Help with DIY false bottom

ThwWorm · Jan 24, 2012

I am in the process of converting a keg into a mash tun. I have been driving myself crazy looking for a sheet of perforated stainless steel that I can use. Everything I have found is either sold in bulk or is insanely expensive. None of my local scrap metal places have had any, and I'm ready to start drilling/cutting holes in a regular stainless sheet. Is there anyone out there who has any left over from their DIY projects that I can purchase? Any help or advice would be awesome. Cheers!!

gingerdawg · Jan 24, 2012

Talk to Jaybird
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f41/jaybirds-stainless-false-bottoms-146056/

ThwWorm · Jan 24, 2012

Those are really nice! Thank you for the info. Just sent him a pm.

gunmetal · Jan 24, 2012

From time to time, I have access to some great material, the holes are smaller than 1/8". Stainless and heavy gauge. A piece about 20 x 20 inches was about 25 bucks. I made a hinged false bottom, used a guide on a angle grinder to make almost a perfect circle. Once cut in half however, and adding a hinge, they are no longer perfectly round. It still fits the keg nice, but leaves a little larger gap around some parts of the keg than the other. If you had a cad program on a water jet machine, you could take into account the thickness of the cut, the hinge, etc. It is hard to make a perfect copy of a production model such as from Sabco etc.

gunmetal · Jan 25, 2012

Here is the material that I got, It measures about 24" by 24". It has a dime on it for reference, I think it has the right size for flow vs. filtration, if that makes sense.

bmunos · Jan 25, 2012

I have seen a cool false bottom design for under 10 bucks. They took a stainless cake pan and drilled the tiny holes in them by hand. It looks like it worked really well and it was domed?

dutchoven · Jan 25, 2012

Have you checked with these guys: http://www.paragonsteel.com/index_ps.html? Found them on a quick search. A local metal supplier should be able to help you, or at least point you in the right direction. Good luck.

ThwWorm · Jan 25, 2012

gunmetal said:
Here is the material that I got, It measures about 24" by 24". It has a dime on it for reference, I think it has the right size for flow vs. filtration, if that makes sense.

that looks good!

Hatchbrew · Jan 25, 2012

I got my 16 gauge metal square at Friedmens hardware store for 30. Cut it out with a pair of tin snips. Been using it for a year now.

Zamial · Jan 25, 2012

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cut-keg-top-false-bottom-192413/'

mine is on page 3 and it is still working fine...

acefaser · Jan 25, 2012

gunmetal said:
From time to time, I have access to some great material, the holes are smaller than 1/8". Stainless and heavy gauge. A piece about 20 x 20 inches was about 25 bucks. I made a hinged false bottom, used a guide on a angle grinder to make almost a perfect circle. Once cut in half however, and adding a hinge, they are no longer perfectly round. It still fits the keg nice, but leaves a little larger gap around some parts of the keg than the other. If you had a cad program on a water jet machine, you could take into account the thickness of the cut, the hinge, etc. It is hard to make a perfect copy of a production model such as from Sabco etc.

Cut it in half and add the hinge then cut the circle shape. Perfect circle every time. I tried to make a false bottom out of a lot of materials and failed. I couldn't find the proper metal and tried using those splash screens and other diy objects, however just ended up buying Jaybirds and it works perfectly.

outside92129 · Jan 25, 2012

There's good perforated sheet on ebay, but i went with the keg bottom with slits cut with an angle grinder, much easier than drilling 300 holes.

Stauffbier · Jan 30, 2012

outside92129 said:
There's good perforated sheet on ebay, but i went with the keg bottom with slits cut with an angle grinder, much easier than drilling 300 holes.

I'm looking to make a fb soon. Can you post a photo of this?

ThwWorm · Feb 25, 2012

All done! Here are the pics. I actually had enough steel to make two false bottoms. The one you see
In my keg is the second one that i cut.

Spring_Chicken · Feb 25, 2012

Where did you get the metal from and how much did it cost?

ThwWorm · Feb 25, 2012

One of the members on the forum had an extra sheet floating around. I paid 40 shipped. Stuff is really hard to find. All the local places here want $200 for a 20" square. I do have an extra 15" circle if you are interested.

petrostar · Feb 26, 2012

Go to wal mart or bed bath and beyond and buy the OXO splatter screen. It's very rigid, only 20 bucks and is easily made into a false bottom with tin snips and a drill!

petrostar · Feb 26, 2012

And also four 16mm stainless screws. I have pics if you want. You can make it into a folding false bottom if you buy stainless hinges.

USCDiver · Feb 26, 2012

Online Metals has perforated stainless. You can get 24" x 24" for $62

Stauffbier · Feb 26, 2012

petrostar said:
Go to wal mart or bed bath and beyond and buy the OXO splatter screen. It's very rigid, only 20 bucks and is easily made into a false bottom with tin snips and a drill!

That is cool as hell! I wish you would have posted this before I made mine.. I might still buy one anyway, because it would still be nicer than the one I made! With that said, I just made mine a week ago and haven't even brewed with it yet. If mine works great I won't bother, but if not I now have a plan "B".. I made mine from the cut-out-top of my keg. Here's a photo;

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petrostar · Feb 26, 2012

Here is the link on how to do it.

http://www.brewing-tips.com/false_bottom/

CaptainDucman · Oct 3, 2012

I'd like to thank ThwWorm for this thread.

I went to a local metal supply and explained what I was doing and they cut me a deal on 16 x 48 piece of 304 stainless with 3/32 holes on 5/32 centers. I proceeded to make 2 15" FBs and 2 "level 1 filtration stands" (credit to Jaybird and his idea). All stainless hinges and hardware. I have enough material for one more 15" FB if anyone is interested.

16" x 16" square $50 shipped FedEx 2 day insured

or

I'll cut another 15" FB and hinge it for $80 shipped FedEx 2 day insured

grnis · Oct 3, 2012

ThwWorm said:
I am in the process of converting a keg into a mash tun. I have been driving myself crazy looking for a sheet of perforated stainless steel that I can use. Everything I have found is either sold in bulk or is insanely expensive. None of my local scrap metal places have had any, and I'm ready to start drilling/cutting holes in a regular stainless sheet. Is there anyone out there who has any left over from their DIY projects that I can purchase? Any help or advice would be awesome. Cheers!!

Holes makes not very good false bottoms.

Wedge Wire will do that.

SloTimes · Oct 9, 2012

Any advice as to where we can buy small quantities of that wedge wire?

jerrodm · Oct 9, 2012

Hatchbrew said:
I got my 16 gauge metal square at Friedmens hardware store for 30. Cut it out with a pair of tin snips. Been using it for a year now.

I did the same thing, and put a bead of food-grade silicone around the edge to make sure it fits snug inside the MLT. It works really well.

Help with DIY false bottom

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