Do you mark your brew kettle?

[allynlyon]

I am doing my first biab and want to be able to calculate efficacy but I don't know how to tell what my ending water volume was after mash in. Should I mark my brew pot? Is there a better way to figure out the volume?

 

[LovesIPA]

I marked mine with a dremel after I weighed out a gallon of water.

You can either mark the kettle somehow, or install and calibrate a sight glass.

 

[allynlyon]

I marked mine with a dremel after I weighed out a gallon of water.

You can either mark the kettle somehow, or install and calibrate a sight glass.

Thank you. I thought for sure I was missing something obvious and would look like an idiot for asking. So glad to know I will have to actually mark the kettle.

 

[b-boy]

Easiest thing to do is get a length of plastic pipe and mark that. Just dip the pipe in the water to get a volume reading. Site-glass is a better option though, but a little expensive.

 

[allynlyon]

Easiest thing to do is get a length of plastic pipe and mark that. Just dip the pipe in the water to get a volume reading. Site-glass is a better option though, but a little expensive.

Also smart and easy solution. Thanks

 

[enkamania]

Mine is an inch a gallon, makes math easier

 

[Calichusetts]

I have a 12 inch thermometer that I measured out as I added water when I first got my kettle. Nice and accurate measuring system

 

[RM-MN]

Pre-boil? Use a tape measure. You're going to boil that wort for an hour to kill any bugs you might add.

 

[NewBrewB]

Do bugs affect volume?

 

[hio3791]

Keep in mind that calculating the volume by measuring the height of the liquid works quite well as long as your vessel is cylindrical. If you use a keggle or any other vessel that isn't a perfect cylinder, the calculations will be off.

I have a 15.5 gal Bayou Classic pot and I use an aluminum yard stick ($3.50 at HD). Knowing the diameter of the pot and measuring the height of the wort, I can very accurately calculate the volume.

V = pi * r^2 * h

Which would give you cubic inches (assuming you measured in inches) and then you can convert it to gallons:

Gallons = 0.004329 * cubic inches

You can then account for heat expansion.

 

[brewmcq]

Weldless sight glass kit ($24): http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=46&product_id=116

Weldless thermometer sight glass kit ($26): http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=46&product_id=83

Well worth the investment.

 

[Bobby_M]

I do it like this. Drill a 1/2" hole at the bottom and a 1/4" hole at the top and you're in business.

 

[solbes]

I marked my mash paddle, quick and easy. I had a really hard time seeing the mark inside the pot with the steam.

 

[brewmcq]

I do it like this. Drill a 1/2" hole at the bottom and a 1/4" hole at the top and you're in business.

<Off-topic>
Sorry Bobby.. didn't mean to exclude you when I posted the links above... was just using them as a reference.

 

[Bobby_M]

It's all good man, I take no offense.

 

[Black Island Brewer]

I am doing my first biab and want to be able to calculate efficacy but I don't know how to tell what my ending water volume was after mash in. Should I mark my brew pot? Is there a better way to figure out the volume?

One consideration that took me a long time to figure out: hot water takes up more room than cold water! I know it may not matter for most applications, but it used to make me a little (more) nuts to have 6 1/4 gallons at the end of the boil, only to get 6 gallons post boil! Turns out 4% cooling loss is typical. Didn't realize it until I got a site glass from BobbyM.

 

[1MadScientist]

I pre-mark my sight glass before I start a brew. You can also measure headspace.


6/28/2013 by Mad Scientist Brewhaus, on Flickr

 

[kh54s10]

I marked my mash paddle, quick and easy. I had a really hard time seeing the mark inside the pot with the steam.

Same here. But I changed pots so I had to make a gauge stick for the new pot.

Pour in a gallon make a mark, pour in another gallon make a mark etc. I double marked my target volume mark.

 

[chrishanson]

Easiest thing to do is get a length of plastic pipe and mark that.

How do you mark it? Do you just use a basic sharpie or something else?

I'm probably just overthinking the not wanting Sharpie ink in my beer and should just make a gauge stick with a hunk of PVC and a Sharpie.

 

[Doed]

I did not mark my kettle, I use a 24" Stainless Steel ruler

 

[IslandLizard]

I actually measure the distance from the top of the kettle to the wort level. 1.5" for each gallon.

 

[solbes]

How do you mark it? Do you just use a basic sharpie or something else?

I'm probably just overthinking the not wanting Sharpie ink in my beer and should just make a gauge stick with a hunk of PVC and a Sharpie.

Sharpie here. No ill effects, but then again two of my toes just fell off for no apparent reason. So...

 

[allynlyon]

Thanks for all the great advice. I'm nervous about drilling a hole in my brew pot somehow I'd manage to mess it up. If I weren't such a wimp I love the idea of the no weld gauge. Until then I think i'll mark my mash paddle. Thanks.

 

[brewmcq]

The first hole or two are terrifying, but with a decent step-bit, appropriate lubricant and patience, it's pretty hard to screw up the hole.

Wow, yeah, taken out of context that sounds pretty bad.. lol

 

[TwoGunz]

I bought a thick oak dowel and sawed thin lines in it for a gauge. I have 2 pots and 2 different stocks. Easy breezy

 

[USAFSooner]

Another vote for Bobby's sight glass.

 

[songe]

if you have plastic fermenter... fill up to the 20 liter mark (5.2 gallons) mark there with a hard piece of metal that can scratch deep or etch it. and then fill up to 6 gallons and mark there... its really easy...

 

[ineedit]

Long stainless steal spoon. Marked it with a Dremel. Same spoon I use to stir. One less thing to clean.