ScubaSteve
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- May 21, 2007
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Do you think the 16 sized mesh would still be too small even though you should have a lot more surface area on your setup over the Bazooka screen? I think the smallest you can go with keeping the ability to flow your wart is obviously the goal to screen out the most junk. If 16x16 seems to filter the material than maybe having more surface area on your setup will solve the flow problem the Bazooka has with getting clogged.
Mark
EXCELLENT point. I was thinking about this....put very simply, if the screen clogs, it's doing its job!
I feel pretty confident that the 16 mesh will stop the grain. The pellet hops are a whole different story. But if they stay in the basket, then they're still swimming in ~70% of the boil volume, very much unlike a nylon mesh bag which are way too restrictive...which is kind of the point of this whole project....getting away from nylon bags and having a single point of use for grain and hops.
The perfed SS bottom did a great job of allowing the boil to rise right through; no volatile eruptions around the sides. That problem is solved.
Now, I need to find out what size mesh will keep MOST of the pellet matter in the basket...because if too much gets through to the hopback module (like this last brew), I'm going to be having to fiddle with stopping the pump, detaching the module, and completely washing it out. I will say this though, the SS scrubbie has done a great job....I just jam it right in there. But it becomes a solid mass o' hops if too much gets down the drain.
I need to think about this...if I get greedy and go too fine, i'll still have to deal with hauling a basket full of wort out of the kettle and waiting for it to slowly drain. If I go too coarse, I'll have way too many annoying equipment failures...in which case I might as well get rid of the plate chiller and go with an IC.