| Author |
Message |
    
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 1777
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.253.156
| | Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 08:01 pm: | 
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Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying that I am not terribly handy, so this is a big deal for me. 
After running over 100 mashes through my Igloo Ice Cube cooler with a Bazooka tube, I finally contructed a little copper manifold for it. I made it using the instructions in the latest BYO, although mine is much, much smaller and only consists of one square.
Some observations:
1) I experienced no increase in efficiency on my first batch. It was a Flanders Red with a white cornmeal cereal mash (which I fussed over and did NOT do in a crockpot.  )
2) The wort, however, was shockingly clearer, even having done the cereal mash.
3) Runoff was much slower but did not stick. The grain bed did not pull away from the walls of the cooler as the wort was lautered, as it always had a tendency to do before. The grain bed is almost perfectly level, which it never was before.
4) I did a test run with water and adjusted my ProMash defaults based on my measurements. In actual practice, my volumes were dead-on. (They had a tendency to be a bit more random before.)
My initial conclusions are that this setup provides better, more uniform filtering of the wort throughout the entire grainbed, with no channeling down the sides. Me likey! |
Paul Muth
Intermediate Member
Username: Pjmuth
Post Number: 349
Registered: 10-2002
Posted From: 68.210.104.166
| | Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 09:09 pm: |
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quote:Let me preface what I'm about to say by saying that I am not terribly handy, so this is a big deal for me.
Graham,
Shame we don't live closer together. I love to build 'stuff' and would have partnered with you in the adventure. Check out the latest:
Carl's Electric HLT
I helped him in the project, making fittings and bits and pieces.
Your story sounds great. Each little bit seems like giant steps. I'd love to see pix of the manifold.
Edit: I mispieled sumpin'
(Message edited by pjmuth on July 04, 2008) |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 1778
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.253.156
| | Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 09:24 pm: |
|
That's like comparing Tee-ball (mine) to the Major Leagues! I'll crawl back under my rock now. |
Paul Muth
Intermediate Member
Username: Pjmuth
Post Number: 350
Registered: 10-2002
Posted From: 68.210.104.166
| | Posted on Friday, July 04, 2008 - 10:31 pm: |
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Graham,
Don't you dare..!!!
I'm just an old anal poof that is hung up on strange ideas. Major league? Ha, I'm just a frustrated guy that piddles in things (Oh.. and occasionally ON things like an old dog would).  |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 9030
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.225.170
| | Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 12:48 am: |
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I've always admired those who are truly adept at building things. Over the years I've slowly become good enough to get the job done, but I know my limitations and the difference between a dabbler such as myself and a true craftsman.
The good thing about homebrewing is that it's possible to brew prize-winning beer both on systems that rival and even occasionally surpass those of commercial breweries, as well as cheap, cobbled-together equipment that would bring a smile to Fred Sanford.
In the words of the late Brewer with Thick Wallet, a true American on this Independence Day: "You pays your money and you takes your choice. Is this a great country or what?!"
Graham, I'm glad you're happy with your new mashing system.
(Message edited by BillPierce on July 05, 2008) |
Paul Muth
Intermediate Member
Username: Pjmuth
Post Number: 351
Registered: 10-2002
Posted From: 68.210.104.166
| | Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 01:08 am: |
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Bill,
That is very well said.!
Over the years I've taken great pleasure in my ability to think through 'stuff' and build things. That, by no means, makes me a better (or even a good) brewer. I just like the way this old mans brain works (sometimes). I'm going to be dead for one hell of a long time so I do 'stuff' that I like - NOW. Later is too late. 
Paul |
Denny Conn
Senior Member
Username: Denny
Post Number: 6823
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 140.211.82.4
| | Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 06:17 pm: |
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Graham, since you batch sparge, I'm not surprised you saw no difference in efficiency. Was channeling down the sides a problem for you? Again, since you batch sparge, I'm kinda at a loss to understand why it would be. |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 1781
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 68.32.253.156
| | Posted on Saturday, July 05, 2008 - 09:28 pm: |
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Denny, I don't think it was a significant problem, per se, but I did notice that the grain bed would always tend to pull away from the sides of the tun, leaving a little gap. Since water will always follow the path of least resistance, I hypothesized that I might not be achieving the full benefit of a filtering through the complete grain bed, a benefit that in theory might include some additional sugar extraction.
My efficiency has never been great with this setup (~70-73%) so I wondered if it might improve. At least with this first batch, it didn't. The increase in clarity, however, made the project worthwhile.
I think had I gone with a braided hose as you recommend in the first place, the braid would have been fine enough to perhaps acheive similar performance. Who knows? I'm very pleased so far with this new setup. |
Denny Conn
Senior Member
Username: Denny
Post Number: 6824
Registered: 01-2001
Posted From: 140.211.82.4
| | Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 03:42 pm: |
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I think the fact that there was no change in efficiency shows that the "channeling" you experienced was nothing more than an aesthtic issue! Glad you got improved clarity of runoff, though. |
Little Dipper
Intermediate Member
Username: Littledipper
Post Number: 429
Registered: 02-2004
Posted From: 206.114.61.199
| | Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 - 05:03 pm: |
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Graham, did you put your slots up or down? Just curious. |
Graham Cox
Senior Member
Username: T2driver
Post Number: 1782
Registered: 11-2004
Posted From: 12.147.18.2
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 03:46 am: |
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Down, of course. |
Brews and Views Archive 2008 
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