Has anyone done this........

[KVP]

Hello all,
Has anyone used a shopvac to suck the grain out of the mash tun?
I'm looking at a new system I'm about to put into action and will be dealing with 44 lb +/- of grain.
Currently I just pick it up and dump but that is 12 +/- lbs.
I know I could scoop it out, but thought the shopvac might be easier and faster.
Thoughts?

Thanks, Kevin

 

[Beerbuck]

Hum, thinks its will be hard for a shop vac

 

[ScubaSteve]

There are a few guys here who do it.....it seems to work well, but the cleanup has got to be a PITA, and if you don't get the vac completely clean you're gonna have a NASTY situation.....

Just shovel it out with a large pot.

 

[HollisBrewCo]

i have used the full size shop-vac but forgot to empty the grain one night... bad idea. It did however work great i was going to pick up one of these and use it without the filter. You might have to make a few trips with the 5 gallon pale but the price is right at $20.

 

[fuhmon]

i just saw someone using a wetdry vac on a pumpkin guts. i'm sure mash would be fine too... but ya would want to clean the crap out of it afterward.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I do everytime. Only because I don't want to tear down my piped system to remove the draff.

You still have to dump the vac.

 

[conpewter]

I've used a shop vac for my system before. Works fine for grain, but had to carry it upstairs and out to the compost pile anyway. Working great for trub and hops in the boil kettle though.

 

[Grasslands]

I'm considering investing in a compost barrel for my grains...as they just get dumped anyways, I might as well have some fodder for a garden.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

I'm considering investing in a compost barrel for my grains...as they just get dumped anyways, I might as well have some fodder for a garden.

A pile and a pitch fork works too. Mix in grass clippings and leaves to get a balance that won't wake the neighbors.

 

[winvarin]

My wife is a gardener. Spent grains go right into the flowerbeds. I usually brew Saturday mornings. By Saturday afternoon, a few min with a shovel and she already has them worked into the beds.

 

[bja]

My wife is a gardener. Spent grains go right into the flowerbeds. I usually brew Saturday mornings. By Saturday afternoon, a few min with a shovel and she already has them worked into the beds.

Good idea! Do you think grain would be good for a vegetable garden?

 

[winvarin]

I think so. It's just mulch once the grains are spent. A local greenhouse uses it for that purpose.