Mesh size or count for stainless?

[bonsai4tim]

What mesh size of stainless screen do I need? I'm thinking 1 with high mesh size (small openings) for a hop container (think large tea ball) and one that is slightly larger openings for a false bottom (or lining a steam basket for BIAB style)??


thanks

tim

 

[ThePig]

Tim,

Check out this thread: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/hopster-hopscreen-157529/

It'll give you an idea of what I used. I brew primarily with whole hops so I used a mesh with greater open space to promote more fliud transfer in and out of the basket. 8x8 mesh is perfect for a whole hop tea bag however, wouldn't be fine enough to keep pellets in the tea bag. A 20x20 minimum mesh is probably right for pellet, but I have not tested it.

Take a look at the "about wire mesh" section at: http://www.mcmaster.com/#about-wire-mesh/=5qk7xj. This should give you an idea of what's typically available in stainless mesh. If you do plan to order from McMaster, I'd reccomend ordering a sample pack before ordering a whole sheet. McMaster's mesh is very high quality AND pricey. You don't want to spend the dough on a sheet of mesh and have it be the wrong size.....

 

[mordantly]

i got a sheet of 304ss 12 and it is WAY too huge. i would go 40 mesh.

 

[bonsai4tim]

Thanks, I had been looking around McMaster's web page and could figure out what mesh size I needed. The link to the hopscreen thread was just what I needed.

tim

 

[ScubaSteve]

i got a sheet of 304ss 12 and it is WAY too huge. i would go 40 mesh.

FWIW I made a hopstopper with 30x30 and it was just about right for whole hops with some pellets mixed in.

 

[jpalarchio]

For the false bottom, I'm pretty sure I looked up the spacing on MoreBeer's false bottom (3/32 holes on 5/32 centers) and it matched this: http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cfm?pid=13521&step=4&id=1002&top_cat=0

 

[Birdgunner]

Some people even use smaller holes than 3/32 and have good success but I would read ScubaSteve's build thread to get some good ideas about a BIAB basket if you haven't already, lots of good info out there.