Not yet ready to build!!!

I've come across most of the metal I will need for the frame, At least the more expensive pieces. So with a basic design down its time to start taking some measurements and planning my cuts. This is kinda hard to do since there is absolutely no room in my garage.With the loss of a dear friend, I received a lot of tools and garage equipment, along with the big engine lift, stand, and parts cleaner Ive been keeping and my fathers garage. When he downsized, I had to move it all. Time do some spring cleaning...

recycled steel

Question: Anyone know where I can buy used (Scrap) steel?


I'd much rather use a recycled product and also save some cash by buying used material.
Point is the steel can be prepped and painted and not show the signs of it being used!!!  
Thanks for your help. Most scrap yards do not sell the product.... so im a little lost.

Initial Stand design!!!

So about the stand.


Past few weeks I've been looking at other stands from many different people and from many different styles (types). I've come to the conclusion that there are to many great ideas to put into one system. It would just be too extreme. Knowing that I will be starting from scratch and building to fit my exact needs. I started to sketch a little. Found a Google (Sketch-up) program that is a very close mimic to autoCAD.  Quite a bit less detail though. And not knowing how to use the program properly doesnt help. So Im not sure how much further I will be able to go with this program... However, this is what I got so far:

As for the size of material. I'll be spending some time at the forums. The rough size of the entire rack is 20"x20"x60". In this sketch I used all 2" boxed steel. I imagine that I will end up using 2" because it will give me plenty of room to create mounting points. If I go to a smaller 1" box tube, I may run into issues mounting things like pumps, lines, wiring (if automated) and things. I will also have to figure the cost difference. At this point angle iron is also an option to consider...

Where to start???

Picked up two 15.5 gallon empty kegs. ($80) Price worked for me since I didn't have to spend good money on cheap beer. I was happy to see both kegs are branded with an Eagle....HMM!!!  Living in central jersey, I've seen the Anhauser-busch lighted sign from the car, all of my life.... Irony...

I bought the kegs so I could rush right into cutting the tops off and welding fittings in. But I am smarter then that. Time to slow down. I am (for lack of a better word) copying a previous set-up I have running with my father, cousin and an air-force buddy... We have been brewing all-grain for a long time. Cousin originally started in Brooklyn in 1990. With this set-up we always used big pots and home made contraptions. Everything worked like it should have but it was not pretty. So we built a H.E.R.M.S. system. Long story short Dad is moving and Air force pilot is usually quite busy. Cousin lives closer to me then the others.
And I Want My Own!!!   lol.

Back to the topic: Since I've slowed down a tad, I got to thinking, what is the first piece of this puzzle I need to build. Started looking at some different tier designs from professional to very small scale. 

I will start with the Frame (cart) that will hold the kettles, MT, burners...etc... I want everything on the cart to be semi-permanent. Meaning I should be able to roll the cart out of the garage, hook up to gas and water and BREW.... THEN after clean up it should be able to contain most of the equipment. Nice Neat and Safely.

At first I thought steel for its strength and it fire resistance. Then after some research if noticed a lot of breweries built with wooden carts and metal sheeting in strategic locations. So its time to reaseach each and make a decision on materials. 
Cost and weight are the big factory since I'll be able to build with both.....


To be continued...

Getting Started.... BSB Herms Brewery

Hello all,
     MERRY CHRISTMAS
Gonna try something new here. Just a quick note of what im doing:


Home-brewing is a very popular and rewarding hobby. This blog will go thru the entire process of building my small scale brewery to the brewing of the initial batch. I will keep up on this blog mostly to record the process for my own research. Also I hope others just starting or seasoned veterans will be able to learn from or donate any ideas and critiques along the way.


I hope to be finished with the initial design and built by spring time, giving myself this summer to fine tune and make any changes.




Wish me luck and hold on for the ride!!!   THNX ALL