Dumb Fermenter question

[dirt1016]

I have what is probably a dumb question.

Why can't you use a typical SS kettle (say...10 gal) as a fermenter instead of a glass carboy? it has a spigot and you could clamp a lid...etc.

Or more importantly - how come I can buy a kettle for 150 ish but a conical fermentor costs 500ish?? THey don't seem that much different to me.

Ok hit me with the simple answer!

[Homegrown Hops]

I use 1/2 bbl Sanke kegs for fermenters, no cutting, welding, or valves yet. I am trying to get some tri-clover clamps and some SS caps for cleaning/sealing them.

here are some pics

[JMUBrew]

Is the cat food a yeast nutrient or a clarifying agent?

Nice though on the kegs, I'm going to have to do that sometime when I actually have the space. (If I did it in our apartment, the fiance would kill me)

[Lufah]

Is the cat food a yeast nutrient or a clarifying agent?

Its obviously the yeast nutrient. The rubber tree plant is the clarifying agent. Get with the program man.

Travis

[JMUBrew]

D'oh! Didn't see the plant, my apologies!

[Homegrown Hops]

The food is for the attack cats that guard the beer, the tree is actually a Banana tree.

HH

[dirt1016]

I guess none of you boys know huh???

I should have asked the question of how cat food and plants affect attenuation

[BeerMan]

My theory.

Your basic pot is stamped out of an ingot of (choose your) metal, on a large (usually Chinese) press. Little hand work is required. Your basic pot is in large demand throughout the world.

Conical requires labor-intensive hand fabrication and specialized welding. Due to low demand the Chinese are not going to mass-produce it anytime soon.