Show us your DIY stir plate!
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smittygouv30
Well-Known Member
My dual stir plate that I finished this weekend. Works great! I'm using the circular rare earth magnets and a 1 1/2" stir bar. Thanks to all for the info and questions from the forum!
blawjr
Well-Known Member
Here's mine
120mm fan conversion using a HDD magnet and a couple additional magnets. I also added a plastic fan grill/filter to support the flask and wired in a two speed switch in the Altoids can on the side. The switch and 9v inverter were from a broken network switch/print server. I added rubber feet that were too small for another project, so I was able to do the whole thing for $0.
BBL_Brewer
Well-Known Member
Sweet :rockin:
Sulli
Well-Known Member
Great idea, nice work.
Joe_in_GA
Active Member
Here's mine. It's simple, works great, and looks good enough that I don't get in trouble for leaving it out on the kitchen counter. The box came from a local cigar store, the guts came from random computer parts except for the switch and pot, and I used the same instructions as everyone else.
Finally made one and then proceeded to break the flask by dropping it not even 15 minutes later..... F-f-f-f--f-f-udge.
Sulli
Well-Known Member
Here's mine
This is sweet. Nice work.
Huaco
Well-Known Member
What voltage converter are you using?
GodsStepBrother
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All of these are great! Mine is at the following thread.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/temperature-control-stir-plate-294193/
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/temperature-control-stir-plate-294193/
Huaco
Well-Known Member
Try using a 6V charger and I bet you won't have problems with that stir bar being thrown...
two_hearted
Well-Known Member
Here's my latest one. I converted an old external HD.
Sulli
Well-Known Member
Here's my latest one. I converted an old external HD.
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Geeky cool!
two_hearted
Well-Known Member
Another, uglier one made out of an old pelican case.
jybingbrew
Well-Known Member
Did this one this afternoon. Just an old box that the wife was going to throw away anyway, looked like it would be the perfect size to hold my 3L flask.
Build is just the typical build w/ radio shack parts that many others have done, with hard drive magnets and a fan I got off Newegg on black friday for free with rebate.
I had a few spacers in the basement, so decided to use those to mount just below the top rather than have it sitting on bolts like a lot of others have done. Just happened to have the right screws that would bit into the board w/out going through.
Build is just the typical build w/ radio shack parts that many others have done, with hard drive magnets and a fan I got off Newegg on black friday for free with rebate.
I had a few spacers in the basement, so decided to use those to mount just below the top rather than have it sitting on bolts like a lot of others have done. Just happened to have the right screws that would bit into the board w/out going through.
Thumbs71
Well-Known Member
I realize this is an older thread, but I wanted to show of my new DIY stir plate.
I picked up this computer case fan with controller for $5.57, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030MHEFY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20.
I also picked up this 2000ml flask for $14.25, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QDP82Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20, and this 1 1/2" inch stir bar for $5.35, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VBW5HC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20. The #9 stopper wasn't with the flask, so I emailed Amazon and asked if they would just ship the stopper. Instead they refunded me the $14.25 and told me to keep the flask.
For my power, I used a 5v AC cell phone charger.
I used magnets out of a few different kinds of hard drives. It's great to be corporate computer geek.
Right now I'm taking the minimalist approach and not using a case. Maybe someday I'll put it in something. The controller was about the smae size as the fan itself, so I was able to just zip-tie the controll to the fan. I put rubber feet on the bottom to keep it from walking and so the fan doesn't burnout, and I also put rubber feet on top to keep the flask stable.
Once I got the magents in the correct configuration, it worked great. I tested both 2000ml and 1500ml. I'm not sure when I would have to make a 2000ml starter, but it was worth the test. I can turn the controller to about 50% before it throws the bar.
Check out the pics below.
I picked up this computer case fan with controller for $5.57, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0030MHEFY/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20.
I also picked up this 2000ml flask for $14.25, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005QDP82Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20, and this 1 1/2" inch stir bar for $5.35, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VBW5HC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20. The #9 stopper wasn't with the flask, so I emailed Amazon and asked if they would just ship the stopper. Instead they refunded me the $14.25 and told me to keep the flask.
For my power, I used a 5v AC cell phone charger.
I used magnets out of a few different kinds of hard drives. It's great to be corporate computer geek.
