Stupid question

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Hi

Stupid question but before I make a plonker of myself. Can someone confirm that if I am drilling little holes for the hop strainer, they are in the top of the strainer and the slots for the mashtun are in the bottom. :wha:

 

[Tony]

That's about it, except my hop strainer has holes all the way around.

 

[Che Banana]

Oh.... I would have said both in the underside.

 

[craigite]

My mash tun slots are on the top.
My hop strainer holes are all round.
:wha: should I be doubting my setup?

Heck, my brew setup seems to work fine for me, maybe it ain't that important? :hmm:

 

[unclepumble]

It makes no difference top or bottom, holes or slots as long as the slots or holes hold the husk well enough to form a filter bed.

Same principle for the hop strainer.

UP

 

[unclepumble]

It makes no difference top or bottom, holes or slots as long as the slots or holes hold the husk well enough to form a filter bed.
Its the husks that do the filtering in a decent set up not the strainer holes.

Same principle for the hop strainer.

UP

 

my hop strainer has holes all the way around.

Mine's got holes every where I could fit one in!

 

[jamesb]

It makes no difference top or bottom, holes or slots as long as the slots or holes hold the husk well enough to form a filter bed.

Although if you're batch sparging, you'd lessen the dead space in the tun by having the slots on the bottom.

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Okie dokie then,

couple of hours to fill so out with the black and decker. (more plasters at the ready). I will try to get some photos for you all to laugh at

 

(more plasters at the ready)

Or will it be A&E this time?

 

[Tony]

Okie dokie then,

couple of hours to fill so out with the black and decker. (more plasters at the ready). I will try to get some photos for you all to laugh at

I don't think there'll be that many of us laughing - more a chorus of 'been there, done that!'

I teach Technology in a secondary school and am fortunate to have the use of a well equipped workshop - and an even better equipped technician!

Good luck.... post the pics though!

 

and an even better equipped technician!

Post the pics! :)

 

[Tony]

Hmmm .. y'know, I thought there was something odd about the way I wrote that

:rofl:

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Ive taken a couple of photos of the boiler build,

heres the inside

Now with both elements in

Different view from the 40mm hole

Ive also built the mash tun, trickle sparge arm, Immersion cooler being built today. When all done I will take some more piccys

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Been a bit busy this afternoon:-

Immersion cooler

Trickle Sparger

Just got to get the blow lamp to it all and get a few holes drilled in the sparge. Should be good to go tomorrow.

 

Very nicely done Rob!
It will be interesting to see how your boil performs, having opposing elements.

 

[Dronfieldbrewer]

Got the thing fired up, today is the birth of the "Ickle Brewery" couple of pints drunk to celebrate and a bottle poured over the boiler. 1st brewday today:

Started at 4:00pm,spent 45 mins getting everything spotless and steralised

1) Calculated the losses in dead spaces guessed losses in boil and mashtun, put 35 litres in the boiler, flicked the elements on..
2) weighed out the grains 4 kg of Maris Otter, 200g of barley flakes, 180g of crystal malt
3) the boiler got to 75 degrees in 25 mins flat..the new lid I have knocked up has knocked 10 mins off the boil..
4) Gains all tipped into the Mash tun, trickle sparge arm fitted to the boiler...run a bit off to make a sludge
5) got the big stirrer going
6) insulation fitted to the mashtun.. temperature had dropped to 58... I forgot to take into account that the grain would be at room temp.. bit more hoof from the boiler, poured a few more litres in at 85 degrees to lift the temp.. hit 66.6.
7) This is where everything looked like it was going "pink thong"...1st runnings just would not clear...after 10 mins tipping back I admitted defeat and just let the thing alone for 1 hour..Sparge the rest, took 15 mins for the trickle to get the rest out of the boiler
8) This is it, as clear as it is going to be, run through back to boiler...wallop... the thing is breaking over in 20 mins, big rolling boil and I mean big rolling boil, 30 litres or so bouncing around the keg, I switched an element off and it was still charging on.
9) plently of goldings and a few fuggles, the smell was really terrific
10) 45 mins and the rest of the goldings (big handful) went in with the Irsh moss
11) I had to switch the boiler off for a couple of mins as it was really bouncing even with 1 element on.
12) Immersion chiller in... its amazing how is cools stuff down, the water comming out of the immersion was to hot to touch
13) I've ended up with 20 liters of wort, OG of 1042 and pitched the yeast at 26 degrees

Heres to "Ickle Brewery's" first go at an AG. I hope its a good un

 

Looks like you've got yourself a great set up!
Shame about the "technician" pics though :whistle:

 

[31bb3]

Weel done mate nice build there :thumb:

 

[Wez]

Very nice