Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
Bobby, it looks great! Where did you get your SS materials?
Cheers
Cheers
hopstopper users...
- Thread starter the_bird
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Thermal inversion layer?
Stainless came from Mcmaster but I can't help on the source for stainless wire. It was given to me from someone who works on airplanes. Search for lockwire. I mean, Mcmaster has it but the quantity is cost prohibitive. Actually, now that i look at it, they have 1/4lb rolls for under $10. I'm using what appears to be .032" diameter, but you can def get away with something half as thin.
Todd
Well-Known Member
this turned out much better than mine, I used 30x30 .23 wire and it is super, super stiff. I think it will filter pretty decent though.
Can I ask how much your wire cost? I went off a suggestion from the green board and I really wish I would have gotten the finer material.
Can I ask how much your wire cost? I went off a suggestion from the green board and I really wish I would have gotten the finer material.
It was something like $4.50 a square foot at Mcmaster.com. The mesh size is 60x40 which really means it is just like 60x60 but with more open area. It's about the same mesh as the filter that's in my funnel.
fifelee
Well-Known Member
Come on Dude, cough it up. Why cant we use hopstoppers and immersion chillers. I am trying to decide between doing whirlpool/diverter plate and making a hopstopper. Does the cold break clog it up?Dude said:
![Craft A Brew - Safale S-04 Dry Yeast - Fermentis - English Ale Dry Yeast - For English and American Ales and Hard Apple Ciders - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [1 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41fVGNh6JfL._SL500_.jpg)
fifelee said:
No, the majority of the coils on the chiller won't go far enough into the wort to chill it. The arm of the hopstopper prevents it from submerging into the bottom of the kettle.
freyguy
Well-Known Member
Another thing to keep in mind, is that I often have caught my grain bag on my hopstopper. I suppose this only would effect extract brewers that steep grain. But just wanted to let you know that the less sharp points and things to catch on, the better. And, I kinda like mine in a circle because I can stir around it to make sure nothing settles on the bottom. Just my two pennies to add to some of you guys designs. 
I certainly didn't build a keggle to continue brewing extract but it's a valid point (except that even now I clip my grain bag to the side of the pot so it sits off the bottom). There's really no way of getting around a dip tube in a keggle anyway unless you siphon out. So, in that case you can IC cool, whirlpool and siphon out or you go with a bulkhead, siphon tube, hop stopper, and CFC or plate chiller. Two different ways to skin a cat.
Todd
Well-Known Member
Bobby_M said:
From what I hear cold break from an IC is enough to clog the hopstopper. I built mine so I could use a plate chiller.
Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
Well, after this discussion, I thought I'd give something a try.
I've got one of these in my kettle.
It does great with whole hops, but does nothing for pellets. So I decided to sew a piece of nylon hop bag onto it to help catch the pellet hop particles. Here's a few pics. I'll be brewing this weekend. I'll give an update on how it works.
I've got one of these in my kettle.
It does great with whole hops, but does nothing for pellets. So I decided to sew a piece of nylon hop bag onto it to help catch the pellet hop particles. Here's a few pics. I'll be brewing this weekend. I'll give an update on how it works.
disaffected
Well-Known Member
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Bobby_M said:
Another place you can get small spools or lengths of stainless steel 304 or 316 wire in various gauges is http://www.smallparts.com/ Also screen.
I didn't check prices to see how it compares with McMaster, but it's another source for anyone who is looking.
Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
Well, I brewed a 10 gal batch today with the nylon-modified-filter. It ruined my batch! 
I guess this kept the wort from circulating enough around in and out of the area underneath and it ended up burning. I didn't even know until I tasted it once it was in the carboy after I took an OG reading. It tasted like a cigar!
I thought I smelled something as the boil started, but I just thought it was the paint that was burning off the new brew stand. Anyway, I just thought I would share so the rest of you don't try this and make the same $45 + 4 hour mistake I did. Otherwise, prepare for this:
I guess this kept the wort from circulating enough around in and out of the area underneath and it ended up burning. I didn't even know until I tasted it once it was in the carboy after I took an OG reading. It tasted like a cigar!
I thought I smelled something as the boil started, but I just thought it was the paint that was burning off the new brew stand. Anyway, I just thought I would share so the rest of you don't try this and make the same $45 + 4 hour mistake I did. Otherwise, prepare for this:
Lil' Sparky said:Well, I brewed a 10 gal batch today with the nylon-modified-filter. It ruined my batch!
