Brew Blog - Building A Wert Chiller

Hey Beer Heads! It’s finally here! That’s right; it’s my instructions for building your own wort chiller.

Here is the list of parts you will need.
- 20 feet roll of 3/8 O.D. copper tubing
- (2) 3/8 O.D. to 1/2 female pipe (FIP, or NPT, or NPTF) brass flare fittings with nuts
- (2) 1/2 male pipe to 3/4 female garden hose brass fittings
- About 4 inches worth of thread seal tape
Note: I chose flare fittings, but compression fittings work too. I just don’t like compression fittings.


Step 1
Straighten out the end of the copper tubing so that there is a straight segment that is long enough to reach to the bottom of your brew pot with about six inches sticking up above the rim of the pot.

Step 2
Using some tube bending “pliers”, or a tube bending spring, make a 90 degree bend in the tube. Then, from that 90 degree bend, use a tube bending spring to wrap the tube around an empty paint can to create 5-7 coils.




Step 3
Next, bend the tube up parallel to the straight section from step 1. Then, using a book to space the coil off the bottom of the brew pot, bend the remaining tube over the side of the brew pot, and do the same with the first end so that you have to “spouts” coming out the side.




Step 4
Cut off any ends that are damaged or too long. Do this to both sides.




Step 5
Put the flare fitting nut on the “spout” as shown. Do this to both sides.




Step 6
Using a tube flaring clamp, put the end of the tube flush with the side of the clamp.




Step 7
Using a tube end flaring tool, slowly clamp the tip of the cone shaped die into the hollow opening of the tube until the cone is centered on the tube. Then crank down on the tool to flare the end of the tube. Clamp and flare both sides.






Step 8
Wrap the thread seal tape around the pipe threads of the hose adapter.




Step 9
Tighten the hose adapter into the flare fitting.




Step 10
Tighten the hose adapter/flare fitting assembly onto the tube with the captive nut on the end of the “spout”. Seal tape and assemble the second set of fittings for the other side.




And that beer heads will give you a fully functioning wort chiller that will be water tight enough to even use indoors.

The Bew Blog - Yet Another Set Back

Well Beer Heads, I had totally expected to get the tube/pipe fittings to finish my homemade wert chiller in the extra time I had over this 4 day weekend. Unfortunately, there was an unexpected event that put the halt on that plan.

Here's what happened. I just happened to be about 5 feet from my front door when I saw a silhouette on the etched glass window in the door. Since I was expecting my niece at any moment, I jerked the front door open and jumped out to try to scare her. Instead of Seeing my niece, I saw the UPS guy getting back into his truck, and I also caught out of the corner of my eye a dark figure running around the side of my house. I search the porch. No box. Since my McMaster Carr deliveries don't usually need a signature, and this wasn't anything special, I am pretty sure the UPS guy left the box on the porch. From my vantage point, it looks like somebody actually has the balls big enough to steal a box from a porch before the UPS guy can even get back in his truck! Dang! Talk about balls the size of church bells!

So now I got 2 problems. No time till Christmas holiday to finish the wert chiller, and no way to get parts from McMaster Carr in the future. This sucks, cause I really like getting things shipped to me as opposed to messing around with the half stocked shelves at my local big box home improvement stores.

Stayed tuned a little longer. Now for another word from our sponsors.

The Brew Blog - This and That

Hey Beer Heads! I can't believe I haven't posted my first beer brewing notes yet. I have been swamped at home with stuff that always seems more important. I also got the idea to make my own wort chiller to help with that first brewing which has delayed things a bit. The wort chiller is fun and easy to build. I will show you that and more after this word from our sponsors.

The Brew Blog

I have decided to teach myself how to brew beer. I have no idea how this is going to work. All I know is that I got a crap load of stuff that I don't know how to use. I have to admit, this beer brewing kit I got is very intimidating, what with its hydrometer, racking cane, carboy and such. That's not even the scary part though. There are like a gazzilion options when it comes to beer brewing that range from water ph to ingredient brands and quantities. So, I figure, that I can use this blog as a record of what I have done so I can keep track of what I am doing. I mean hey, it worked for the Beer Odyssey, and The Tear Jerk Journal. It should work for this too.

So, tune in next time Beer Heads to find out how my first attempts at beer brewing turn out.

Hey folks! Sorry I haven't been on for awhile. I have been both too busy and too uninspired to write anything. Hopefully I can make it up to by posting a trailer load of pics from the big Midwest Tearjerkers, Hoosier Chapter Summer Gathering from Whitewater Memorial State Park near Liberty Indiana.

This couple had a teardrop made by a friend of theirs who makes truck caps for living.



Here's a Wazat brand teardrop. I had never heard of this brand before now.


This good ol' boy made one look like a barn. It's the most recognizable there. Everyone knew who he was when he pulled up.



This guy made a tiny travel trailer from a cargo trailer. I like the boat theme. I think he calls it The Dive Shack.


This is easily my favorite one. I like the unstained wood, and he paid meticulous attention to detail.



We made friends with this older couple with this larger teardrop that probably had the largest galley of any we saw. Iron Chef will probably want me to make our next one have this size of Galley.



This a factory built teardrop that is made to look like the 1940's era teardrops.



The guy who organized this camp out made this 1940's era teardrop.


This is a very interesting wood one named The Touring Lodge. Iron Chef liked the punched tin roof look in the galley. The deer antler handles were a nice touch.






This is the award winner for the smallest teardrop. They pull it with a Gold Wing motorcycle.


This southwestern themed teardrop has a stucco like finish on the exterior.





The way this guy rounded the front of his gave a lot more interior space.



And of course our teardrop camper was also there.


Even Super Dave Osborne was there...I think.


Well readers, if I have any left. That's all I got for now.