My Stirplate... Cheap and Easy Build...

[OMJ]

Well...I can most assuredly tell you the part number of the quick disconnects wouldn't even come close to fitting the part number for that rocker switch.

When I went back later that evening, the part number I picked up was snug, but a perfect fit. Not sure if I got an older switch with the same part number before they went to a smaller size or what...but just wanted people to know to double check at the very least. There may be multiple sizes of the rocker switch part number, with different sized male ends. LOL

I had the same issue so I returned the qds and got a soldering iron

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

I updated the original posting with the new part number in BOLD

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[k2brew]

Ok I apologize if this was explained earlier, but I am having trouble comprehending the theory behind this.

How does this thing work? Does the top of this thing actually move or the fluid move due to the magnetic field generated by the magnet/washer on the fan?

See us Social Science nerds didn't have many labs

Thanks!

 

[OMJ]

Ok I apologize if this was explained earlier, but I am having trouble comprehending the theory behind this.

How does this thing work? Does the top of this thing actually move or the fluid move due to the magnetic field generated by the magnet/washer on the fan?

See us Social Science nerds didn't have many labs

Thanks!

A magnetic stir bar goes inside the flask and when the fan with the magnets spins it spins the stir bar.

 

[k2brew]

Ohhh.... drrr

It's never good to be the one in the room wearing a helmet and drooling. Unless of course you have just had a couple litres of Apfelwein

Thanks, now I have another project in addition to going AG, Kegging and building a fermentation chamber.

 

[quixand]

Getting the right amount of spin from your fan, the right amount of pull from magnets, then arranging them properly to spin the bar perfect...are certainly a test of your resolve. LOL

Talk about frustrating.

 

[smackythefrog]

Hey, just wanted to say thanks for the great write-up . I finished this up tonight and it works as advertised.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Getting the right amount of spin from your fan, the right amount of pull from magnets, then arranging them properly to spin the bar perfect...are certainly a test of your resolve. LOL

Talk about frustrating.

That's the point of having the potentiometer and the steel washer. They allow you to adjust your fan speed as well as your magnet locations. With a little bit of tweaking, I assure you - you will get it.

On another note, who is this guy selling stir plates on HBT Banners up top? They look an awful lot like the ones we have been building here.

 

[Catt22]

On another note, who is this guy selling stir plates on HBT Banners up top? They look an awful lot like the ones we have been building here.

He's Dan Jeska from Michigan. His stir plate design is unique and appears to be superior in that it uses an LM317 voltage regulator along with a pot for better speed control. He also uses rare earth button magents instead of the salvaged hard drive magnets. The price is very good at only $42 including shipping and a stir bar. Lifetime warranty too.

http://www.stirstarters.com/

He also has instructions with a parts list in case you want to build your own based on his design. I don't have one of his units, but it appears to be a sound design. I built a couple for myself (and about fifteen more for my friends) using a 110v muffin fan and a light dimmer for speed control. Simple and effective with a minimum of components. My cost using new parts is roughly the same as his price of $42 although I'm using a larger stir bar and stronger magnets than he lists for his.

 

[capcrnch]

On another note, who is this guy selling stir plates on HBT Banners up top? They look an awful lot like the ones we have been building here.

To be fair, this design has been around for quite some time.
Your stir plates are very close to mine.. I built my stir plate based off plans out on the web, and other stir plates seen here, in mid 2007.

 

[Catt22]

To be fair, this design has been around for quite some time.
Your stir plates are very close to mine.. I built my stir plate based off plans out on the web, and other stir plates seen here, in mid 2007.

Yes, the muffin fan stir plate design has been around for at least 10 years. Here you can find a post from early 1999 on the HBD:

http://hbd.org/hbd/archive/2954.html#2954-6

I've often wondered who came up with the original. We may never know.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

I wasn't claiming that he copied me. What I believe I said was that someone is selling the stir plates WE have been building on HBT for a long time.

 

[capcrnch]

I wasn't claiming that he copied me. What I believe I said was that someone is selling the stir plates WE have been building on HBT for a long time.

Calm down fella, i'm not jumping on you, just saying.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Calm down fella, i'm not jumping on you, just saying.

Ya, well, your cereal cuts the roof of my mouth!!!

 

[alpha_acid]

Why not buy a surplus real stir plate for $20?
http://surplus.ucsd.edu/AdvancedSearch.aspx?id=3
http://surplus.ucsd.edu/Lot.aspx?id=63950
they are on ebay all the time

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

a lot of people do that. Others like to build something on their own.

