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Jonnio · 01-27-2008, 11:53 AM

So I had a crazy idea overnight while thinking about building a small mlt for mini mash stuff. I remember reading how the more area of the grain bed you collect water from the better, so people coil up "large" amounts of stainless braid in the bottom of their cooler.

I was thinking about getting two grain bags big enough to fill the bottom of the cooler. Put some marble size rocks...or marbles if I can find some cheap enough... in one and put it on the bottom near the spigot. Then do a second one with small aquarium rocks on top of that. It shouldn't take a very thick layer to keep the grain up on top of that I wouldn't think and aquarium rocks are made to not put chemicals in the water, so they should be safe/sanitary.

The reason for putting the stuff in grain bags is after your done and your grain cools off you could just reach down, pull them out and rinse everything off/out.

I haven't been able to get to the store yet, but I think that this will be a fair amount cheaper since you will only need to replace the spigot on the cooler with a better one, get the rocks, and your done.

What do you guys think? Does this have any future worth pursuing?

**Mutilated1** · 01-27-2008, 12:14 PM

You may be on to something, I think that could work.

Just make sure you don't accidentally move the rocks if you stir it.

**Bobby_M** · 01-27-2008, 12:44 PM

A stainless braid is $4, can't get any more value than that.

**RichBrewer** · 01-27-2008, 01:00 PM

I think this could work. My experience with aquarium rocks is that you have to rinse them before use and they give off a lot of dust. I would find some that aren't colored and are as natural as possible.
Actually, now that I think about it, if the rocks are in a grain bag the bag will do the filtering and not the rocks. The rocks would only be there to hold the whole thing down against the bottom and the spigot. I don't think you would even need aquarium rocks.
The braided stainless would be cheaper but if you want to try this why not!

Jonnio · 01-27-2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

A stainless braid is $4, can't get any more value than that.

Yeah, I wasn't as much looking to minimize the cost of the braid, but all the other nipples and attachments that I see people getting to connect the braid to the spigot...basically trying to make a false bottom at below braid prices.

Of course after my order with AHS yesterday I told SWMBO I wasn't going to be buying any more brewing stuff, so this is all a practice in theoretical brewing right now

Jonnio · 01-27-2008, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RichBrewer

Actually, now that I think about it, if the rocks are in a grain bag the bag will do the filtering and not the rocks.

True, maybe the grain bag and rocks is overkill/redundant....

**Bobby_M** · 01-27-2008, 01:11 PM

You can use a big grain bag as the filtering mechanism but using something underneath to help keep the flow moving towards the outlet does have merit. I don't know that I'd want to clean up all the sticky rocks through. There's got to be something in the kitched that would work.

Jonnio · 01-27-2008, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bobby_M

There's got to be something in the kitched that would work.

A decent sized metal trivet would do the same thing as far as just elevating a grain bag.

**Chriso** · 01-27-2008, 01:46 PM

Metal trivet isn't a bad idea... but what if... when it is time to collect your runoff, you just lift the strainer bag a little? Instead of the 'brew in a bag' technique, instead this is 'mash in a bag'.

If you're trying to KISS, I think easiest method is Just One Grain Bag, no rocks, and lift the bag slightly when it's time to runoff.

If you're trying to innovate, don't let me stop you

Brainstorm away!

Jonnio · 01-27-2008, 01:51 PM

damn you and your kiss method

That's a good idea too....I will have to see what I can throw together around the house when it comes time to do my partial mash system...heck who knows. With summer time coming I might just go all grain here in March.