FILTERING FROM THE BOILER

[periolus]

Hello! Now I understand the function of the hop filter, but what is the best way of filtering breaks and other rubbish from wort on its way out to the FV? I have heard that people use different types of netted mateiral, but is there a screw on attachment with a fine mesh filter that will go on the end of a 15mm pipe and act as a filter?

Please do share success stories and cheap solutions!

 

[Wendy1971]

You could try a muslin bag stretched over the fv we bought some off ebay they are cheap but we dont really bother about filtering etc. For something more permanant what about a cut to size peice of mesh fly screen :thumb:

 

[BigYin]

my theory is that the hops bed provides a filtering effect - so if you are using protoflac in the last 15 minutes of the boil, and then chilling fairly quickly, the cold break should be very obvious and the particles large enough that the hop bed will filter it pretty well. Of course if you are doing a brew that is very light on the hops, that could be a different story :whistle:

As far as I know, the mesh bags are often used more to prevent the hops seeds blocking the hop filter than to provide a break material filter :hmm:

 

[orange]

Does it matter if the cold break stuff makes it through to the fv?

 

[Wendy1971]

not at all we have never filtered wort all the crud just goes to bottom of fv in time

 

[Vossy1]

Does it matter if the cold break stuff makes it through to the fv?

It's not ideal, but nothing to worry about. A lot of the break will be thrown to the surface during fermentation and if you're really worried about it you can 'skim it off'

my theory is that the hops bed provides a filtering effect

They do, one of the best.

what is the best way of filtering breaks and other rubbish from wort on its way out to the FV?

Chill the wort to temp in the copper/boiler, leave for an hour or so to allow the break materials to settle out, then run to fv slowly. If you're using a conical fv you can always cool the wort on the way to the fv and dump the break once settled.

but is there a screw on attachment with a fine mesh filter that will go on the end of a 15mm pipe and act as a filter?

A few folk use variants of these

 

[periolus]

Would you put a stop end in that braided hose and then just connect the other end to the tap?

 

[Vossy1]

Would you put a stop end in that braided hose and then just connect the other end to the tap?

I'd cut the compression end off completely, remove the hose and then crimp the ss hose end to seal.
You could always make your own filter, this is one I made a while ago (excuse the connectors )

 

[periolus]

That looks like the radiator from a Morris Minor!

Is that just a manifold in steel mesh sheets crimped together? It's really good! Nice one. I wasn't able to get started this weekend, but I will start making my immersion chiller this week - the first part of my AG setup! :party: YAY! And, I now have an allotment space, so I can start growing hops in the spring! Hooray!

What a week!

 

[Vossy1]

Is that just a manifold in steel mesh sheets crimped together?

Yep. Mesh size used here will also stop pellets.

 

[periolus]

That's great! Where did you get your mesh? What grade is it? Do you need special crimping tools to close the sheets together?

 

[Vossy1]

Where did you get your mesh? What grade is it?

here I used #40 mesh (I think, will have to check), 316SS.

Do you need special crimping tools to close the sheets together?

No, flat ended pliars will do the job.

 

[pjbiker]

Would you put a stop end in that braided hose and then just connect the other end to the tap?

Hi, Vossy is right, you can see examples of the ones I use on the link in my signature, i'ts prettly easy to attach them to a 15mm T with a stub of 15mm copper soldered in each end, use hose clips and remove the inner rubber tube from the flexible connector (hack saw does the job). I swear by them now and use in mash tun and boiler. Yes, hop bed is a good filter and the debate still rages on whether or not to have cold break in the FV or not. Personally, I do, as I chill using a counterflow directly into the FVs.