Mash Paddle - Why?

Just curious what the benefit of a mash paddle is.

I use the same spoon I use for all parts of my brewing, roughly a 3 foot long plastic spoon. It seems to work just fine to stir 20 pound grain bills. To me it seems like the larger faced mash paddle would just make it harder to stir and be messier.

Maybe I'm dumb but is it just tradition keeping them alive or is it actually easier to mash with?

 

Me too fwiw. Paddles are cool and everything. Just so many other thing I could spend my money on that's more useful. Actually I might make my own at some point.

 

DIY is one reasons why I love this addiction. I will probably make one just to do it too heh... eventually.

 

I use a mixing paddle from a restaurant supplier (3' long, hardwood) that I drilled three largish holes into (about 3/4"). The holes allows wort to go through, but tends to catch the clumps, making it easier to break them up inside the mash tun (a converted 1/2 bbl keg). The flat end also makes it easier to run it along the false bottom to stir/mix better.

IMO, as long as you're breaking up the clumps, without taking too long, you're doing well with whatever you use.

I think the paddle shape comes from what professional brewers tend to use (an actual paddle at times). When you're stirring a LARGE mash tun, a 3' long spoon, or mixer, simply won't do. By the same token, we don't need something 6' long to do the job.

I am thinking about shaping my own mash paddle sometime soon. I want to locate a piece of hardwood with good character or an interesting grain pattern to it. I'll cut around that so that I retain it at least on one side. I almost got a piece from Home[less] Depot, but the people there are too inept to figure out how much the piece was since it didn't have a bar code sticker on it.

 

3' plastic spoon? Not going to hack it if you go to larger batches. How much did that plastic spoon cost?

Big beer made in a keggle, 10-12g batch, easily 35-40# of grain.

A hefty perforated wood paddle is the only way. I have a large metal spoon and that thing bends on the big batches. There might be some stronger metal paddles, but I've not used one.

BTW, you can buy a suitable wood mash paddle for $4 at home depot. Seriously. I'll post a pic in a minute.

[edit] here you go:




See this thread:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/mash-paddle-home-depot-199833/

 

A couple of years ago, I bought a Cajun Cooker paddle from a seller on ebay. He was selling them for $9. I drilled a series of holes in it and made a mount for it on my brew cart. As someone else already said, it looks cool, but a good spoon is just as good. There is a HB store selling a large wire whisk for stirring and people swear by them.

 

Alright... great answers, thank you all. I will be getting a larger MLT in the future so i can do higher than 1.060 (10 gallon rubbermaid) and its good to know to factor in the price for a new mixer too.

 

Looks like i'm getting one on friday. Any special way to clean it so it doesn't smell skunky?

 

Stick it in your mash!

BTW, they are with the grills and stuff. When you go through the box, be careful to sort through them and look for one without any knots, especially on the handle and running down the thin part. Good Luck!

 

A good rinsing and wipe down ought to do it.

btw, I wouldn't expect an HD in Washington State to necessarily carry a regional item like that crawfish boil paddle found in Clearwater, FL. I've never seen one in at any of the HDs near me...

Cheers!

 

I've tried stiring my mash with just a spoon but It's harder to break up doughballs and takes longer. If you have the means to make/get a paddle cheap, it is definitely worth it. I made mine out of 1x4 cherry wood (I think) boards that were in my shed when I bought the house. Just took a little time, a jigsaw, a drill, and some time.

 

Look at post #6 in the link under the pictures I posted. Washington State. Go figure.

 

Wonder if it's called a shrimp paddle up there

I saw that original thread and started keeping an eye out for 'em but I've been in four different HDs near me since then and none to be found....

Cheers!

 

Coat it with a bunch of coats of Butcher block oil(also available at the big box stores)

 

I use a thick grilling spatula that is perforated. Not the bendy ones, it's basically a slap of steel riveted with two wooden pieces to make a handle. Works awesome since it doesn't bend and is easy to stir since it has holes in it.

 

I just use my stainless spoon. A mash paddle would be just one more thing I need to clean when I'm done.

 

For me it depends on the mash. I have a real problem with doughballs using Marris Otter as my base malt and I find the paddle with holes very helpful to catch and break them up. I could get by without it when using US 2 row.

 

I use a heavy 4-foot 'yard stick' that I got from Elliot's hardware. It works really well for my small batches, and I use it to measure my fluid level for calculating volumes and gravities.

 

I use a whip which I purchased from Rebel Brewer. It is 24" long and is made for Polar Ware. I like it because it works great for doughing in and breaking up any dough balls. I won't use a mash paddle because this works so great.

http://www.rebelbrewer.com/shoppingcart/products/Stainless-Steel-Mash-Whip-%2d-24".html

 

You know for kicks I used a stainless wine whip with the two folding blades on a corded drill for my last mash. Sure did the job quick, but there was definitely a bit of spray when I pulled out.

 

You might want to rephrase that.

 

Have to agree that a spoon is no good with bigger mashes. Stronger stainless one? Hee hee. Buddy of mine made this...

 

I have a Rubbermaid 10G MLT with a stainless braid. My stainless spoon beat the ever living crap out of that braid. I switched to a $4 plastic mash paddle and it's much gentler.

 

That's why I switched to a jaybird fal$e bottom. I can stir it with a gas-powered ice auger now!

It's been an endless spiral of upgrades since I abandoned my original ghetto-mashtun.