Right now I'm taking the minimalist approach and not using a case. Maybe someday I'll put it in something. The controller was about the smae size as the fan itself, so I was able to just zip-tie the controll to the fan. I put rubber feet on the bottom to keep it from walking and so the fan doesn't burnout, and I also put rubber feet on top to keep the flask stable.
Once I got the magents in the correct configuration, it worked great. I tested both 2000ml and 1500ml. I'm not sure when I would have to make a 2000ml starter, but it was worth the test. I can turn the controller to about 50% before it throws the bar.
Check out the pics below.
Last edited by a moderator:
stixobutta
Well-Known Member
My stir plate goes to 11!
Seriously though, had this old external cd burner (whopping 1x speed!) sitting in the closet for years. Figured ah why not tear it apart... Used the LM317 voltage regulator method seen here...
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm317.pdf
Figure 2
Seriously though, had this old external cd burner (whopping 1x speed!) sitting in the closet for years. Figured ah why not tear it apart... Used the LM317 voltage regulator method seen here...
http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm317.pdf
Figure 2
I like Cigar Boxes!
Took a trip to my local Radio Shack & spent $15 on parts. EBay for a 1" stir bar $5.75 delivered.
Computer Fan = 0
Power Supply = 0
Magnet = 0
Cigar Box = 0
DIY Project = Priceless!
1 thing I hope to make sure you are aware of................. the completed project WAS NOT a simple assembly of parts. After all was said & done, it didn't work completely. Sure it spun, but it just threw the stir bar.
I had to tweak some things to get the correct vortex. Don't get discouraged. Relax, don't worry. You're almost there.
I was all bummed out that after following all the directions it didn't create the cone, it just threw the stir bar.
! I was thinking, "I was going to have to spend some serious $$$$$ after all!" I let it rest a day, tried a few different things, then a few more, then by chance I simply tried a few more washers in the center.............................................. HOLY SMOKES! It worked!!!!!! Try a few different things, washers, magnets, distance of the fan to the stir bar..............................
It'll work, just tweak it. Have a home brew!
I'm a cheap bastard & will not fork over $35 bucks for an Erlenmeyer flask on EBay. But $20 on Amazon I will do! Thank you Mr. Thumbs! :fro:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-stirplate-cheap-easy-build-86252/
I did the Lauter Tun already from parts left over and my next project is a Keezer with help from YOU BOYZ & HBT!
Took a trip to my local Radio Shack & spent $15 on parts. EBay for a 1" stir bar $5.75 delivered.
Computer Fan = 0
Power Supply = 0
Magnet = 0
Cigar Box = 0
DIY Project = Priceless!
1 thing I hope to make sure you are aware of................. the completed project WAS NOT a simple assembly of parts. After all was said & done, it didn't work completely. Sure it spun, but it just threw the stir bar.
I had to tweak some things to get the correct vortex. Don't get discouraged. Relax, don't worry. You're almost there.
I was all bummed out that after following all the directions it didn't create the cone, it just threw the stir bar.
! I was thinking, "I was going to have to spend some serious $$$$$ after all!" I let it rest a day, tried a few different things, then a few more, then by chance I simply tried a few more washers in the center.............................................. HOLY SMOKES! It worked!!!!!! Try a few different things, washers, magnets, distance of the fan to the stir bar.............................. It'll work, just tweak it. Have a home brew!
I'm a cheap bastard & will not fork over $35 bucks for an Erlenmeyer flask on EBay. But $20 on Amazon I will do! Thank you Mr. Thumbs! :fro:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-stirplate-cheap-easy-build-86252/
I did the Lauter Tun already from parts left over and my next project is a Keezer with help from YOU BOYZ & HBT!
Black Island Brewer
An Ode to Beer
I build my first stirplate using the radioshack parts so many have used, and find I can make it work with my erlenmeyer flasks, but sometimes getting it started is a pain because the rheostat doesn't control the speed very well. I found this:
http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-14002447-dc_12v-24v_32_a_motor_speed_control_pwm_controller.html
and while I haven't built the stirplate yet, I hooked it up to a 12v power supply and a 12v fan and was able to go from a dead stop to full speed and back again with no problems. I'll post after I test and let you know how it works.
http://www.suntekstore.com/goods-14002447-dc_12v-24v_32_a_motor_speed_control_pwm_controller.html
and while I haven't built the stirplate yet, I hooked it up to a 12v power supply and a 12v fan and was able to go from a dead stop to full speed and back again with no problems. I'll post after I test and let you know how it works.
