Recent content by maltymike

So I am planning on entering my first homebrew competition and since I, obviously, have never done this before I need a little help on which category to enter my beers in. My first beer was supposed to be a Russian Imperial Stout, but because of poor crush (couldn't have been my fault), it...

I've been ordering from Midwest on my last couple of batches. Since then my efficiency has dropped pretty dramatically. Their base grains don't even look crushed.. I have decided to switch sources.

I just calibrated my thermometer earlier in the brew day, using ice water and boiling water.. so I dont think thats the problem. I did stir alot when I was doughing in and made sure there was no clumps and then stirred some more.. to be honest.. The temp was actually a little too high.. so i...

I order my stuff online and get it Pre-crushed. I did start out with a different company but isnt 50% still a little low? The grains look cracked.. but basicly whole looking, not broken in half or anything. I wonder if thats the problem....

This is my 6th all grain and I haven’t come here to complain yet but I’m really getting tired of getting 50% efficiency. I’m just going to walk you through everything and If someone sees some obvious thing I’m doing wrong PLEASE let me know. I try to follow Bobby M's Instructions (#2) from...

Well I have bad news and good news... The bad.. I broke my second cobalt bit... The good news... well I broke my second cobalt bit... When the bit broke, I was just about ready to do my best worlds strongest man impersonation throwing the keg as far as i could.. (my estimates are around...

well, im definitetly going forward.. and I guess its hardened.. the bit was working for a while, but now i cant seem to get any fragments coming off the keg. the bit just spins, makes minimal metal grinding noise and nothing.. there is a tiny impression on the inside of the keg where I have...

Well the oil never smoked bubbled or anything.. I never noticed anything getting hot, it just seems like nothing is happening at all.. I guess i can try and going a little faster.. maybe i am going too slow.... and yes.. the drill bit is cobalt material, not brand..the brand is rigid.. any...

SO I have been trying to drill the hole in my keg to put in my valve. I went out and purchased a step bit because I heard it was slightly easier. so it was time to go and I have my 18v dewalt cordless drill some mineral oil to use as cutting oil, and a whole bunch of bits for my pilot...

I'm about to order the parts for my pickup tube.. I use (or i should say am going to use) my home made counter flow chiller which uses 3/8 OD copper inside a garden hose, gravity fed.. So my question is .. Should i keep my pickup tube 3/8 inch as well, or are there any benefits on using...

Cool cool. About the eye... .Yes everything is ok.. I felt the metal hit my eyeball, and it hurt a bit, but i saw out of it fine, and by the time i got to a mirror it was already safely sitting on my eyelid and easy enough to get out.. it looked like a metal splinter curled up into a ball...

Well thanks for the concern (and ridicule I guess) but the top is cut off.. took me a little longer than I expected but I got it off, now its time to grind it to make it smoother.. I don't have any cutting oil for drilling my holes.. Home Depot didn't carry it... I should be ..okish right?

ok guys, thats for your help.. all i had to do was flip the nut around.. i feel dumb but im glad you were all here.. So i started cutting the keg and on about my 3rd rotation and piece of metal shot up and hit me in the eyeball.. YES I was wearing eye protection but jees that scared the F out...

wow, even quicker than I expected.. Well this is a brand new makita 4 1/2 inch angle grinder, I am using all the nuts and parts that came with the tool. It came with a thick grinding wheel like hayabusa mentioned, but it also came with a "bonus" thin general purpose diamond blade. and I...

So I'm about to cut the top off of my keg.. and when I put my cutoff wheel on my angle grinder (I have never used one before) I noticed the wheel is not secured at all. The Nuts holding it in are tight, but the wheel has range to move in beaten the 2 nuts. Is that normal? at first I thought...