How to use a Stir Plate

**ShortSnoutBrewing** · 01-09-2008, 07:57 PM

Ladies and Gents...I purchased a homemade cigar box stir plate from a guy listing on craigslit. First time we meet he brought a flask and stir bar along to demonstrate how it worked. Sadly, the stir bar kept jumping off and he was quite embarassed and refused to sell to me. We set up a meeting for the next week after he had a chance to go home and play with it some more.

We meet again, with a new box but we were unable to take the stir plate for a test run. I purchased anyway.

Fast forward about a month and I finally have a flask and stir bar. Test out the plate last night and I had the same issue. The bar will start to spin, but only if I plug in slowly, but then jumps off if I attempt to completly plug in the plate.

I'm using a 2L flask with a 1 3/8" bar. Is it the plate, me, or the size of the flask/bar?

**WortMonger** · 01-09-2008, 08:04 PM

Hmmm, what kind of control do you have, I had problems with mine because it spins to fast. Using water to test isn't accurate because wort is thicker and slows down the stir bar a little. I fixed my problem by adding paper underneath the starter jar until I kept it on center and spinning.

fretman124 · 01-09-2008, 11:51 PM

I haven't used mine yet (just made it and am waiting on the stirbar and flask) but I've been reading everything I can on the subject. Consenus seems to be to adjust the hiegth of the stribar from the magnets. With that in mind I made mine so I can adjust the hiegth of the fan inside the box. hoping it works.....

cge0 · 01-10-2008, 12:09 AM

Playing with the stirrer at lab showed me that if the magnet flies off, you're moving it too fast. I suggest attaching something to control the voltage.

**Mustangj** · 01-10-2008, 12:24 AM

Is the the bottom of the flask convex?

I had this same problem I had to use a 1'' 3/8 bar and it works geat 1000ml flask.I have also uesd a growler.

SuperiorBrew · 01-10-2008, 12:55 AM

If your flask is flat then it has to be spinning too fast, try raising the flask up away from the magnet it may slow it down enough to make it work till you can get a control on it.

**ShortSnoutBrewing** · 01-10-2008, 01:39 AM

Thanks for all the responses. I felt like it was moving too fast. It doesn't have a control on it. Just plug in or unplug. I'll search around to see how to add some control to it, or see if I can adjust the height a little.

aekdbbop · 01-10-2008, 02:04 AM

sorry for the hijack~

when you use a stir plate, should you use a foam stopper or an airlock?

Kubed · 01-10-2008, 02:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aekdbbop

sorry for the hijack~

when you use a stir plate, should you use a foam stopper or an airlock?

I use a piece of aluminum foil to cap my flask. There is a danger, be it a small one, that an air tight seal will allow enough pressure to build up in the flask and send shards of glass everywhere. I could use an airlock, but foil is 1) way, way cheaper and 2) won't get overwhelmed no matter how much gas is getting blown off

Scimmia · 01-10-2008, 03:03 AM

Foil is usually suggested for starters because it lets some oxygen in, which is actually a GOOD thing with starters.