experienced opinions wanted!

[defenestrate]

yeah thats the one i had in the post #27 with my supplies i wanted checked off, i suppose it will work? im just trying to make sure it will all work together so i dont end up blowing money.....thanks for the response you made my night...sadly haha

 

[beerthirty]

That is essentially what I have. The differences are I have a welded fitting, I threw out the 3/8 false bottom tube and made a 1/2 tube to replace it, to match the flow for my pump more closely. I used brass compression fittings from home depot because they were 1/4 the price. I plan on putting a seal around the edge of the false bottom so no grain gets past the edge. I have had a slight problem with this.

 

[defenestrate]

do you also use something like a bazooka screen?

 

[beerthirty]

No, I use hop bags and let the break flow. I'm considering switching to a homemade hopstopper since I use about 1/2 and 1/2 pellet and leaf. I haven't been getting very good utilization with the bags for late additions(by that time I have 6-8 oz of hops in the bag).as long as I use a good percentage of leaf to help form a filter bed then clogging shouldn't be an issue. I have also made a hopback but have yet to try it.

 

[defenestrate]

ok so the 3/8's copper tube goes into the false bottom and is just open? what i mean is that the only thing filtering out the hops/loose grains is the false bottom itself? so i guess what im asking is if i need one of the bazooka screens along with the false bottom. what exactly is a hop back?

 

[beerthirty]

false bottoms are used for mash tuns and bazookas or hopstoppers are used in boil kettles. False bottoms filter the grain out of the wort before boiling. Bazookas prevent the hops added to the boil from clogging your plumbing when transferring to the primary. A hopback is a small canister(like a water filter) that is filled with hops and the boil kettle is drained through it. Since it is closed to vapor loss all of the aroma from a flameout addition is kept in the wort instead of drifting away on the wind.
As a beginning AGer you will need a false bottom for the mash tun. Other contrivances for the boil kettle can wait as long as you use hop bags to contain your hops in the boil. stirring vigorously at the end of the boil and then letting it settle, called whirlpooling, will keep some break material out. Using Whirlofloc will make break clump up and separate easier in the primary. There are many different approaches, but start with a false bottom for the mash tun and hop bags for the boil kettle.

 

[EvilTOJ]

That's it, defenstrate, you're over your post quota and you're out the window!

 

[Chriso]

Just a thought - and ONLY a thought - If you or a loved one has a Sam's Club membership, they have 60qt aluminum stock pots for VERY cheap. Sam's Club - Aluminum Stock Pot

Saves on the cutting, and heats more quickly than super-thick S/S does. Also avoids that pesky "legality" debate.

That is all, sorry to interrupt. Keggles are still fun and cool.

 

[defenestrate]

That's it, defenstrate, you're over your post quota and you're out the window!

i guess i should have mentioned that i was going to make the AG leap by first trying BIAB..... thus deeming it necessary to have some sort of false bottom in the keggle because i will have all the grain in the boil kettle before the boil and i dont want the grain bag sticking to the bottom. i apologize for the confusion.

 

[defenestrate]

Just a thought - and ONLY a thought - If you or a loved one has a Sam's Club membership, they have 60qt aluminum stock pots for VERY cheap. Sam's Club - Aluminum Stock Pot

Saves on the cutting, and heats more quickly than super-thick S/S does.

That is all, sorry to interrupt.

after i followed the link, i was in a state of ponder much like the ape in your avatar... anyways, thanks-i still want to go the keggle route but im sure i could find some use for this...