Is smooth stir bar really quieter?

[BantamBrewing]

I know, first world problems, right? But I've got the standard stir bar, with the little raised lip in the middle like this:

It rattles on for 24-36 hours during the starter and sort of drives me insane while I'm near it, like a tap dancing cricket on acid. I found smooth stir bars without the raised area (and they're advertised as "WHISPERZ") - they look like this:

Are they really quieter? And I assume they do just as good a job?

Thanks.

 

[shanecb]

I hope someone says yes, because the rattling drives me crazy. Though, for the last starter I did, I got it positioned just right so it was completely quiet for the whole two days.

 

[Rockn_M]

I have no real world experience but I would think they would be a little quieter since they don't have any edges bouncing on glass. You'll probably still have a little noise since it's spinning on glass.

 

[clarkpadgett]

I have used both. I used one with the ridge in the middle to mix a lye solution for making soap. After I was done, I threw it in the trash because I hated listening to it.

 

[HausBrauerei_Harvey]

i have some of both and the smooth one is quieter.

 

[BantamBrewing]

Thanks for the input folks, I have just ordered 2 off eBay.

 

[Sourz4life]

I have only ever used the smooth one and I have no sound at all so I'd say if the other one makes noise then yes its quieter.

 

[kh54s10]

I had short smooth one and it was quiet. Too quiet. It easily got thrown. I put a rubber O-ring on it and it rattled a lot but it would not get thrown as easily. I bought another smooth one a little longer and it works well.

 

[HLSheppard]

I did a 2 liter starter for my last batch and the stir bar was totally silent. The problem is - I can't figure out what I did differently!!

 

[thenugsmoustache]

Don't know if they are quieter. I have octagonal stir bars and they rattled constantly. To quiet them I cut 2 little pieces of tubing and put one on each end. Now they are silent.

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[jcav]

Yes sir, the smooth one is definitely quieter I promise! I have both types. I NEVER use the one with the raised lip in the middle after trying both types out first in plain water in the flask. It made such a racket when I tested it that I just always use the smooth one when I make starters!

John

 

[HLSheppard]

I just did a comparison as well. Smooth one is basically silent. I don't think I can go back now!

 

[Brew_G]

Mine with the raised center is virtually silent, but it took a little tweaking of the magnets on my stir plate to get it to that point.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

Flat= much less sound. The only reason I know is I dumped my flat bar into the fermentor and got a replacement @ the LHBS that happens to have the ridge. I will easily remember to fish it out when the brew is ready to bottle.

View attachment trim.0A484374-AACD-4660-A252-8DBB3639FBD4.MOV

 

[pocketmon]

Mine with the raised center is virtually silent, but it took a little tweaking of the magnets on my stir plate to get it to that point.

I had been using the center-ridged one for a while. If it is at the right spot, it is very quiet. However, starting from someday, I couldn't find that spot anymore.
Then I switched to the smooth one. It is quiet, but not as quiet as the center-ridged one in sweet spot. It's quiet enough though.
I talked with my friends, and one of them told me that sometimes the magnet inside might break when dropped and caused uneven attraction, which results in continuous hitting the glass. I was happy to learn that, but if the smooth one is doing good, then I am good.

 

[CJ-3]

i had one with the center ridge that was too loud so I took a sharp knife and carved the ridge off. Much more quiet now.

 

[Brew_G]

I had been using the center-ridged one for a while. If it is at the right spot, it is very quiet. However, starting from someday, I couldn't find that spot anymore.

Then I switched to the smooth one. It is quiet, but not as quiet as the center-ridged one in sweet spot. It's quiet enough though.

I talked with my friends, and one of them told me that sometimes the magnet inside might break when dropped and caused uneven attraction, which results in continuous hitting the glass. I was happy to learn that, but if the smooth one is doing good, then I am good.

Interesting. I had a bar that one day started getting thrown for no apparent reason. I wonder if it got dropped at some point and caused the uneven spinning.

I agree that a ridged stir bar can be very quiet. Mine makes no sound - I only hear the swirling starter. It doesn't really matter though, since I make my starters in the laundry room and it can make all the sound it wants back there!

 

[jddevinn]

As long as I "perfectly" center on the stir plate I get no sound at all.

 

[cannman]

The only way I have ever gotten a quiet stir plate is to place gaskets on each end of the bar...

 

[Gunshowgreg]

i had one with the center ridge that was too loud so I took a sharp knife and carved the ridge off. Much more quiet now.

Thanks! This worked for me. I love that. I can always count on the library and database of HBT when I’m in a pinch. This post is almost 10’years old. That clicking was driving me nuts.!

 

[Deadalus]

Thanks! This worked for me. I love that. I can always count on the library and database of HBT when I’m in a pinch. This post is almost 10’years old. That clicking was driving me nuts.!

I'd be concerned that the knife shaving would not leave a surface as smooth as the original sections. Just a few dollars each for new ones.

The smooth ones are quieter. The ridged ones are designed to make noise on purpose. It's easier to throw the smooth ones if you are not patient with the stirplate dial as it is a little harder to estimate the speed w/o the rattle. The raised bar can also collect matter in its corner so clean carefully.

 

[ClaudiusB]

Thanks! This worked for me. I love that. I can always count on the library and database of HBT when I’m in a pinch. This post is almost 10’years old. That clicking was driving me nuts.!

None of my stir bars with the pivot ring is noisy, from 5 mm to 25 mm in length. If a modification to the bar is required, the selected bar is the wrong type for the job. It could be the wrong length or shape for the container used. They are available in egg shape, cross, gear, etc.

 

[ClaudiusB]

I'd be concerned that the knife shaving would not leave a surface as smooth as the original sections. Just a few dollars each for new ones.

The smooth ones are quieter. The ridged ones are designed to make noise on purpose. It's easier to throw the smooth ones if you are not patient with the stirplate dial as it is a little harder to estimate the speed w/o the rattle. The raised bar can also collect matter in its corner so clean carefully.

"The ridged ones are designed to make noise on purpose." Interesting.
From stir bar vendors: Stir bars are coated with Teflon (PTFE) covering, built-in pivot axle helps to reduce vibration and wear during stirring.

 

[mashdar]

I sometimes put a towel or pot holder between the stir plate and the vessel to shut it up.

 

[Gunshowgreg]

I’m not too sure. The one I shaved down a bit with my utility razor is dead silen and has been mixing well for a couple hours now. I had a bag of these things and figure I try the “free” route before driving 2.5 hours to a home brew shop. The bars in the picture are 1 inch. Could be operator error

 

[Gunshowgreg]

I sometimes put a towel or pot holder between the stir plate and the vessel to shut it up.

I’ll experiment with that next time! Thanks for sharing

 

[CJ-3]

Thanks! This worked for me. I love that. I can always count on the library and database of HBT when I’m in a pinch. This post is almost 10’years old. That clicking was driving me nuts.!

Glad I could be of help

 

[An Ankoù]

Never used a stir plate in my life. I just give the flask a swirl every time I pass it. Totally silent technique. Sure, if I was going to leave it alone for a few days a plate would be useful.
At the moment, I'm resurrecting a 4 years old Wyeast London III. It's coming on nicely.

 

[Kickass]

Am I the only one who likes hearing that rattling stir plate?

My wife is always saying “can you turn that down!?!” I remind her that will be glorious beer soon.

 

[Brockness Monster]

My "lab" is in my basement, no sounds make it to the rest of the house.

 

[mashdar]

I'm more concerned that sound = wear. I don't really want micro/nano ptfe in the starter. I probably don't care if the stir bar disintegrates beyond that.