DIY Brewing Cart solution

JMD887 · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 1:16 pm Post subject: DIY Brewing Cart solution

Hi Folks

For the past 11 months I've been trying to find the best solution where to put the electric set up when finished in my basement. Our home was built in 1954- its a ranch with a 60%ish finished basement with acts as our main entertainment area as the upper level is committed to living i.e. bedrooms, bathroom, dinning room, kitchen. Further, there are really only two places I could permanently set up shop.

The first location is so small once all the gear was placed there would be little to no room to move about- not ideal, but do able. Additionally, It would requiring the addition of power, water, drainage, and ventilation. All easy adds, except drainage. Which at this time my wife is not agreeable to allow me to do. Mind you theres a plumbing stack in this location. Would be an easy task for a plumber.

The second location - which currently is home to the furnace, workshop, and current brewing equipment and fermentation chamber is large enough; however, will also require the addition of power, water, drainage, and ventilation. Again all easy adds except drainage. Down side to this location- the plumber would have to jack hammer the floor to run drainage as there is not a plumbing stack close to this location. I didn't try to talk my wife into this one- picking my battles. Cool

Insert my ah ha moment- the laundry room. it has power, water, drainage, and easy access to ventilation. However isn't large enough to set up shop permanently. Solution: a compact portable cart. Laughing

This is where feedback would be appreciated. This is a fairy rough plan:

Fabricate a brew table with a length of 60" width of 24"and height of 25 once fixed on casters to allow mobility. This will give a floor to top of kettle height of roughly 48" which is about mid chest and allow an easy view into and access to the kettles.

Next- continue the four side legs up to a terminal height of 78" - will give a inch of wiggle room to pass under the doorway. Fabricate a ventilation hood to cover the length of the brew table. Material ideas for this include pressure treated plywood, foam insulation sheets, a combo of the plywood and insulation sheets, or if I can find it large enough a pice of metal duct work.

I could then mount the control panel to the side of the cart and power it off of my current dry line. I can use the utility sink in the room for water, cleaning, and drainage. Finally I would be able to swap out the ventilation from the dryer to my ventilation hood fixed to the top of the cart. The ventilation fan and controls could be mounted to the side opposite of the control panel and powered from one of the existing outlets in the room.

The cart would allow storage in one of the two locations mentioned above and ability to roll it into the laundry room for the brew day and then remove and place back into storage.

Has anyone done something similar to this? IF so what would you change/do differently? I think this is my best option to allow use indoors so as I continue my build I feel as if I need to refine this idea and thought I'd run it past those active on the forum for some feed back.

Happy weekend, Hope some of y'all are able to brew!

-John

**kal** · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 2:24 pm Post subject:

Hi! Do you have any pictures of the brewing space and possible diagram mockups of what you propose? It may be easier for people to wrap their heads around what you plan on doing. Good luck!

Kal

Walts Malt · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 3:24 pm Post subject:

I wonder if you want to be using the same ventilation as the dryer. Over time you are going to mix lint and water vapor in there. Might have a mess on your hands at some point. I get that it's a lot easier, but I would consider having something separate for your brewing ventilation. Maybe someone else will chime in who has done this and found it's fine. I just know from experience that my dryer run has to be thoroughly cleaned every few years to remove the lint that gets past the dryer trap.

JMD887 · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:25 pm Post subject:

JMD887 · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 4:26 pm Post subject:

**kal** · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 6:50 pm Post subject:

JMD887 · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 7:14 pm Post subject:

Maybe these will help.

To vent the brewery- I was thinking I could unhook the dryer discharge duct from the connection to the block window and simply attach a section of duct work from the blocked window pass through to the ventilation hood attached to the top of the brewing cart.

JMD887 · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 7:43 pm Post subject:

This is exactly what I'm thinking about- except adding a mode of ventilation and made of lumber rather than bought r/t the odd size required.

**kal** · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 8:18 pm Post subject:

That'll work! Look at this build for some brew stand ideas too: http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30817

Kal

JMD887 · Posted: Sat Nov 03, 2018 8:26 pm Post subject: