anyone using pellet hops in a hopback ??

[Toecutter]

I am planning on building a hopback for my next project to capture more of that hop aroma goodness. I see some designs out there so I have a pretty good idea what I want to do.

Problem is, I use mostly pellet hops. these designs seem to be more geared to whole hops

one idea is to use Stainless braid on the outlet. bargain fittings sells a nice one with a tube fitting installed. Not sure if this will clog though.

also thought of putting a paint strainer bag inside the hopback, bag open on top and lettting the water trickle through like a coffee filter. That might work as i keep my water flow fairly constricted as it goes through my plate chiller.

any ideas are welcome

 

[tedclev]

I've been thinking of building a hopback as well- where did you get your design? I am in the same predicament as you, though. If I do it, I will either get some whole hops for that purpose, or go with the paint bag, which I've heard works fine. If going with the bag, though, I think you have to close it up with the hops inside it. Again, never done, just going off a bit of what I've heard and read. Good luck

 

[Toecutter]

saw a couple designs using stainless steel canisters. I'm thinking inlet on the side, fill bag with hops,tie the hop bag/paint strainer bag over the inlet on the inside of the canister. outlet in the bottom of the canister with a ball valve on it. Bag hangs in canister. Open kettle valve full. bag fills with wort, runs over hops, exits bag and out through ball valve to pump and on to plate chiller.

the only unknown is how fast wort can exit the bag

 

[Henrythe9th]

I use pellets a lot also and built this.

I was thinking about cutting a paint stainer bag to wrap around the FB when using pellets only, last weekend I used both leaf and pellets and still plugged the plate chiller

 

[endorphines]

I just built one, but i'm worried it's going to clog this weekend.
I made it from a large mason jar. To make sure it doesn't clog i'm going to get a really long steel braid, and coil it in the jar as i put the lid on. I'm also thinking of getting a hop bag, trimming it down, and putting over the inlet, with the hops inside. kinda filter twice... might be over kill, or not work at all, but that's what experiments are for right?