Grainfather G30 Rolled Edge Plates

[Lazy brewer]

There is definitely a variation in manufacturing quality with the plates and malt tube. My original was an absolute pig to get the seals to stay on. Tried all the tricks mentioned above. No joy. 15 mins of cursing and they would fall off at the end of the mash.
When my unit developed a fault and I had a replacement tube and plates, the new ones are so easy to fit with a bit of grain dust. Works every time, first time definitely understand peoples different experiences here.

 

[Harbey]

So how many of us have taken the plunge and bought the upgrade? Is feedback overwhelmingly positive?

 

[Redwulf]

I've had these since they came out and they are pretty good and simple to use.

One thing I've noted is that you need to use the right pipework, so if you're getting these get the micro pipework too. On smaller malt bills you can end up with the overflow too high above the plate at the lowest setting as the top plate will settle on the malt and the overflow won't adjust down far enough. Not the end of the world.

Make sure you tighten the pipework sufficiently, the whole assemble has a bit more movement then the sealed plates so you need to reassure yourself that the overflow isn't coming undone.

 

[Jahfish]

Maybe a silly question, but which way up does the bottom plate need to go - rolled lip up or down?

 

[Agentgonzo]

Maybe a silly question, but which way up does the bottom plate need to go - rolled lip up or down?

I can't see that it will matter... but probably "whatever fits the snuggest"

 

[MashBag]

Why do they have to fit snug

 

[foxy]

Maybe a silly question, but which way up does the bottom plate need to go - rolled lip up or down?

(Rolled) Pressed lip down so it engages with the lip in the malt pipe locking it in position.

Why do they have to fit snug

Stops the grain bypassing the bottom filter.

 

[MashBag]

That's fine, but they don't need to be tight PIA to achieve that. A 0.5mm gap all round would still stop the grain. The rest of it is full of holes

You will know this isn't an issue on a BM and they are prolly 1mm all round.

 

[foxy]

That's fine, but they don't need to be tight PIA to achieve that. A 0.5mm gap all round would still stop the grain. The rest of it is full of holes

You will know this isn't an issue on a BM and they are prolly 1mm all round.

I don't think it is an issue with the new plates if they are the same as the Guten and Hop Cat. The lock-in screens don't need to be a tight fit.

 

[MashBag]

I don't think it is an issue with the new plates if they are the same as the Guten and Hop Cat. The lock-in screens don't need to be a tight fit.

But why buy new plates @OMG$$$ Just whizz round them with a grinder?

Perhaps it's a towny thing

 

[foxy]

But why buy new plates @OMG$$$ Just whizz round them with a grinder?

Perhaps it's a towny thing

Well what happens is they lower them in the water and if they are too loose they move and may end up on an angle, the grain gets put in and goes through the bottom. It was actually the manufacturers of the Hop Cat who first did the lock-in screen. I told the manufacturers of the Guten and they followed suit. Bevie must have been told at some stage so they did it with the Grainfather.
Such a simple idea and it took so long for someone to think of it.

 

[MashBag]

That's the point. They wouldn't end up at an angle if they weren't so tight. Gravity etc

 

[Rick.]

Is it worth buying new seals first? For the first time yesterday I nearly threw my GF over the fence out of frustration with the seals. Never had to much of an issue before but I think the seals might have stretched over time and therefore slip off easier

 

[Jahfish]

To resurrect this thread, does anyone have a rolled top plate they'd be prepared to sell? Or, alternatively would anyone like to split buying a pair do we get one rolled plate each?

 

[peebee]

To be honest, I thought the "rolled edged plates" were a dead duck after they released the new G30 v3 grain basket as an upgrade. Still, that basket is a bit more expense than just replacing the bottom plate (more cost than they - GF - originally said), but the cost of the entire new basket puts the cost of buying those plates into perspective (what a rip-off).

I still say that new basket design is wide open to people unknowingly abusing its operation and getting terrible efficiency. But a year on I'm still not hearing users whining about low extraction rates from v3 Grainfathers, so I accept I may have exaggerated the issue in my head?

I use those basket designs in the G30 and a G70 now ... my big 70L 3V rig has been out-of-commission (err ... broken!) since before last Xmas: Time I got it fixed. ("Time"? That's one of the issues. Heck, I don't even work now and I've still no time. How does that work? ... ).

 

[Jahfish]

To be honest, I thought the "rolled edged plates" were a dead duck after they released the new G30 v3 grain basket as an upgrade. Still, that basket is a bit more expense than just replacing the bottom plate (more cost than they - GF - originally said), but the cost of the entire new basket puts the cost of buying those plates into perspective (what a rip-off).

I still say that new basket design is wide open to people unknowingly abusing its operation and getting terrible efficiency. But a year on I'm still not hearing users whining about low extraction rates from v3 Grainfathers, so I accept I may have exaggerated the issue in my head?

I use those basket designs in the G30 and a G70 now ... my big 70L 3V rig has been out-of-commission (err ... broken!) since before last Xmas: Time I got it fixed. ("Time"? That's one of the issues. Heck, I don't even work now and I've still no time. How does that work? ... ).

With the newer basket I'd guess it's easy to overrun the wort return and for it to seep out of the sides rather than through the grain? Is that what you thought too?

 

[Agentgonzo]

With the newer basket I'd guess it's easy to overrun the wort return and for it to seep out of the sides rather than through the grain? Is that what you thought too?

That was my initial thoughts when I saw the design. I have been guessing that the new basket will hide the effects of a stuck mash (essentially, you can stil get a stuck mash and wort will not flow through the mash but instead out of the sides) - so effectively you are recirculating the wort around the (stuck) mash rather than through it. But I don't have one of the new baskets, so this is only guesswork. Given the lack of complaints, I suspect my guesswork isn't accurate.

 

[YeastFace]

Edit - ignore

 

[Jahfish]

Edit - Sorted now. I've bought a set, but can sell one plate on if anyone wants one