How to build a stir plate for less than ten quid

[BeerCat]

Have to make one of these. Is it necessary to use a flask or can you get away with a 2l coke bottle? Iv'e been using them after i blew up a duran bottle. Would this be a good size for a box? http://www.banggood.com/Plastic-Wat...s_uk&utm_campaign=promotion&utm_content=54264 I have bought 2 of these for my stc's.

 

[yeastinfection]

as long as its big enough to support your flask and house your fan,
a coke bottle has dips in the base, it needs to be a flat base for the stir bar to spin, maybe a glass jug?

 

[JapanBrew]

I bottle all my yeast in Maison jars. It's a little tricky because the jar is slightly domed. But it works.

 

[strange-steve]

Have to make one of these. Is it necessary to use a flask or can you get away with a 2l coke bottle? Iv'e been using them after i blew up a duran bottle. Would this be a good size for a box? http://www.banggood.com/Plastic-Wat...s_uk&utm_campaign=promotion&utm_content=54264 I have bought 2 of these for my stc's.

That box is perfect :thumb:
As others have said you need something with a flat(ish) base so that the stir bar can spin properly. An erlenmeyer flask can be rather expensive, but I think you can get a plastic conical flask cheap enough or a glass beaker.

 

[neal]

given me the inspiration to knock one up, cheers Strange Steve !
I have raided my man drawer for some bits and I think some 3.7v Li ion batteries in parallel should spin the portable cd drive motor enough, if not I'll try them in series.
just waiting on the stir bar to arrive then I can see if my plan works :lol:

 

[strange-steve]

given me the inspiration to knock one up, cheers Strange Steve !
I have raided my man drawer for some bits and I think some 3.7v Li ion batteries in parallel should spin the portable cd drive motor enough, if not I'll try them in series.
just waiting on the stir bar to arrive then I can see if my plan works :lol:

Cool, you won't have any speed control though if you run it that way. I suppose you could wire it through a dpdt switch to change from series to parallel if you wanted to be clever.

 

[neal]

Cool, you won't have any speed control though if you run it that way. I suppose you could wire it through a dpdt switch to change from series to parallel if you wanted to be clever.

i'll see what its like in both formats, if it isn't going to be any use then it's plan 'B' :thumb:

 

[brumbrew]

Lithium batteries scare the be Jesus out of me. Some angry pixies in those things.

 

[stigman]

I used mine for the first time last night thanks again strange Steve for the inspiration

 

[JapanBrew]

Really, Steve, thanks. I saw many vids and knew how but never got around to it. After your post, I built one. Thanks bud.

 

[neal]

Cool, you won't have any speed control though if you run it that way. I suppose you could wire it through a dpdt switch to change from series to parallel if you wanted to be clever.

3.7v span the motor way too fast :lol: wanted to keep it simple so went for a single 1.5vAA in the end, works a treat

total cost.... £2.20 for the stir bar !
I might have to dip my fingers in my pocket at some point and build a bigger one, but this'll do for me atm

 

[chimpo]

I couldnt find a fancy box around the place so , used a rare earth magnet from a scrap hard drive , transformer was kicking about so got a stir bar and cobbled up a not very pretty stir plate :). Will make it better looking at some point.
After my last muntons midas touch stuck i decided to make a starter yeast from now on . Used liquid malt extract for starter with a SG of 1.060 and some yeast nutrient for good measure.

Beer time

 

[JapanBrew]

I couldnt find a fancy box around the place so , used a rare earth magnet from a scrap hard drive , transformer was kicking about so got a stir bar and cobbled up a not very pretty stir plate :). Will make it better looking at some point.
After my last muntons midas touch stuck i decided to make a starter yeast from now on . Used liquid malt extract for starter with a SG of 1.060 and some yeast nutrient for good measure.

Beer time

I think it looks cool.

 

[strange-steve]

I couldnt find a fancy box around the place so , used a rare earth magnet from a scrap hard drive , transformer was kicking about so got a stir bar and cobbled up a not very pretty stir plate :). Will make it better looking at some point.
After my last muntons midas touch stuck i decided to make a starter yeast from now on . Used liquid malt extract for starter with a SG of 1.060 and some yeast nutrient for good measure.

Beer time

Doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it works :thumb:

 

[BeerCat]

Doesn't matter what it looks like as long as it works :thumb:

Thats really cool. Great idea using that tub. You cant beat recycling. :thumb:

My house is quite cold so was thinking of getting one of these to keep it warm. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REPTILE-H...959043?hash=item33a45e0c43:g:5N8AAOxyY9VRPFtR
Just hope its not too much otherwise will have to connect and STC up to it.

And another ? if you dont mind. Are the flasks the right size to take a bung and airlock?

 

[strange-steve]

Thats really cool. Great idea using that tub. You cant beat recycling. :thumb:

My house is quite cold so was thinking of getting one of these to keep it warm. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REPTILE-H...959043?hash=item33a45e0c43:g:5N8AAOxyY9VRPFtR
Just hope its not too much otherwise will have to connect and STC up to it.

And another ? if you dont mind. Are the flasks the right size to take a bung and airlock?

The reptile mat is a good idea, though I've no idea how hot it'd get. My house is cold too so I might look into this as well. Or put a socket inside my fermentation fridge.

Do you mean the erlenmeyer flask like in the pic above? I'm not sure if a bung fits but you don't want an airlock on it when cultivating a starter, just a loose piece of foil to allow gas exchange.

 

[IainM]

I've got a reptile mat. It can get over 35 odd degrees, but attached to an inkbird with a box covering it works a treat.

 

[BeerCat]

The reptile mat is a good idea, though I've no idea how hot it'd get. My house is cold too so I might look into this as well. Or put a socket inside my fermentation fridge.

Do you mean the erlenmeyer flask like in the pic above? I'm not sure if a bung fits but you don't want an airlock on it when cultivating a starter, just a loose piece of foil to allow gas exchange.

Yes the erlenmeyer. I had no idea you should leave the lid off. Been doing mine in a coke bottle and venting every now and again. So much to learn.

 

[yeastinfection]

every days a school day :smile:

 

[Amidared]

:mrgreen:If you're a bit lazy like me another option is to simply buy a fan for a few quid, this cost me �£3 I think and then I just used an old magnet and the flask from a coffee cafetiere. It saves on time at least and costs next to nothing. It works on all three speeds and is stable.. Comes with rechargeable battery and a usb charging point. Does me fine :thumb: