Building a hop spider questions

I am building a hop spider and after reading online that some people had issues with melting PVC I decided I wanted something sturdier. I picked up a 4 inch to 3 inch galvanized steel reducer. I know galvanized steel is not a good choice for brewing or sanitizing but is using it above boiling wort an issue also? It should not be in contact with the wort at any time. Also the carriage bolts I bought are zinc plated. Any issues with that? Thanks in advance.

Tim-boSlice said:

I am building a hop spider and after reading online that some people had issues with melting PVC I decided I wanted something sturdier. I picked up a 4 inch to 3 inch galvanized steel reducer. I know galvanized steel is not a good choice for brewing or sanitizing but is using it above boiling wort an issue also? It should not be in contact with the wort at any time. Also the carriage bolts I bought are zinc plated. Any issues with that? Thanks in advance.

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you won't regret using stainless, ever.

+1 on using stainless steel. I built mine using an insinkerator garbage disposal ring and stainless steel nuts and bolts. the whole thing cost less than 25 bucks.

My hop spider is suspended over the brew kettle .. with hard wood dowels .. replacing the stainless threaded rod .. you see in some diagrams and plans for creating. A Stainless steel clamp .. plumbing section from the "The Big Box" .. a short piece of 1.5" diameter Sch40 PVC .. and a one gallon paint strainer bag. Drill the holes for the dowels with your hand drill .. hang it over the top of your kettle. I've never had a problem that I know of ... with the PVC. The PVC does not touch the wort .. and I've never notices any melting ... dripping .. or off flavors.

.. a tomato can works well too. It may not be the ideal material .. but it did hold "tomatoes" .. that may have been "cooked in the can" .. so the can received some sort of "food grade treatment". Still .. it's not touching the wort .. but is just holding the hop bag .. open .. and in place.

Just an idea ..

I used schedule 40 PVC on mine and have never even noticed it getting soft.

The tomato can is interesting...should I ditch the galvanized steel since it's not stainless? What about the zinc plated bolts?

Used for the third time just now,, as in,, right now..
Love it and would build again.

$8.00 Stainless Steel Sink drain
$1.50 Stainless Steel worm gear clamp
$.58 paint strainer

and some stainless steel all thread, nuts and such I had in the scrap pile from past projects.

15 min to build.

And a Hop spider that is all stainless steel except the bag, no worry's of melting, made cheaply and holds 5 oz of hops with ease, no crowding.

+1 on the Insinkerator flange.

I use PVC without an issue