter from get er brewed could be worth a punt.
It amazes me why boiler makers don't included a head space amount so 32 litre boiling volume with a 40 litre total size

This what you're talking about sbond? http://www.geterbrewed.com/peco-boiler- ... -biab.html
Looks interesting actually. I could do my mashing and boiling in the same bucket?

Yep that's the idea of biab
or this one http://www.geterbrewed.com/peco-boiler- ... oduct/1770

[Rick_UK]

How did you manage to get a ball valve and it's fittings for 4 quid

Local plumbers merchant. You can get them on Fleabay for less. I did have some bits and bobs left over from DIY jobs such as a tank connector, some piping, ptfe tape etc. So you can probably add on another fiver if you're starting with absolutely nowt!

If you're not too strapped its probably worth spending an extra 50 quid on a big SS pot which will last a lifetime. But it is fun trying to do it on a shoestring - I think the modern term is 'ghetto'