What do you use to measure brew water?
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I have a yard stick that I use that is marked from 2 gallons to 13 gallons. I used a 1 quart measuring cup to determine the markings. Works perfect!
I use this 4 quart aluminium measure
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rico567
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I gotta admit....I use two SS pots for heating liquor and doing the boil, one will hold about 4 gal, the other 7.5. When I'm measuring, I really just use the handle rivets to guesstimate. While it seems very inexact, no matter what I bottle, it usually comes out 50-52 bottles. That's close enough for me.
I should add....I marked a long-handled spoon and figured out how much water comes up to where.
I should add....I marked a long-handled spoon and figured out how much water comes up to where.
Mike_A
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Bobby_M's sight tube/thermo combo with vinyls
surferdrew
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Mike_A said:Bobby_M's sight tube/thermo combo with vinyls
+ 1 on this. Just make sure you're super accurate when calibrating vinyl markers.
Before the sight tube, used to use a wood paint stirrer with calibrated marks on it.
iaefebs
Well-Known Member
I have a straight sided brew pot so I use ╥ × R² × H ÷231 = gallon in inches... I use a yardstick.
Bobby_M's sight tube/thermo combo with vinyls
Use the same thing, love it! I have the stickers for my carboys also, just haven't gotten around to installing them.
I use one of these:
Found it on line for about $50 over a year ago. has a hose fitting on one end.
t
Found it on line for about $50 over a year ago. has a hose fitting on one end.
t
kpr121
Well-Known Member
I'll admit that I just eyeball everything too. Maybe thats why I get such inconsistent efficiencies.
I use one of these:
Found it on line for about $50 over a year ago. has a hose fitting on one end.
t
Have you got a link for that?
I use the pail and eyeballing method. That close enough. Some days the grain will absorb more or less, or boil off will be different. I dont brew in a lab with perfect atmospheric conditions so I'd expect to be off a tad each time.
when you guys mark the lines on your site glass did you do it with cold water or at the temp you use it at?
when you guys mark the lines on your site glass did you do it with cold water or at the temp you use it at?
SpanishCastleAle
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I use RO from the machine at the grocery and bottled spring water so it's already measured out. I just dump it in and at the end of the brew I'm magically* at my target volume within a 1/2 qt or so.
* - 'magically' meaning I've calculated exactly how much water I need to start with to hit my target volume.
* - 'magically' meaning I've calculated exactly how much water I need to start with to hit my target volume.
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Did you calibrate this? I weighed exactly one gallons and it came to the upper rivet. It's pretty hard to get it filled to that level without burning one's hand!
I ended up getting one of these (the 4-quart one):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000VLZSK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
M_C
I ended up getting one of these (the 4-quart one):
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000VLZSK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
M_C
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Just Google DLJ Meier water meters. I did and found hundreds of links. This link shows an example of one similar to what was posted above.
ndhoffma
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I use something similar... I have a 'calibrated' dowel rod for each of my kettles, & measure that way. Not entirely exact, but its good to 1/4gal or so... easy & cheap
Found it. Thanks, but it's no longer $50. I've looking for something like that.
bovineblitz
Well-Known Member
A length of CPVC tubing I knicked with a knife at each gallon marker
I use a 2 quart pitcher with markings at each 1/4 quart. I have also brewed in my pot enough I can fill it by eye and be dead on my target amount give or take a cup. which is close enough because once I add about 6lbs of extract my pot is at maximum capacity. I usualyl wind up at the very bottom of the rivets for the handles, once in a while I'll wind up a quarter of the way up the rivets. ONce I get my new burner and my larger stock pot, I'll have to relearn the new pot. the partial mash I did yesterday made it evident that I need a larger pot. trying to mash 5lbs (roughly) of grains in a 3 gallon pot is a challenge, and I don't recommend it.
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I got the one I linked below in the mail yesterday. I immediately measured 1 gallon of water by weight (3.785kg) @70F, and it was DEAD ON the 4-quart mark. So far I give those plastic measures a big thumbs up.
M_C
M_C
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heckels
Well-Known Member
Bought of piece of 1/8" x 3/4" aluminum that was 3ft long from a local hardware store. Bent it so that it hangs over the edge of the brew pot and then to the bottom inside and cut the rest off. Drilled 1/8" holes every half gallon and used a punch set to engrave the number of gallons. Works well.
Colby
Well-Known Member
I used spring water in 1 and 2.5 gallon containers from the store. I use the dip tube from my sanke keg to measure volume after draining the MLT and after boiling. The dip tube is marked with gallon increments by means of a dremel tool.
headfullahops
Well-Known Member
I have a couple of 2 foot stainless spoons from the local restaurant supply shop. I set up a spreadsheet with the equation to find the volume of a cylinder (V=Pi*Radius squared *Height) and separate tables for each of my vessels where I input the diameter and height. Then all I have do do is input the volume I want in a particular vessel and it will output the fill height. I used that to make marks in 1/2 gallon increments on the side of the SS spoons with a Dremel (I also have a mark made at 7.25 gallons because that is my target volume for a 60 minute boil) so I don't have to search for a tape measure or measuring stick. I just lean the spoon up against the side of the vessel and fill.
headfullahops
Well-Known Member
I don't know if anybody cares or not but, here's the spreadsheet for finding the volume and fill level of a cylindrical vessel...
Cylindrical Vessel Volume.xls
Cylindrical Vessel Volume.xls
Mischief_Brewing
Well-Known Member
I use my mash paddle/spoon with sharpie markings for the 10-gallon MLT, but will need to figure out what to do for the 17.5 gallon tun I'm building now. I guess I can just mark the other side of the spoon, but will need to find a way to remember which is which...
headfullahops
Well-Known Member
Get another paddle/spoon. I lucked out. My 9 gallon HLT (formerly my kettle) is the exact same diameter as my new 11 gallon kettle so the measuring marks are the same.
3 foot stainless rule. I have a spreadsheet with all of my vessels volumes and the corresponding height on the rule, in Millimeters. It's fairly accurate. I calibrated using a scale and the weight of fresh water.
Mischief_Brewing
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headfullahops
Well-Known Member
I think most of us will have to cop to being nerds here. After all, real men drink BMC.
flatfour64
Well-Known Member
I just ordered that 4 quart jug too. Someone should be getting commision checks here!
Yeah, but I'm the cool kind of nerd. The kind that makes beer! :cross:
So what if I put together a system for reporting my fermentation temps online so I can check it from anywhere?
