Poor man's false bottom

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LarMoeCur

LarMoeCur

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I've been working on finding some perforated stainless steel for sometime. This stuff is expensive to say the least. I found a temporary fix. Only cost me 11 bucks. 10 guage stainless 2.5mm holes which is just about 3/32. 16.5 inch diameter short by an 1.5 inches but fits pretty good. One step closer to lighting off the new brewery.

View attachment 1450826496058.jpg
 
That is a Winco Chinese Colander and can be found in all shapes, sizes, and materials. This one is a 15" (act 16.5") stainless steel with 2.5mm holes. In my searches I found 11", 13", 15" in SS or aluminum. They have 2.5mm and 5mm holes. 3/32=0.0938= 2.3813mm.

I got it off Ebay for 11.05 shipped. It looks like it's going to work well but until I run a batch I cannot say for sure. For that price it's worth a try.
 
LarMoeCur said:
That is a Winco Chinese Colander and can be found in all shapes, sizes, and materials. This one is a 15" (act 16.5") stainless steel with 2.5mm holes. In my searches I found 11", 13", 15" in SS or aluminum. They have 2.5mm and 5mm holes. 3/32=0.0938= 2.3813mm.

I got it off Ebay for 11.05 shipped. It looks like it's going to work well but until I run a batch I cannot say for sure. For that price it's worth a try.
Click to expand...

Looks good, 15" is what I'm after, but I need to fly sparge with my eHERMS upgrades I'm building. This should work nicely I think.
 
Another poor man's false bottom. A cheap pizza pan. I have done one BIAB with this, worked OK.

Something like this http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cuisinart-A...891937?hash=item4d33951c61:g:ur4AAOSwv0tVdnKa

bottom1.JPG

bottom2.JPG

bottom3.JPG

bottom4.JPG
 
So this afternoon I was with the wife and she drug me into target. I actually don't mind target as much as I do wallmart but hey its not all bad. I am finishing up my keggle build and needed a false bottom and found it! look at this beauty it is the perfect diameter as a keg and is all ready predrilled! I am so stoked about this! Even tho I didn't win the lotto I still won big!!! hahaha

So my plan is to cut the handle off and either have the weldless fitting tube run the center ( so punch out a hole) or get some stainless steel bolts and make slit like legs for this! Just wanted to share the good find! and only 20bucks!!!!


http://www.target.com/p/oxo-softworks-splatter-screen/-/A-11144562#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=splatter
 
Edbeenbreto said:
So my plan is to cut the handle off and either have the weldless fitting tube run the center ( so punch out a hole) or get some stainless steel bolts and make slit like legs for this! Just wanted to share the good find! and only 20bucks!!!!


http://www.target.com/p/oxo-softworks-splatter-screen/-/A-11144562#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=splatter
Click to expand...

Nice find on this but the one thing ive dealt with in the past is the the splatter screen doesnt let much through, hence the purpose. Of course the one I have has much smaller mesh on it.
 
That's true, but you need that sugary deliciousness to go through and splatter screens are meant to stop liquid from going through free.. make sure you do a good dry run with water
 
Also, once the grain bed is set it will strain itself... you just have to put the first runnings back over the grain until the liquid is particle free
 
Yeah I ran hot water thru today it seems to work fine but I plan on my next day off to drill slightly bigger holes about two inches to every three inches.
 
In my parts search for my build. I've seen those. Most are 12" the price goes up substantially as you increase the size. I would need an 18" one with a stand. They are well over $130. That's why I the colander route.
 
bigb159 said:
Very slick for BIAB applications!
Click to expand...

Why is this needed for BIAB? I prefer to BIAB full volume without a FB. I guess if someone is looking to recirculate with a pump and add heat below the FB something like this might be worthwhile.

If one needs to make an adjustment to the mash temp just be sure to stir while gently heating to avoid scorching the bag or grain, mashout not required IMHO.

The poor man's false bottom IMO is nothing....
 
wilserbrewer said:
Why is this needed for BIAB? I prefer to BIAB full volume without a FB. I guess if someone is looking to recirculate with a pump and add heat below the FB something like this might be worthwhile.

If one needs to make an adjustment to the mash temp just be sure to stir while gently heating to avoid scorching the bag or grain, mashout not required IMHO.

The poor man's false bottom IMO is nothing....
Click to expand...

Holes are too big for anything but BIAB, but if you want to keep your bag from melting to your heating element, this will work.
 
LarMoeCur said:
In my parts search for my build. I've seen those. Most are 12" the price goes up substantially as you increase the size. I would need an 18" one with a stand. They are well over $130. That's why I the colander route.
Click to expand...

This is very true. I want the false bottom to stand off from my electric element by an inch (until I get funds for my HERMS setup).

My pots are 15.5" diameter so if I can think up how to find a 2 inch ring to install, then the 12" fb could sit on top of it, no hoses necessary. Problem is, there aren't a whole lot of preexisting 15.5" items I could work with.
 
bigb159 said:
This is very true. I want the false bottom to stand off from my electric element by an inch (until I get funds for my HERMS setup).

My pots are 15.5" diameter so if I can think up how to find a 2 inch ring to install, then the 12" fb could sit on top of it, no hoses necessary. Problem is, there aren't a whole lot of preexisting 15.5" items I could work with.
Click to expand...

BigB,

I'll hit my colander up with a tape measure. I'll bet it 15.5" about half way up. If it is... heck an angle grinder and 5 minutes you'd have the perfect false bottom for 12 bucks.
 
bigb159 said:
Holes are too big for anything but BIAB, but if you want to keep your bag from melting to your heating element, this will work.
Click to expand...

True. I have read about holes in the bag due to heating (to hold mash temp, no mash out), so I don't want to experience this.:mug:
 
Well I found what may be the one for me - a 15.75 Baker's Secret steel pizza pan with 3mm holes from Walmart - $14.89 all in. Sawed the outer rim at intervals and bent them in; added silicone hose to create a seal and protect the pot from scratching.

I have some work to do on my pot before I test this out, but it may be the cheap solution I was after.

Fp5kj6U.jpg

qYFLacX.jpg
 
Edbeenbreto said:
Yeah I ran hot water thru today it seems to work fine but I plan on my next day off to drill slightly bigger holes about two inches to every three inches.
Click to expand...

I am curious to hear how this works out on a brew day. In my experience, I haven't seen many, if any, splatter screens that I would have thought were solid enough to not collapse under the weight of the wet grain. Looking forward to hearing your results.
 
Could always run a few stainless bolts into as post to support it. Even the blicham fb has support post.
 
lzrdkng14 said:
interested to hear how some of these are working....
Click to expand...

Agreed we are in the process of building an e herms rig out of kegs. trying to determine what to use for the mash tun and brew kettle. would 2 mm holes be too big for this type of application?
 
hedge_87 said:
Agreed we are in the process of building an e herms rig out of kegs. trying to determine what to use for the mash tun and brew kettle. would 2 mm holes be too big for this type of application?
Click to expand...

I'm doing the same but going whirlpool and side pick up tube for the BK.
 
Interested as well. I've been looking at this particular item for a while. I don't know how I'd fit into my kettle, but it seems as though it could work.
 

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