 

[Tripod]

Why not buy a surplus real stir plate for $20?
http://surplus.ucsd.edu/AdvancedSearch.aspx?id=3
http://surplus.ucsd.edu/Lot.aspx?id=63950
they are on ebay all the time

That is good for saving a buck. But there's just something more satisfying to the DIYer about building your own. Whether I could've done it for cheaper really isn't the issue for me...

-Tripod

 

[RunBikeBrew]

Thanks to the OP for the great instructions!

I have my first "stirplated" yeast starter spinning away in the basement, bound for a Belgian Dubbel this weekend. This was a fun build.

The metal washer was great advice, as I had to fiddle with the magnet placement quite a bit to get my 50mm stir bar to work. Actually, I never glued the magnets on; they seem to sit there fine under their own power. I may try to get fancy and add some additional resistance to the circuit. I can only turn the potentiometer up about 30% before I throw the bar and at the lowest setting, I get a vortex all the way to the bottom.

 

[alpha_acid]

That is good for saving a buck. But there's just something more satisfying to the DIYer about building your own. Whether I could've done it for cheaper really isn't the issue for me...

-Tripod

I agree but if can save money, time, and get a better product well....
I have actually been looking for a good deal on a combo hot plate / stir plate so I can do the whole thing in the basement.

 

[joety]

That is good for saving a buck. But there's just something more satisfying to the DIYer about building your own. Whether I could've done it for cheaper really isn't the issue for me...

-Tripod

Exactly. Don't forget who you're talking to. If we wanted to just go out and buy something WTF would we be spending six hours on a weekend making two cases of beer?

Edit: But seriously, thanks for the link. At some point I'd like to get more into yeast culturing and they have some cool stuff on there.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

I've actually been considering building a temp controlled stir plate, however the price of building it makes it somewhat inefficient.

 

[eppo]

i'm building a stirplate using the OP howto. i ordered a 1 inch stirbar, which is on its way. my question is, is the sirbar just a bar magnet? i'm just curious as to whether to use 1 magnet or 2, and exactly how the magnet makes the stirbar spin. just trying to get an idea because i want to use this for my starter that i think i'm going to be putting together thursday, and want to have everything ready when my stirbar arrives.
thanks

 

[Catt22]

Yes, a stir bar is essentially just a plastic coated bar magnet. The stir bar magnetically couples with the magnets on the motor. They lock together magnetically. You can use either a single bar magnet or two button type magnets. When using the two magnet arrangement, you want to have them mounted so that one has a "north" pole facing up and the other a "south" pole up. They will then lock up to the opposite poles of the stir bar. The spacing and alignment of the magnets on the motor are critical. Even relatively minor misalignment will cause vibrations sometimes resulting in a "thrown" stir bar. Same for the spacing between the two magnets. The optimum spacing distance will be differerent for bars of various sizes. I have found that a 2" (50mm) bar running at a relatively slow speed works best. I would estimate that mine operate best at about 300 rpm. I have no way to measure the exact RPM's, so that's really only a guess, but it's probably fairly close. Getting the bar to spin relatively slowly while still able to self start from a dead stop is best IMO.

 

[whalenutz]

is it just me or not but, 10/32 or 5/16???

 

[Catt22]

is it just me or not but, 10/32 or 5/16???

10/32 or 5/16 what?

 

[Scimmia]

is it just me or not but, 10/32 or 5/16???

Not sure what you're asking, but 10/32 = 5/16

 

[Reelale]

He's Dan Jeska from Michigan. His stir plate design is unique and appears to be superior in that it uses an LM317 voltage regulator along with a pot for better speed control. He also uses rare earth button magents instead of the salvaged hard drive magnets. The price is very good at only $42 including shipping and a stir bar. Lifetime warranty too.

http://www.stirstarters.com/

And he makes a fine product! I highly recommend.

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

is it just me or not but, 10/32 or 5/16???

10/32 or 10-32 refers to bolt size and the number of threads per inch of bolt.

http://www.mcmaster.com/#socket-head-cap-screws/=44yhdf

 

[Catt22]

10/32 or 10-32 refers to bolt size and the number of threads per inch of bolt.

Yes, that would be specifying 10 gage diameter and 32 threads per inch for something like a machine screw. The 5/16 designation usually refers to 5/16" diameter with a coarser 24 threads per inch being implied unless otherwise specified.

So, that leaves us still trying to guess what the poster was asking. Without additional information I would have to answer Yes, 10/32 or 5/16 is correct.:cross:

 

[Anthony_Lopez]

Fractionally, 10/32 = 5/16. I was assuming the question was regarding the 10-32 bolts. I don't think I specify anything in a 5/16" size in my build.