Hop Spider

[alcab]

Hi, I am new to the forum and to home brewing. This is my first post so I thought I would make it count. I know there are a lot of DIY hop spiders out there but I hadn't seen any like mine so I thought I would share. I used a stainless steel perforated utensil holder that I got at IKEA for $2.99. See pics.

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[Santo]

looks good...

 

[novicebrewer84]

Nice, I like. What are you using for the hop bag? Where did you get it? I have a project for the weekend...

 

[alcab]

Thanks. The bag I am using was labled a grain bag. I got it at the local homebrew store.

 

[Gibberoni]

Nice, I like. What are you using for the hop bag? Where did you get it? I have a project for the weekend...

Grab a paint strainer bag at home depot/lowes. They are usually $5 for a pack of two or three. I use them a few times then toss them when they get really nasty.

 

[Jwin]

I got a huge bag for cheap from brewhardware. Could almost line my 15g kettle with it. The paint strainer bag gets pretty dense on 10g big ipas.

Nice design.
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/nylonbagfine12x19.htm

 

[TheMadKing]

great design, thanks for sharing!

 

[alcab]

Thanks guys. I tried the paint strainer bags but they are a bit too long for my particular brew pot. This strainer bag is just the right size and was only $5. Also, I take a large pickle jar, fill it about 1/3 full of water, and put it on top of the hops in the spider to keep all the hops below water line. Works great!

 

[day_trippr]

Seems like you could roll up a "too-long" bag.

You can bet a bag bought at an lhbs will cost nX times the same size bag bought at Lowes...

Cheers!

 

[Jwin]

My problem with the smaller bags is I don't think the hops get good exposure once I get more than 1/2 ounce in there. Again, most beer, no b problem, but if I'm doing a huge flame out addition, then pull out a brick of hops once the chill is complete, I'm uncertain that I got all of the goodness I could from said hops.
Now, if someone could diy a way for me to get my IC in without messing with the spider, that would be awesome.

I've thought about collapsible arms, where you could n pull the spider through while inserting the IC, but that would take more time/skill than I have.

 

[alcab]

Now, if someone could diy a way for me to get my IC in without messing with the spider, that would be awesome.

I've thought about collapsible arms, where you could n pull the spider through while inserting the IC, but that would take more time/skill than I have.

If IC =immersion coil, why not just lift out the spider with hop bag attached, put the IC in, then put the hop spider back in, in the center of the IC. That's what I've done. Or am I missing something?

 

[Jwin]

If IC =immersion coil, why not just lift out the spider with hop bag attached, put the IC in, then put the hop spider back in, in the center of the IC. That's what I've done. Or am I missing something?

A, lazy.
B, my hop sack can get pretty big and with my old spider(pvc), I worried about stressing it. I have parts on the way to redo it to SS. Should be much less of an issue then.

C, I have a 16 inch wide 50 ft 5/8in IC that is rather bulky.