Grainfather!!

[skraeling]

It'll probably be good too, based on your sig. As Mark Watney said in the movie "The Martian," "I'm going to have to science the sh!t of this!" Ed

So my thought is this. Bagging the actual grainfather filter with a very small paint strainer bag type thing. Sort of like how anyone thats run an RC vehicle will put a balloon over the receiver to keep water out of it.

Sort of a pre filter as it were.

The only other thing I could think of would be to literally machine your own filter thats physically bigger.

 

[BrewinSoldier]

I had thought about having a pancake type filter made that connects up right to where the OEM one is with the little plastic. I then started thinking about scorching problems during the boil too.

There was another grain father clone in this thread somewhere that had a very nice setup, and I wonder if it could be used on the grainfather.

 

[JBurger538]

Has anyone tried to use the hop stopper from Kal at the Electric Brewery?

http://www.theelectricbrewery.com/hop-stopper

 

[Pantherjon]

It very well possibly could work with the GF..With one caveat for the screen only BK30/standard size, from the item description: "Stainless clamp for dip tube included. Dip tube must be at least 6" long." That might be a problem, or not..Just clamp it onto the pump inlet tube??

 

[JBurger538]

That's about what I thought as well. I emailed Kal to see if he modified his original design to have one fit a Grainfather.

 

[BrewinSoldier]

So the one I was talking about is the Robobrew. It doesn't have a filter, but instead has a false bottom. I'm wondering if this one would work in the grainfather.

 

[cowfodder]

Well, I'm finally joining you guys. Due to a decent bonus check coming tomorrow and almost $300 in Amazon gift cards I just ordered the gf and graincoat. Decided to hold off on the connect controller until they get the android app issues sorted out. Can't wait to be able to try this thing out.

 

[shortyz]

im finding that all my brews are suffering on effiency if i dont add rice hulls.... like a 6 point difference.. is anyone else struggling with effiency?

 

[cpham574]

That's about what I thought as well. I emailed Kal to see if he modified his original design to have one fit a Grainfather.

Thanks for doing this! Please keep us updated. The crappy filter has been the primary reason why I haven't been brewing.

 

[skraeling]

Ok just got the ebay mesh screen that showed up in the mail today. Im impressed. Very fine holes and this sucker has some weight to it. Should remain functional for quite some time. Excited to give this a try next batch.

 

[Tang10]

Problem solved grain in boil

 

[gotbeer74]

Ok just got the ebay mesh screen that showed up in the mail today. Im impressed. Very fine holes and this sucker has some weight to it. Should remain functional for quite some time. Excited to give this a try next batch.

Do you have a link to the screen you bought?

 

[skraeling]

Do you have a link to the screen you bought?

Stainless Steel 304 Mesh 20 .016 Wire Cloth Screen 12x12
http://r.ebay.com/rEUd9f

 

[Sagath]

I'm totally putting a mesh bottom on! But one question, the #20 Mesh (1mm gap for the metric folk) seems to be the default.

Is there any reason not to go down to the next size at #30 and get a gap size nearly half as large? I feel like the wort shouldn't be restricted any more, and you could reduce grains and grain bits to literally zero with that size. Thoughts?

 

[skraeling]

I'm totally putting a mesh bottom on! But one question, the #20 Mesh (1mm gap for the metric folk) seems to be the default.

Is there any reason not to go down to the next size at #30 and get a gap size nearly half as large? I feel like the wort shouldn't be restricted any more, and you could reduce grains and grain bits to literally zero with that size. Thoughts?

Any reason not to? No idea. I havnt used this one yet so it may be totally adequate actually. I feel this should cut out an amazing amount of grain, i may give it a quick test tomorrow. Have some grain that im doing nothing with.

 

[RedlegEd]

I'm totally putting a mesh bottom on! But one question, the #20 Mesh (1mm gap for the metric folk) seems to be the default.

Is there any reason not to go down to the next size at #30 and get a gap size nearly half as large? I feel like the wort shouldn't be restricted any more, and you could reduce grains and grain bits to literally zero with that size. Thoughts?

Hi. In an earlier post, I said I used a splatter screen, which I think is a little smaller than the #20. I took a picture of mine, and compared it with the #30 on Ebay, and it looks like they're pretty similar. I can tell you mine works just fine, so I imagine the #30 would as well. I would caution, however, that if you grind your grain too fine, I think the finer screen would clog up on you pretty quickly. Ed

 

[JBurger538]

Thanks for doing this! Please keep us updated. The crappy filter has been the primary reason why I haven't been brewing.

I heard back about the hop stopper used in Kal's electric brewery. Here's part of the email:

"I'm sorry to say that I do not have a Hop Stopper to fit the Grainfather which is a very specialized piece of equipment. Without detailed schematics of the interior, I suspect from what little I have seen that the compact space does not lend itself to third party accessories like the Hop Stopper. I wish I had better news for you.*"

I am going to take some measurements and see if I can work with them to get something to fit. This isn't going to deter me. I love the idea. I just haven't had much time lately due to life getting in the way. I hope to get some free time next week to get some measurements.