Snafu
Well-Known Member
Mine, works great.
loomis02
Member
One I just built.
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2006
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BK_856er
Active Member
Do I get bonus points for showing an actual starter currently underway?
Built with a Brewers Hardware pcb, plastic project box and various parts harvested from around the house.
BK
Built with a Brewers Hardware pcb, plastic project box and various parts harvested from around the house.
BK
Overpanic
Member
I got excited about this project and decided to build my own as well. Here's what I came up with:
The case is something I had lying around, it looks like a cigar box but is actually a cake box (for Sacher Tortes, from Vienna). For the parts, I took apart an old Targus USB powered external laptop fan. I broke the fins off the fan, and used the USB power supply (5V) plugged into a spare iphone USB charger. A CD case provides the correct height. The magnets were something I found on our fridge, which I suspect are rare earth magnetic cubes.
It makes for a low-powered, but effective stir plate. The vortex only gets about an inch down at the highest speed, but if I really wanted to get more than that I could probably achieve it by using a higher voltage power supply.
I also made this video to show people who are interested in building their own stirplate how the distance of the magnets from the top of the box makes a big difference, and that it's not the goal to get them as close to the top of the box as possible. Also, if you're using two magnets like I am, you want them to have the opposite polarity facing up (in the video, I'm using round disc fridge magnets).
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1---s-dOKu4"][YOUTUBE]1---s-dOKu4[/YOUTUBE][/ame]
The case is something I had lying around, it looks like a cigar box but is actually a cake box (for Sacher Tortes, from Vienna). For the parts, I took apart an old Targus USB powered external laptop fan. I broke the fins off the fan, and used the USB power supply (5V) plugged into a spare iphone USB charger. A CD case provides the correct height. The magnets were something I found on our fridge, which I suspect are rare earth magnetic cubes.
It makes for a low-powered, but effective stir plate. The vortex only gets about an inch down at the highest speed, but if I really wanted to get more than that I could probably achieve it by using a higher voltage power supply.
I also made this video to show people who are interested in building their own stirplate how the distance of the magnets from the top of the box makes a big difference, and that it's not the goal to get them as close to the top of the box as possible. Also, if you're using two magnets like I am, you want them to have the opposite polarity facing up (in the video, I'm using round disc fridge magnets).
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1---s-dOKu4"][YOUTUBE]1---s-dOKu4[/YOUTUBE][/ame]
isukendall
Member
Put one together tonight out of a cigar box, some cheap parts from Radio Shack, a magnet, and a PC fan. Have it hooked up to a 9V battery for now, but will hardwire it later. Not the prettiest (on the inside), but it works. Wonder if anyone has done this with 9V batteries, wonder how long it will last?
Jester
Senior Member
isukendall said:
Looks good!!! Plus I love the note to "spin if you see me"... Hahahaa
isukendall
Member
Yeah, that was left from the last time I made a starter. We hosted the afterparty for our city league kickball team, and had a lot of people running through the house. Figured it couldn't hurt to keep the yeast going!
seafra
Active Member
6 liter yeast starter on the magnetic stir plate I made from stuff laying around and an $11 junction box from Lowes. It will pull a vortex to within an inch of the stir bar.
Fan speed controller to adjust RPM. The aluminum lip serves as a drip edge to keep liquid off the speed control knob. The feet are 1 inch thick strips of neoprene so it doesn't rattle. The lid is covered in sheet rubber for a non-slip surface.
120v, 4 inch fan with two stacks of rare earth magnets super glued to the fan hub. Put a couple vents on the back and the bottom for air circulation. Glued PVC elbows to the vents so fluids can't drip inside the box.
Coastie
Well-Known Member
Here's what I came up with.
BareKnuckleBrew
Active Member
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Here is mine. Pretty simple- normal cpu fan, hard drive magnet, cheap plastic box and control knob from radio shack. The only thing that sets mine aside is the funky sticker I pinched out of my sons video game
TaylorInOK
Well-Known Member
Gears of War is one of my favorites simply because the designers made it impossible to bunny-hop around while getting shot at.
My stir plate is Norse mythology themed centered around the mead of poetry story.
My stir plate is Norse mythology themed centered around the mead of poetry story.
Hard drive magnets and 1" stir bars. The two fans have separate speed controls but are currently sharing one power switch. I have a variable voltage DC project cord that is shared between several devices. I've been running at 4.5V for smaller starters, but I'd go 6V+ if not doing smaller than 1L.
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