dbhokie

Recipes 

So I made a stir plate recently, tested it out with a magnetic bar I had, and it works great. Well now I am buying flasks and stir-bars, so a bit of advice I thought.

Stir bars - I know they are cheap and easily found, but what about the cross ones, do you guys prefer those over a standard straight stir bar?

Flasks - Wide Mouth vs Narrow?

__________________
On Deck
Abbey Ale #2
Rye Imperial Pale Ale
Primary
20 Gallons of Apple Cider
Secondary
Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter
Conditioning (Bottle)
---So Sad

Snowhere

Recipes 

Never tried a cross one, but between my 2" and 1 " bars, the smaller, lighter bar works better.

As far as wide or narrow, how wide are you going? I would think narrow would be easier to get a foam stopper for.

Stauffbier

Recipes 

I use a 1" straight bar, and it works great! My flask is a 2L mason jar and I use foil on top.

__________________
Bier war sein letztes wort dann trugen ihn die Englein fort...

ScoRas

Recipes 

What's the best speed? A strong vortex, or just lightly stirring?

__________________
Primary - hopbursted Bohemian Pilsner

http://hopville.com/recipe/1687697

Stauffbier

Recipes 

All you need is a little bellybutton sized vortex. Slow and steady.....

__________________
Bier war sein letztes wort dann trugen ihn die Englein fort...

william_shakes_beer

Recipes 

+1 on above. I have a 1" stir bar and turn it on the slowest setting. The purpose of a stir plate is to circulate the yeast so they all get maximum contact with oxygen at the top of the vessel. Faster is not better. I would be concerned that a larger stir bar may encounter increased resistance and be more prone to slinging off the magnet.

dbhokie

Recipes 

Thanks much, I didn't really think the cross ones were necessary, I'll go with a little pack of some smaller ones.

I'm not really sure with how wide or narrow, just the sets of flasks I was looking at were wide and narrow mouths, I wouldn't reckon it to make much of a difference, but best to ask those with experience rather than rely on theory alone.

__________________
On Deck
Abbey Ale #2
Rye Imperial Pale Ale
Primary
20 Gallons of Apple Cider
Secondary
Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter
Conditioning (Bottle)
---So Sad

Dok

Recipes 

+1 I bought a 2 inch thinking I would make this swirling tornado of killer yeast and I quickly learned that none of that is necessary. I only fought with it..

passedpawn

Recipes 

I spent a lot of time getting a 2" to spin. I do think it works a little better than my 1/2" in my 4L flask, but really not a lot better. In a smaller flask the 1/2" would be perfect.

__________________
Now there's some take delight in the carriages a rolling
and others take delight in the hurling and the bowling
but I take delight in the juice of the barley
and courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early

crazyirishman34

Recipes 

I got a couple of the puck looking ones. It does well but not so much better that its worth the extra money

__________________
www.downtheroadbrewery.com

www.pintley.com Great reviews of craft beer and win prizes at the same time

Down the Road on Facebook