Dinnerstick, no problem defending what you like to use. Each device has fans and enemies but I find most people in life don't like something based on someone else's thoughts and opinions or by not being able to use them properly. Many read posts like this without even trying anything and then swear by a certain type. Out of all the immersion chillers, I prefer the stainless to copper ones with a discernable gap between the coils so you can get in between.
I like counterflow chillers and have made the typical type with copper tubing inside plastic tube wound around a circular buck with a temp strip on a chambered outlet and controlled by taps/valves where possible so wort in/out and water in/out can be throttled to give the best performance. Too many people just switch the cold tap on full whack and open the wort outlet and in most cases this doesn't reduce the temp enough. careful throttling will usually give the desired wort temp out. I've also made some of the long flat type that look like a trombone and used food grade silicon tuning on the ends to provide the u-bend. Very effective and easy to maintain and clean with easily obtainable pipe cleaners.
If I had a TIG welder I'd make some out of stainless.....wishful thinking as I'd also have to fashion all the unequal tee joints in stainless as well. If I do buy a Braumeister I'll more than likely get their immersion chiller anyway!
