False Bottom for 1/2 the price????

[ILOVEBEER]

Hi all,

I hope I am not out of line by posting this here. I like most of you all are on a tight budget and like to hear about deals. I came across this on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/14-3-4-Stainless-Steel-Hinged-False-Bottom-Home-brew_W0QQitemZ290364323800QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item439b0ff7d8.

The guy has a best offer tab, I offered him a certain amount below what he wanted...he accepted.

It is a nice piece of equipment. 16g 14-3/4" in diameter and heavy duty. The only thing different about this than the others is that instead of welding the hinges to the perforated steel, the guy uses 1/4"x20 SS bolts. The only problem I see is that it does not close COMPLETELY flat. I have a 6" probed thermometer that sticks into the side of the mashtun. The FB still clears and seats perfect! My MT drains from the bottom, so I was able to opt to not have a center hole.

I have converted keggles and it fit very nice inside.

 

[Guinness71]

My offer was'nt enough - and I hate the 'buy it now' button..

 

[ILOVEBEER]

Considering most FB's that are 16g run around 80-100, the price in my opinion is pretty fair as is. I was really hung up on the welded type for ergonomic purposes, but a bolted unit really makes no difference IMO.

I offered the seller 50.00 and at the time I did the shipping was 9.00. I got the FB for 59.00 shipped to SoCal.

......or go directly to his site and see if it might be cheaper there? I am very happy with mine. Saved me from having to buy cut the material.

 

[MgMt_Home_Brew]

I am thinking of picking this up so I have a few questions.

Have you had any issues with the bolts coming loose? You said it doesn't close all of the way, have you had any issues with grain getting through?

Does any one have one with the hole in the middle?

Do they sit nicely in the bottom of converted kegs?

Thanks guys.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Why not use longer piano hinges with flat head 6-32 screws this would be plenty strong plus more support and able to sit flat in the bottom of the keg?
I like the use of 16 gauge material.

 

[Sawdustguy]

I am thinking of picking this up so I have a few questions.

Have you had any issues with the bolts coming loose? You said it doesn't close all of the way, have you had any issues with grain getting through?

Does any one have one with the hole in the middle?

Do they sit nicely in the bottom of converted kegs?

Thanks guys.

Nothing keeps 100% of the grain out of the chiller. A hole in the middle is easily solved with a dril.

Why not use longer piano hinges with flat head 6-32 screws this would be plenty strong plus more support and able to sit flat in the bottom of the keg?
I like the use of 16 gauge material.

Beemer,

I think that would work like a charm and if you drilled the holes slightly oversized would have some play for adjustments. If you used flat head stainless screws and counter bored the hinges it would look real slick too.

 

[kornkob]

My offer was'nt enough - and I hate the 'buy it now' button..

*shrug* I'm just the opposite--- I'd rather just Buy It Now than play some stupid game with ebay snipers.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Nothing keeps 100% of the grain out of the chiller. A hole in the middle is easily solved with a dril.



Beemer,

I think that would work like a charm and you if you drilled the holes slightly oversized would have some play for adjustments. If you used flat head stainless screws and counter bored the hinges it would look real slick too.

Sorry I just don't understand without slamming a supplier of brewing equipment is why the use of 1/4-20 SS hardware? Blows me away plus the problem of it not laying down flat unless this is a special case problem and yet letting them out or selling them that way?

 

[ILOVEBEER]

So far so good. I have not used the FB yet as my build is not ready for brewing. I do not see any problems with the bolts...if anything put a wrench on them once in a while. It closes enough for me to get it in the 12" opening and sits awesomely centered in my converted keg. The halves mate perfet when closed.

 

[buffalobrewer]

*shrug* I'm just the opposite--- I'd rather just Buy It Now than play some stupid game with ebay snipers.

and if you do a search with bing for something common like a wii you can get into ebay and get 8% off a buy it now item (you need to use paypal and have a microsoft live account (or something like it), the money shows up in about 60 days)

 

[JKoravos]

My offer was'nt enough - and I hate the 'buy it now' button..

Offer more, ya cheap bastid!

 

[Mongo64]

I am thinking of picking this up so I have a few questions.

Have you had any issues with the bolts coming loose? You said it doesn't close all of the way, have you had any issues with grain getting through?

Does any one have one with the hole in the middle?

Do they sit nicely in the bottom of converted kegs?

Thanks guys.

I've got one of these. It's a very well made product and works great. Fits the bottom of the keg prefectly and no, the bolts don't come loose. The hinge doesnt allow the FB to fold flat, but it's enough to get the FB in the keg opening and helps get past the coupler I had welded on the keg.

Mine came with a center hole, big enough for a 1/2 tube to fit in. I widened mine a bit to fit a 5/8 OD dip tube. I used a compression fitting so I could remove it with a quick turn of a wrench.

 

[MgMt_Home_Brew]

I've got one of these. It's a very well made product and works great. Fits the bottom of the keg prefectly and no, the bolts don't come loose. The hinge doesnt allow the FB to fold flat, but it's enough to get the FB in the keg opening and helps get past the coupler I had welded on the keg.

Mine came with a center hole, big enough for a 1/2 tube to fit in. I widened mine a bit to fit a 5/8 OD dip tube. I used a compression fitting so I could remove it with a quick turn of a wrench.

Sweet thanks. I have a list of items to purchase and this one might be one of the first cause it's the cheapest...

 

[ILOVEBEER]

FYI...I was able to get it without the center hole which is an option. My MT drains from the bottom center and I did not need the hole.

Joe

 

[harley03]

I too ordered one of these false bottoms several weeks ago and it fits tight around the edge and is well made. The only thing I had to do was to drill out the center hole more for the 1/2 pickup tube.
The other thing I added was four 2 ½ bolts cut to length to help support the weight. It seemed with a lot of grain weight the false bottom would tend to bow in the middle, no big deal though.
I would but another one well made Pic below