I've noticed that this thread, like most of the brew stand threads, is heavily dominated by the keggle crowd. I'm a kettle/cooler MLT/Batch sparge guy, but I'd still like to make a stand similar to the ones here for my rig. I read through this entire thread (yeah, crazy right?), and I really see very little that matches my ideas and process. It makes me wonder if I'm doing it wrong. Here's what I'm doing today, what I'd like to do and the rig I think will support it. Let me know if you've got any improvements in my process given the equipment and approach I have.
I heat my strike water, then dump it into the MLT cooler. I dough in the grains, mash for 60 mins, vorlouf and drain the first runnings. While the mash is going, I heat my sparge water and dump into a round beverage cooler which is used as a simple HLT while I'm taking first runnings into the kettle.
Next is a simple batch sparge: dump from the HLT cooler into the MLT cooler, stir, rest 10 minutes, vorlauf and drain into kettle which is already heating up.
Boil, whirlpool, chill, pump into my fermentor using a siphon aerator to oxygenate the wort.
Currently there's lifting, dumping etc that I'd like to get away from. The only gravity I use is to drain from the MLT to the kettle. I'd also like a simple, compact rig that's easy to setup and easy to store.
Now the proposal, with a few caveats. I really don't want a 3 tier system because I don't want something that is 7' tall (I see pictures with ladders next to the HLT all the time...don't want that). I want to minimize lifting and dumping of hot or boiling water which I think is really dangerous.
Use the attached diagram for reference. An alternate design has the burner on the floor which shortens the cart and allows more separation between the cart and burner if desired.
Heat strike water. Use pump to pump into the MLT. Dough in and mash as usual. Heat sparge water while the mash is going and pump to HLT for holding during first runnings. Vorlauf, drain first runnings (using gravity) into kettle and begin heating.
Use pump to pump sparge water from HLT to MLT. Stir, let rest, vorlouf and take second runnings as before. Begin boil.
Whirlpool using pump, chill and pump to fermentor as I always do.
I have quick connects on my silicone hoses, so it's easy to change over the pump for various uses. I use an existing burner, so no issues with galvanized steel as part of my burner. No lifting, no dumping. Plus I have a cart that I can roll to the side of the garage when not in use (and store my stuff in). I plan to buy a grill cover to cover it when not in use.
To start my brew day, simple roll the cart to the middle of my garage, connect the burner and start heating my strike water.
So, is there a flaw in my thinking and plan? Why isn't anyone else doing it this way? What can I do to make it easier, more simple and better functioning?