False Bottom or bazooka ?

[kappclark]

I am wondering if there are opinions about the merits of using a bazooka screen vs a false bottom.

I want to convert a 5 gal Voctory cooler, but want to be sure I convert the right way ..

THX !

 

[FlyGuy]

Will you use it for fly sparging or batch sparging? And have you considered a 10 gal cooler instead?

 

[photogscott]

Check out FlyGuy's 10 gal cooler conversion (link is on his sig.) For batch sparging its the best!

 

[FlyingHorse]

I'e used all three. IMHO:

Bazooka - no good for mash/sparge. Sits too high in the cooler, so you lose siphon really early and leave a lot of wort behind. If you do some mods to get it lower, you still lose siphon pretty early, b/c it's really thick

SS braid (per FlyGuys conversion thread): works great for batch sparging;I've never tried it for fly but some people seem to think it wouldn't work as well for that. Biggest complaints are around the ease with which you can mangle the braid, and problems with it floatng in the mash. Both are pretty easily addressed.

False bottom: assuming you're going to buy one, biggest downside is cost. Works great no matter how you sparge, is virtually indestructible, and leaves less wort behind in your mash tun.

 

[Orfy]

What about a manifold?

 

[Desert_Sky]

I love my false bottom. I have one in my 5 and 10 gallon setup. It works perfect every time.

 

[rdwj]

What about a manifold?

I really like my manifold. It was easy to build and works like a charm.

 

[Trappist Artist]

Second for the manifold! Although for bigger beers I need to lay down some foundation water, but that is literally a 30 second fix.

 

[FlyingHorse]

What about a manifold?

Good point! I actually forgot that (yes, I've used one of those, too!). I would rank that 2nd in my preferences, still below the false bottom, but above either the braid or the bazooka. Sturdier, but a bigger investment of time (and maybe $$, depending on materials) up front.

 

[Orfy]

I've never heard of anyone have a stuck sparge with a manifold.

 

[Nostrildamus]

Want to make a cheap false bottom MLT? (you can possibly convert your cooler to dot he same).

Take a 5 Gal food grade pale and drill a hole in it as close to the bottom of the pale and fit a spigot in that hole. A metal spigot would be best rather than the one pictured here.

Take a Pot Cooling Rack available in the housewares department of your local department store and size it up and stick it in the bottom of the pale.

Size up and buy a sifter from the same department store and stick it on top of that cooling rack. The sifter needs to be snug against the wall of the bucket so that the wort will drain through the screen and not simply go around it.

Badda bing... you have yourself a cheap false bottom MLT.

 

[Gabe]

I use the false bottom as well. I use 1 in my MLT and 1 in my BK. I have never had a prob with either and love having a FB in my boil kettle for screening out my whole hops. Don't use the pellets anymore! If you go with a false bottom I highly recomend a siphon of some sort , if you plan on using a keg type setup.

 

[Willsellout]

I want to get a false bottom. The SS brain works well but I always end up stirring it up into the mash and poking and disfiguring it. It's kind of a PITA. Although I've heard of people using a fitting with some glue to keep it down?


Dan

 

[FlyGuy]

I want to get a false bottom. The SS brain works well but I always end up stirring it up into the mash and poking and disfiguring it. It's kind of a PITA. Although I've heard of people using a fitting with some glue to keep it down?

Dan

This worked well for me:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?p=253344#post253344

 

[BadKarma]

I did my braid like FlyGuy shows with the plug and the tubing inside. Beat the crap out of it on the 4th. Worked like a charm and still looks like new. Only left about a pint in the Ice Cube. YMMV.

 

[Orfy]

Run a piece of wire down it to keep it at the bottom.

 

[kappclark]

Thanks for the input --- I thought I would start with partial mashes using 5 gal cooler ...

I would batch sparge, which wld keep it all very simple...

I understand that efficiency suffers a bit, but this is a partial mash - right ?

Maybe a simple manifold w/PVC ... I like the cheap 10 Gal MLT plan ... will this also work for 5 gallon ?

 

[DAAB]

I've made a false bottom out of a plastic plate and a few cheap plumbing fittings which cost about the same price as a couple of pints

I describe how to make it here,
http://www.18000feet.com/Daabs_False_Bottom/DFB1.htm
see the note at the end for the modification.

It performs better than a manifold and much better than braided ss whether batch sparging or fly sparging

 

[kappclark]

Thanks to all here ...

I was inspired yesterday by all your GREAT posts, so I took a page out of FlyGuy's book, and went to Home Depot..

The guy was pretty intrigued by the picture, but having the list of parts, and part numbers was very helpful ... there was no mistaking what was needed...

He had everything except the ball valve and the stainless fender washer (admittedly, this isn't the world's biggest HD ) ... I ordered valve on ebay. I think I have the washer ...

I cut the ends of the hose using lopping shears, with no plm.

Taking baby steps to AG, and really enjoying the ride !

I have a book North American Clone Brews, and all recipes are partial mash .. has anyone tried any of the clone recipes ?

 

[the teacher]

I've used nothing but a long piece (2ft) of SS braid and have never had a problem. I would buy a false bottom if it didn't work so well and cost so much less. Recently I've seen home depot carries varying sizes in the washing machine parts section. Seems like a bigger diameter might work even better.

 

[kappclark]

My commendations to FlyGuy - the design for the MLT cooler has been experienced firsthand here, and it was painless !!

A partial mash w/5 gallon rubbermaid, and I was very surprised to see how well it held the temp..
Partial Mash is so easy, why not go all grain (I keep asking myself)

THANK YOU

 

[FlyGuy]

Hey -- congrats! Glad it worked out for you. And yes, AG brewing isn't really any harder than PM brewing, you just have to make sure you pay attention to the details. (They matter a bit more in AG.)

Cheers!