thomcat333

Recipes 

For the others out there with the Polarware brew pot (mine is 40qt), are you getting decent mash efficiencies with the Polarware false bottom?

I have consistently gotten lower yields than I'd like using the false bottom (~67-70%), and I'm guessing it's because of the large space under the false bottom (~1 gallon or so) and the outlet being on one side. So...

I said screw it and used my day off to build a copper manifold. It should give a better flow distribution. This is how it came out. I dropped a bit of food coloring in some water to see how it pulled. So far so good... no major bias in flow.



- Andy

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Projects: Fermentation Chamber, Sanyo 4912 Conversion, MLT Manifold, Temp Control Box

Chriso

Recipes 

Sweet! I don't have a polarware, just a crummy Bayou Classic thin wall, but I royally screwed up the sidewall when I mounted my ball valve, PLUS I still don't have a hop screen for said ball valve.... so I'm seriously debating a new kettle purchase (or keggle, if people in town have any luck on their searching)
I definitely like that manifold though... that should be super cool in use!
Any worries about scorching wort due to "hot spots" though?

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thomcat333

Recipes 

In the past I've done mostly infusion mashes plus a bit of heating to adjust as needed. But yeah I'll have to watch out for scorching if I need to heat much.

What I'd really like to do is hook up a two-way valve so I can heat with steam through this same manifold and then change the valving to lauter... That's a little ways out though. If I end up doing that, I could have just used a cooler and saved the money. But no need worrying over that now.

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Projects: Fermentation Chamber, Sanyo 4912 Conversion, MLT Manifold, Temp Control Box

tgreene7

Recipes 

I thought the holes were supposed to point down?

thomcat333

Recipes 

They can... I haven't soldered it yet. Any experience with different orientations???

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Projects: Fermentation Chamber, Sanyo 4912 Conversion, MLT Manifold, Temp Control Box

gonzo brewer

Recipes 

I have a copper manifold similar to yours. I made slotted holes with my sawzaw in a vise (don't have a jigsaw or bandsaw). The slots are about 1/8" wide and 1/3 thru the 1/2" copper tube. I placed the holes facing up. I was generous and have about 35 holes. I've read that a fast flow in mash out is good. My rationale is the bottom side of the tubing is smooth, and will allow a faster flow rate. I have never had a stuck mash yet, although I've only used it 5 times.

eriktlupus

Recipes 

how much does it leave in the bottom of the tun?

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gonzo brewer

Recipes 

The bottom of my manifold is about 1" from the bottom of the cooler. I tilt the cooler near the end of the runnings and get most out. I leave about 1/2 quart as "dead space".