The counter-flow wort chiller was purchased from Stoelting for $179.

• "An essential step in brewing to-quality beer requires a quick cool-down of the wort, and Stoelting's Wort Chiller takes the heat fast. Within 15 minutes, 5 gallons of wort drop from 210º to 65 º at .33 gpm."
• "The chiller is comprised of a 3/8" stainless steel wort line wrapped with a finned copper tube to maximize the heat transfer from the wort. The finned tube assembly is centered in a ¾" cold water copper line."

I guess the thing that attracted me to the Stoelting wort chiller was the fact that it had a stainless steel wort line. After investing thousands of dollars in stainless steel pots, tubing, fittings, …, I couldn't justify putting copper into my wort path as part of the chiller.

The water inlet and outlet are ½" O.D. The wort line is slightly less than 3/8" O.D. which proved to be a pain when trying to plumb it. A 3/8" compression fitting doesn't form a tight fit.

P.B.S. makes a very nice counter-flow wort chiller, very similar in design to the Stoelting, only with a ½" copper wort line.

• "Precision Brewing Systems has introduced a new counterflow wort chiller for home brewers. The Maxichiller is 7 in. high and 6 in. in diameter and is constructed entirely of rust-proof copper. According to the manufacturer, the device can cool wort to within 1º F (6º C) of the cooling water temperature in 9 minutes using less than 30 gallons of cooling water. Short inner tubing is designed for ease of cleaning and sanitizing." Brewing Techniques, March/April 1997, Volume 5, Number 2

I wish P.B.S. would offer a model with a "true" ½" O.D. stainless steel wort line.