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DIY Hopback

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As someone who owns a hoprocket I can say it is worth going with Blichmann. I thought and read a lot about homemade, but after using the hoprocket both with 3 oz of whole hops for an IPA and a hip sack of rice hulls to help filter my Altbier I can say it is well engineered. Use a pump after the rocket and it pulls through easily.
I also have the fittings to use it as a Randall and the ability to seal and purge with CO2 will be useful as I plan on doing a keg to keg back and forth transfer with hops to simulate the Sierra Torpedo.
Just my thoughts, but as always I commend the DiY efforts Nd try it whenever I can do something comparable and cheaper.

Yeah, I do think that the Blichmann is well designed, I just wish it wasn't $125. I think I screwed up by trying to pump the wort through it. Next time I will gravity fed it and pump after the hopback. I am going to give it a shot hopefully here in a few weeks. I think I going to try to get some stainless mesh and try to better filter the hops out. I also might look at putting them in a hop bag inside it.

-G
 
HDIr0n said:
How did you have it set up as far as false bottom/straining the wort?

I had a couple of redesigns until I found a good solution - that's the reason for delayed repy.

I bought a lint trap that goes on to the water drain hose of a clothes washing machine. Got from Lowes. Came in a two pack for under $5. Made of stainless steel. Looks like a chainmail condom ( imagine Vikings in credit card commercial saying 'what's in your wallet?). One end has a wire crimo. The wire crimp is not SS so I removed it. I double bagged them, folded the loose end over and attached the other end with a screw drive clamp. Perfect. No clogging. Low flow loss. No channeling.
 
KOELSCHKING said:
I am a free member. Don't think I can upload pics.

Wait. I think I figured it out. Will reply soon with pics.

image-1633366368.jpg
 
Awesome, I would love to see what you have come up with. I was working on a splatter screen made for cooking cutting that up and attaching that to my false bottom that I made. Now I am offshore and have been for about 2 months. Hopefully I will get that finished the next time I am home.

-G
 
KOELSCHKING said:
I had a couple of redesigns until I found a good solution - that's the reason for delayed repy.

I bought a lint trap that goes on to the water drain hose of a clothes washing machine. Got from Lowes. Came in a two pack for under $5. Made of stainless steel. Looks like a chainmail condom ( imagine Vikings in credit card commercial saying 'what's in your wallet?). One end has a wire crimo. The wire crimp is not SS so I removed it. I double bagged them, folded the loose end over and attached the other end with a screw drive clamp. Perfect. No clogging. Low flow loss. No channeling.

Here's pics

image-882908883.jpg


image-2195030453.jpg


image-3048023681.jpg


image-3245666370.jpg


image-1704447368.jpg
 
Since it's been 4-5 months since you updated, I thought I would ask if you had any further updates. How is it working for you now?
 
I used the lint screen because of time and money. I have since upgraded to a bazooka screen.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew
 
Just ordered one and will be doing it "Hoprocket" style and do a bottom inlet with output at the top. Keep the disk where it is and drill super small holes (lots of them). Can use both as a hopback (hops) or a trub filter (rice hulls), depending on beer style.

Edit: I canceled the eBay order and just ordered a HopRocket from MoreBeer.

After looking at fittings, and additional strainer screen for the false bottom and camlocks, it was almost $100. For $25 more I got a good piece of Blich Mann bling!
 
Last edited:
Here's pics


Alright, I might do this one in the end - here some questions if you have time to go over them. I like the way I can recirculate the liquid thru the hops instead them staying in the

- the flow is from top to bottom ?
- how, using pellets how would you manage to not clog it
- or maybe you are not using pellets and that's why the holes you drilled in ?

I am thinking that I could use rice husks as a filter so it doesn't clog and is easy to clean up.
 
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