Zip Tie Death? In progress....

**culaslucas** · 10-25-2008, 04:13 AM

Okay dokay....I'm in the process of doing my first solo AG...

I have a hop bag and I had some zip ties on it to hold the bag on - I cut the ends off and one end flew directly into my wort...I still have 50 minutes of boil left. Do you think this is going to totally F up my beer? I mean I'm boiling plastic here...

DAMN

EDIT: I've tried fishing it out with a spoon and a strainer...no dice...

Hagen · 10-25-2008, 04:20 AM

OK... Stop.... Take a deep breath....

Since you're using a zip tie on teh hop bag, you'e boiling the plastic anyway.

It's not what I would do, but I don't think it's a disaster, carry on...

**GilaMinumBeer** · 10-25-2008, 04:23 AM

Yes but, the intended zip tie was meant to stay attached to the bag and not, potentially, melting on the bottom of the kettle.

I'd keep fishing but, wouldn't stop regardless.

**culaslucas** · 10-25-2008, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hagen

OK... Stop.... Take a deep breath....

Since you're using a zip tie on teh hop bag, you'e boiling the plastic anyway.

It's not what I would do, but I don't think it's a disaster, carry on...

Thanks.

Don't worry, I'm not freaking out. I get my grain for free so I'm not particularly concerned about wasting money...just time.

My hop bag zip ties are well above the liquid level so I'm not really boiling them.

I really hope I find an intact zip tie after draining off my wort...otherwise it's melted and I'd be drinking melted plastic nastiness later on...

PUD · 10-25-2008, 04:34 AM

get your grain for free eh! wanna be friends???

**culaslucas** · 10-25-2008, 04:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PUD

get your grain for free eh! wanna be friends???

SURE~! Drive the 7+ hours from Cortez to Boulder and I'll treat you some free grain...after you spend $130 in gas

**culaslucas** · 10-25-2008, 04:46 AM

okay...just to document the situation...my hop bag just completely fell off of the HVAC reducer. Time to rethink that little device (think: large worm clamp...plastic=stupid idea.)

Luckily I was able to fish out the hop bag and the huge piece of plastic zip tie...still no signs of the 4" long strip that I cut off...

**GilaMinumBeer** · 10-25-2008, 04:51 AM

Bummer! And welcome to AG. When your every move is a complete disaster and your first batch attempt factors out to about $25 per ounce of beer, you know you are really brewing.

It really does get easier. I learned, even with the worm clamp, that inverting the reducer (big side toward the hot stuff), um, reduces the chances that the bag (and clamp) will come off. Had a couple close calls to figure that one out.

**culaslucas** · 10-25-2008, 05:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilaMinumBeer

inverting the reducer (big side toward the hot stuff), um, reduces the chances that the bag (and clamp) will come off. Had a couple close calls to figure that one out.

My lord...now that you mention it, it's completely simple. Put the large end on the bottom so the hop bag doesn't slip off...just need to tie it loosely...no need for a wormclamp or a zip tie at all.

billtzk · 10-25-2008, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GilaMinumBeer

It really does get easier. I learned, even with the worm clamp, that inverting the reducer (big side toward the hot stuff), um, reduces the chances that the bag (and clamp) will come off. Had a couple close calls to figure that one out.

I started out with the big end down. After seeing all the pictures on here that people posted with the big end up and warning about the clamp slipping, it just seemed laughably obvious. Put the big end down, problem solved.

I still use a worm clamp. It is extremely secure that way.