 

[blkandrust]

Curious as to what the consensus is regarding water calculations. Do you prefer the GF app,website or instruction sheet for determining the mash and sparge volumes.

 

[RedlegEd]

Curious as to what the consensus is regarding water calculations. Do you prefer the GF app,website or instruction sheet for determining the mash and sparge volumes.

Hi. I don't know about the consensus, but I've noticed the difference using the formula from manual compared to the online formula. I've tried both, and TBH, I prefer the manual's formula because it results in a slightly wetter mash, and I seem to get better conversion and less problems sparging. I've tweaked the sparge part of the formula to account for different boil times as I think the standard manual formula assumes a 60 minute boil and a little higher boil off rate. I don't worry if I get a little extra wort from it because I can either boil a little longer, or have a little extra in the fermenter. Since the beer is for my consumption (not competition,) a couple of gravity points either way won't matter. Ed

 

[blkandrust]

Thank you for the reply. I am going to brew a Brown today,I haven't brewed on the GF since last summer.IIRC I used the instructions and wound up with an extra gallon prior to boiling.Not a biggie as you have mentioned as a longer boil will remedy that.Cheers!

 

[tygerman]

Just finished my 2nd brew in the Grainfather. I am new to all grain brewing and I have learned a lot in the first 2 batches. This brew was a hoppy Belgian triple with 12# of Weyerman Pilsner 6oz hops and finished with 2# corn sugar. After reaching mash temp I got all the grains in and stirred up real good. Once I started the pump,it did not seem like I was gaining much flow through the grain. I took the top screen off and gave it another good stir, especially on the bottom. This definitely helped, I could run the ump at nearly full flow from the beginning. Sparging went well with a good consistent flow until the after I had all the water in and was waiting for it to run through the grain. It seemed to be draining incredibly slow. There was no water on the top screen anymore so I removed it and stir a little to get the last water through the bottom screen. By the time it slowed my wort was already over 200 degrees. Did the steam make it slow? Started the boil with a 1.064 on about 6 gallons. Boiled for 15 minutes and then the wife called that she needed picked up! I was about to tell her she needs to wait 45 minutes, but I thought better of it! Shut it down and restarted after I got home. Added the corn sugar and the OG came in at 1.080 on 5.25 gallons(Added about half gallon of water to get there). Added 2 packs of T-58 yeast and it was bubbling within hours. Drying out some of the spent grains now! Only other concern was that the GrainFather had a 2 inch circle of scorched residue on the bottom. I hope that it has no impact on the flavor. The color in the test tube looked good. The wort was very sweet with no taste of scorch to it, but it was very sweet. Oh well, If it does have a little flavor from the scorch, I guess I just created a Smoked Hoppy Belgian Triple!

 

[TexasWine]

Oh well, If it does have a little flavor from the scorch, I guess I just created a Smoked Hoppy Belgian Triple!

If you did scorch it, it'll be more like a Wet Cigarette Hoppy Belgian Tripel. Pretty easy flavor to pick out.

 

[Tang10]

Perfect.....All temperature probes match!

View attachment 1488722783928.jpg

 

[tygerman]

Wow, 36 hours in and already at 1.020, never had a yeast tear it up that fast.

 

[doogster]

Perfect.....All temperature probes match!

Where is the 2nd probe testing in this picture?

 

[Tang10]

Testing is being done in centre of mash tun

 

[doogster]

Testing is being done in centre of mash tun

Nice - that settles a long standing argument/question about the Grainfather.

What was your re-circulation flow rate? Do you run it full on, not caring what goes down the overflow? Or are you holding back the flow rate so no, to little, wort goes down the overflow pipe?

 

[Tang10]

Nice - that settles a long standing argument/question about the Grainfather.

What was your re-circulation flow rate? Do you run it full on, not caring what goes down the overflow? Or are you holding back the flow rate so no, to little, wort goes down the overflow pipe?

I throttle the flow back so nothing goes down the drain, I think both ways will work, but the controlling the flow moves the temp up and down quicker. You can really see this if your doing a step mash.

 

[Oh_Papi]

Nice - that settles a long standing argument/question about the Grainfather.

What was your re-circulation flow rate? Do you run it full on, not caring what goes down the overflow? Or are you holding back the flow rate so no, to little, wort goes down the overflow pipe?

Have either of you seen the Grainfather Videos by David Heath? They're very good and contain a couple tips & tricks vid's as well as several brew day vids. I found they are almost essential to get the most out of using the Grainfather.

 

[Tang10]

I agree, David Heath has some good tips that really make a difference.