Brew Kettle Heat Shield Build

I wanted to build a new heat shield for my brew kettle. I recently installed a new sight glass and want to protect it (and my dial thermometer) a little better.

Normally I take pieces of stainless steel and set them under the kettle. I think I’m taking away a lot of the heat this way, so I have decided to try and mount the steel on the burner stand. After installation, I test my new shield and learn it is not enough, and have to make last minute adjustments to protect my sight glass and keep the heat steady.

Approximate times in the video are noted for reference.

Video Summary

What you will need:

  1. Your brew kettle
  2. Two hose clamps
  3. Screwdriver
  4. Whatever you’re using as a shield – I’m using pieces of stainless steel

I recently installed a new sight glass onto my kettle and want to build a heat shield as well. Normally I take pieces of stainless steel and set them under the kettle. I think I’m taking away a lot of the heat this way, because they cover part of the burner under the kettle. So I have decided to try and mount the steel on the burner in such a way that it would hang off the side, and I could still protect what I need to protect.

Attached Hose Clamp for Heat Shield
Attached Hose Clamp for Heat Shield

I have a few different ideas for this. I can put in a hose clamp in a few different locations to hold it up, or take a piece of steel to make a ledge off the side, and then I’ll just need a stand; perhaps mounting it on top of the clamps. Another idea I have is to bend out the edge of the steel and slip it just under the kettle, still using a mount and my hose clamps to raise it up. I’m not exactly sure what I’m going to do but I have a few ideas to try.

1:44 While I can think of a few ways to permanently mount the steel on the burner stand, I think if I can just get these hose clamps up I can get the heat shield to do what I want it to do.  I don’t want to mess-up the stainless so I can use it for other things; without ruining its original form.

So I took the hose clamp apart and I’m going to put it on the leg of my burner on both sides. I’ll then try and adjust it without bending any of the metal.

2:33 It came out easier than I thought.  All I ended up doing was putting the camp on the post and at the right angle,  using the leftover end of it as support, as well as the edge of the clamp. I did this on both sides.  I can take my steel piece and wedge it inside between the clamp and post on both ends and it will be stable (this will depend on what you’re going to use as a shield). In the end it stays wedged between the metal post and the clamp, held in at the corner.

Additional Piece of Stainless Steel Added on Brew Day
Additional Piece of Stainless Steel Added on Brew Day

My piece is crooked because of the heat that has been applied to it over time. I hate things that are crooked so I leveled it. It seems real good and should have good protection. The glass is what’s important to protect, and that seems good. It is also centered really well on the pot.

4:33 In my first attempt to use it I discovered that the shield was not enough, I had to add an additional piece of stainless back. Everything, including the sight glass, was heating up way too fast. The additional piece of stainless steel seems to be helping a lot now.