Building Homebrew Equipment Read Online Free PDF Page B

holes) if you do not have access to a welder. The top level should be 5’ high, the second level 36” high, and the bottom level about 12” off the ground. The width and length of each level of platform will depend on the size of your brewing equipment. Generally, for modified kegs, about 18” square will work for the shelves. Widen the middle level for the longer dimensions of a picnic-cooler mash tun.
    Make sure you have a small stepstool for filling the top pot, as you do not want to lift a full pot to that height. This is a good application for a pump. If you wish, a single, large propane tank can be strapped onto the outside of the frame instead of messingabout with two or three bottles. Indeed, there may be a substantial savings on propane costs in doing this. Many places charge a flat rate to fill a 20-pound bottle, regardless of how much is left in the tank. If you brew many batches, it may be a better idea to connect to a large outdoor propane tank and really save some money.

    You can build a three-level stand out of metal for a classic gravity-flow tower system. Modify this basic design to fit your own needs.
    MATERIALS FOR A TOWER STAND
    Legs
    4 60” × 1” lengths of angle iron
    2 36” × 1” lengths of angle iron
    3 12” × 1” lengths of angle iron
    Shelf supports
    24 18” × 1” lengths of angle iron with ends cut to 45 degrees Cooker shelf cross member
    6 17 ¾” × 1” lengths of angle iron
    Shelves for propane bottles
    3 18” square sections of expanded aluminum or steel
    Heat shields
    2 18” × 24” long thin aluminum sheets
    3 low-profile 125,000 BTU cookers with bolting brackets on bottom (Camp Chef — Low Profile)
Direction
    1. Cut out all materials as indicated above.
    2. Assemble four shelf supports into a square.
    3. Select three shelf frames for the top cooker shelves.
    4. Measure the distance between the bolt holes on the cookers. Add 1 to this number and subtract from 18. Divide by 2. Measure in this distance from the ends, and set two cross members at this point and weld. Do the same for the other two shelves.
    5. Set the cookers in the center of one of the shelves, mark the mounting holes onto the frame, and drill holes into the cross members. Do the same for the other two shelves. (Do not mount the cookers yet.)
    6. Clamp the 60” legs onto one of the cooker shelves and weld.
    7. Clamp a propane bottle shelf 1” from the bottom of the 60” legs and weld.
    8. Clamp and weld a second propane shelf 28” from the top of the bottom shelf.
    9. Clamp and weld the two 36” legs onto another cooker shelf.
    10. Clamp the last propane shelf 1” from the bottom of the 36” legs and weld.
    11. Weld the middle shelf assembly to the first shelf assembly.
    12. Clamp the two 12” legs onto the last cooker shelf and weld into place.
    13. Weld this short shelf assembly onto the main shelf assembly.
    14. Bolt one propane cooker onto each of the cooker shelves (top shelves).
    15. Using either screws or pop rivets, attach a heat shield to the legs next to the center cooker; then do the same for the bottom cooker. These prevent the bottles of propane from getting too hot.
    16. Put the expanded metal sections on the propane-bottle shelf frames. These sections do not need to be anchored to the frames, but you can do so if you wish.
    17. Set the assembly in its permanent home.
    18. Add propane bottles, and connect them to the cookers.
Check for gas leaks at all connections!
(A mixture of dish soap and water applied to each connection will bubble if there is a gas leak.) Leaks can be sealed with Teflon tape.
    19. Add kettles and you are ready to brew.

    The completed stand for a gravity-flow tower system: As you can see, it is best set up in an extremely well-ventilated location.
    Note:
If you take this to a professional welder and he makes some recommendations that are different from those stated here, please listen to him. He may suggest improvements that could strengthen the system.
    Many