I guess this kept the wort from circulating enough around in and out of the area underneath and it ended up burning. I didn't even know until I tasted it once it was in the carboy after I took an OG reading. It tasted like a cigar!
I thought I smelled something as the boil started, but I just thought it was the paint that was burning off the new brew stand. Anyway, I just thought I would share so the rest of you don't try this and make the same $45 + 4 hour mistake I did. Otherwise, prepare for this:
UGH.
*cues up "Cadence to Arms" on the pipes*
Sorry for your loss.
Good luck getting that kettle clean. Yikes.
Brewiz
Well-Known Member
Man, that just sucks hind tit.........I would just sit down and cry!!!!!
chillHayze
Well-Known Member
That pic on the bottom is enough to make a grown man cry.
Well, look at it this way, you helped all of us to know what doesn't work. Edison's lightbulb failed like 1000 times before it worked. I wonder if the hopstopper design can cause the same problem.
FlyGuy
Well-Known Member
.
Arrrrrggh! That's just a hideous site! The horror, the horror!
Sorry man.
Arrrrrggh! That's just a hideous site! The horror, the horror!
Sorry man.
Beer Weevel
Well-Known Member
Boil some P.B.W. in it and it will clean right up!!!
Not a nice sight.
How high did you have the burner? How long to the rolling boil.
How high did you have the burner? How long to the rolling boil.
Beer Weevel
Well-Known Member
Lil Sparky, you spent $45.00 on grain for $21.95 more you could have bought a Hop Stopper. I'm sorry but sombody had to do it. I really do feel your pain!!!
Otter
Member
I tried the false bottom on my first brew, of course that was before I realized that they only worked for whole hops!
After clogging my CFC and wasting a good portion of that first brew, I decided to get a hopstopper. I'm glad that I let my fiancee talk me into making my own!
I got my mesh from McMaster (12" x 24" of 30x30 mesh, .013 wire), and just used my ss dip tube from the false bottom.
The mesh may not be fine enough, some hops is getting through. What size mesh has anyone else used?
After clogging my CFC and wasting a good portion of that first brew, I decided to get a hopstopper. I'm glad that I let my fiancee talk me into making my own!
I got my mesh from McMaster (12" x 24" of 30x30 mesh, .013 wire), and just used my ss dip tube from the false bottom.
The mesh may not be fine enough, some hops is getting through. What size mesh has anyone else used?
Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
Otter, what did you sew yours up with?
I used 60x40 mesh which is basically twice as fine as your 30x30. I haven't tested it yet, but it looks about right. It's a larger mesh than a hop bag, but a little smaller than my funnel mesh which I KNOW stops pellet hops because it clogs all the time.
Otter
Member
I used some wire from a piece of 18x18 stainless mesh that I had laying around. I simply pulled the strands out and used those.
Torchiest
Well-Known Member
Lil' Sparky said:
Aaaarrrrrrgggghhhhhhh!!!1!!one!! (runs off screaming into the hills)
Oh the brewmanity!
Jester4176
Well-Known Member
Any reason I couldn't use brass wire to sew one of these up? I'd pickle it first of course. Saw a spool of 22ga brass wire in the hardware store today and figured it might be easier and quicker than ordering some off the interweb and waiting on delivery.
edit: Just realized I have some stranded copper wire left over from an electrical project. Is there any reason I couldn't use copper instead since I already have it? Anything special I'd have to do to clean it? Not sure if it's coated with some special chemical because it's electrical wire. There shouldn't be any reaction between the coper/SS mesh in the brew kettle I'm assuming.
edit: Just realized I have some stranded copper wire left over from an electrical project. Is there any reason I couldn't use copper instead since I already have it? Anything special I'd have to do to clean it? Not sure if it's coated with some special chemical because it's electrical wire. There shouldn't be any reaction between the coper/SS mesh in the brew kettle I'm assuming.
Lil' Sparky
Cowboys EAC
I think it would be fine. Give it a shot.
Only problem with copper is that it is very soft. It may tend to break during use. Not to mention during sewing up the mesh.
EdWort
Well-Known Member
I find this picture extremely offensive! Someone call the UN and report this severe case of Barleycide.
Owwww, it hurts just to look at it.
Ya could have saved it, bottled it and sold it to the local cigar club. Stogie Stout with Havanna Hops has a good ring to it.
Better Beer next time dude!
