Yeast starters

I've been doing some research and using the search option with HBT and I still can't get the jist of a yeast starter and how to get the understanding, how to do it from start to finish.

Link me to a place that explains this to dummies as I believe it's a good thing regardless of beer and would like to start using this process for all beers brewed moving forward.

From the wyeast site.

http://www.wyeastlab.com/hb_makingastarter.cfm

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/how-make-yeast-starter-pictorial-76101/

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Yeast_Starters

If you have trouble finding something on the site I find that using Google with homebrewtalk.com included in the search gets you what you want.

I'm no expert but it depends on what you are brewing. If doing normal grav 5 gal batches, generally you can just use a rehydrated dry packet. Or a liquid smack pack. Dry yeast never needs a starter, all the nutrients etc are built into the yeast already. For lagers, a starter is def recommended to avoid underpitching, or the use of multiple smack packs, but that is pricey.

For a starter, you just take a small quantity of DME, or any similar product, boiling for 15 mins to sterilize. Cool to room temp, add yeast, shake, and let go. 1 day or two later, boom, starter. I use a stir plate I made to add air during process which helps increase yield of growth. The process can be altered in many ways but that is the gist.

For the last lager I did, came out great. I made a starter like above, let cool in refrig for 1 day, poured off top "beer" and made another starter using that batch to make a bigger one. Repeated that in the fridge again, and made one last for about a 5x original amount of yeast. That's called making a stepped starter.

It's all very easy, sanitation is important.

Guys thanks for the feedback it's greatly appreciated.

I'm slowly getting back into brewing, first 3 batches have been fine and I don't think they needed a starter as things were moving along within 12 hours of coming off the flame.

I recently did an imperial stout that without a Friggon DOUBT needed a starter but I didn't know that until after the fact. I don't wanna do that again so I'm trying to get my crap together before my next high gravity brew.