Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

The Boston Wort Processors

Cheap and Easy Stirplate

mthompson

Recipes 

I roughed one of these things up last night from my electronics parts box. I got it to work with a few different controllers, but none of them were very 'fine-tuned' for speed control. I will have to get the one in the OP perhaps.

The other main problem I had, was when I put most of the HD magnets I have on the fan, they are too strong and prevent the fan from spinning. I got two small magnets from one drive...the fan spins with one but not both on it....but one magnet is not strong enough to attract the stir bar with any gusto. Anyone else have this problem?

I have a few other fans I could try, but would also like to keep some intact for computer use. Are all fans created equal? Or, do some fans have less metal inside of them?

Thanks for any help y'all can give me.

__________________
MT
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Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1

Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

I would say that not all fans are created equal. I have been using fans out of Dell's since that is what we use at work. The best placement I could get was with one magnet in the center of my fan.

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

The Boston Wort Processors

Cheap and Easy Stirplate

mthompson

Recipes 

Guess I'll have to try a few others. The one I used last night was new in the box (from 3 years ago) and was where the rest of the supplies were - so I used it. It is one of those fancy lighted ones that is clear plastic. I'll try one of the plain ol' black ones in some cases I have lying around tonight.

Any suggestions for solving the magnet strength problems? I am gonna try another stir bar on the fan....they seem strong enough to spin the other bar, but not strong enough to stop the fan from spinning. I was also wondering if there was a way I could shield the fan from the full magnetic force of some of these magnets. Would a large metal washer aid in this?

Thanks,

__________________
MT
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Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1

Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

The reason I use the stainless steel washer is to allow me to move around, add, and remove magnets if I need to in order to fine tune my stir plate...

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

The Boston Wort Processors

Cheap and Easy Stirplate

mthompson

Recipes 

I read that above, was just curious how well that shielded the fan's innards from the magnet, cause I think that is my biggest problem right now.

I think my plan is to get two earth magnets fro radio shack when I get a 25ohm rheostat and then use the stir bar with magnets attached to set the positions/spacing correctly on to the outside of a 1.5" washer glued to the fan.

I think that will work in tow ways....allow for flexibility in washers and set the magnets on the outside rim of the fan motor housing.

Thanks,

__________________
MT
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. - Psalm 69:1

Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

I found a great website for magnets. If you guys haven't seen this yet, the place is called amazingmagnets.com

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

The Boston Wort Processors

Cheap and Easy Stirplate

planenut

Recipes 

I am working on one of these right now.

I was surprised to find out that my fan has a dedicated positive/negative power wire. I thought reversing the wires would ran the fan in the opposite direction but not with mine...

Also my magnets may be a little weak, it will spin with the 6 volt supply (not fast enough) but throws the bar with the 12 volt supply. I can't wait to see if the rheostat solves this problem.

__________________
On Tap - Pale Ale, Centiennal Blonde
Primary - Dry Irish Stout, Dead Guy Ale, Mild Mannered Ale
Crash Chilling -

Anthony_Lopez

Recipes 

The rheostat will allow you to fine tune your fan speed. Hopefully that helps your setup

__________________
I'd rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.
--Tom Waits

You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline - it helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer.
--Frank Zappa

The Boston Wort Processors

Cheap and Easy Stirplate

undallas

Recipes 

thanks for the post... I just made one today after I stopped by the Shack to get some supplies...
amazing, I just paid $6 and I got a stir plate by using scrap PC material.
LBHS sells one for $50.

Now.. I just need to wait for my stir bar to get in...
I have been hand swirl my pacman culture for 4 days now...
the yeast is amazing.... it really grows on you.