PVC Hop Spider... Safe?

Here's a pic of mine.



I've used it 8 or 10 times, just use a clamp to hold a paint strainer bag on it. Doesn't seem to have softened the pvc at all. No rust. But I don't like using PVC above my boil anyway.

Anyone know if this is a bad idea?

I'm looking into building another one from stainless, but so far I don't have much of a plan and I'm ready to brew up a Green Flash IIPA clone. Cheers.

I've seen some photo's of melted pvc spiders. It would seem to depend on how close to the boil it is. Until you come up with a different version you could just clip the bag to the sides of the kettle or a long metal rod across the top.

Just don't dip the damn thing into the boiling wort. I speak from experience, it'll melt damn quick.

Above the boil, I think you are fine. Even if the PVC is leaching some bad stuff into the steam vapor, all that vapor is headed UP (good ol' heat rising), so I don't see an issue.

I melted my first one when I set the pot lid on top of it. The combination of the extra weight and the trapped steam did it in.

Why not make one out of some pieces of copper tubing?

If you're worried it's pretty cheap and easy to make one out of an SS sink drain.

This has worked fine, but I think I'm going to look into the SS sink drain. I'm not sure how I'd make one out of copper, though. If I find the link I'll post it here.

Thanks, guys.

Get schedule 80 cpvc

milldoggy said:

Get schedule 80 cpvc

Click to expand...

Not sure where you can find 4" or 6" CPVC, but I know it's not at my local hardware stores.

I found 6" schedule 10 stainless pipe on ebay priced by the foot. I have a piece left over about 6" in length if anyone is interested. Or I can fabricate just the frame with all stainless hardware, and you supply the paint strainer bag.

I have no idea of the "safe" aspect of this. I melted mine, after 2 uses it was no longer round. I also had a spot of rust on 1 of the bolts. I scrapped the entire mess for this: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/all-stainless-steel-deluxe-hop-bag-spider-cheap-238341/

Since then I have brewed 2 batches with the modded keg top. Due to DMS concerns (not that I ever tasted any DMS in my beer). I inverted the eye bolts, raising the cover by a good 4-6 inches. I served 2 1/4 bbls at my wedding party and none of my guests mentioned anything other than "Damn that was good!" to me and 1 was a wheat beer...I will update that thread with this info as well and try to get some pics of the newer configuration tomorrow.

BTW, I love Realales spider! That is nice!

You have to order larger schedule 80 cpvc from an online source

Not sure on the semantics of a copper pipe type spider but I'm sure it could be done... let me think about it

I do like the idea of the S/S strainer type though.