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Preparing for first all grain/ what's a false bottom?

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BigPoppa502

Supreme Leader & Brew Master - Derby City Brewing
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I'm starting to think about doing an all grain batch. I have converted my 10 gal rubbermaid for mashing, but see comments and threads reviewing false bottoms. Would one of our pro's consider spelling this out? Do I need one? What are it's benefits?

Many thanks,
 
If you converted your cooler I assume you used a water supply line braid. The false bottom does the same thing. It works as a strainer to keep the grain from coming through the drain valve.

Some brewers think it does a better job than the braid. I makes a dome over the valve and dip tube. You would use it in the same fashion as the braid.
 
If you converted your cooler I assume you used a water supply line braid. The false bottom does the same thing. It works as a strainer to keep the grain from coming through the drain valve.

Some brewers think it does a better job than the braid. I makes a dome over the valve and dip tube. You would use it in the same fashion as the braid.

Thanks that is pretty straight forward. Yea I used the braid. I was not sure if it was to be used in addition to the braid or not. This gives me a little more confidence.
 
The purpose of any sort of manifold/false bottom/braid is the separate the sweet wort from the grain- "lautering".

Whatever gets the job done is the way to go! I have a false bottom, and it works great for me. Many others have braids or manifolds they made with copper or cPvc pipe! If you go into the "gallery", you can see many pictures of different set ups. They all work just fine!

The only thing I'll say about a braid as that you'll want to batch sparge and not fly sparge with it. The design works great for batch sparging, but it's not a good design for fly sparging due to the likelihood of channelling. That doesn't matter with batch sparging a bit, though.
 
The only thing I'll say about a braid as that you'll want to batch sparge and not fly sparge with it. The design works great for batch sparging, but it's not a good design for fly sparging due to the likelihood of channelling. That doesn't matter with batch sparging a bit, though.

Thank you, thats good stuff Yooper. I was reading some on those methods as well. I have a couple weeks before I'll be giving this a go. In the mean time I'll just enjoy another brewski! :mug:
 
The purpose of any sort of manifold/false bottom/braid is the separate the sweet wort from the grain- "lautering".

Whatever gets the job done is the way to go! I have a false bottom, and it works great for me. Many others have braids or manifolds they made with copper or cPvc pipe! If you go into the "gallery", you can see many pictures of different set ups. They all work just fine!

The only thing I'll say about a braid as that you'll want to batch sparge and not fly sparge with it. The design works great for batch sparging, but it's not a good design for fly sparging due to the likelihood of channelling. That doesn't matter with batch sparging a bit, though.
I put together a cooler and got a oil filter braid from my brother in law ( new of course) which I connected. It had an inner filter and outer mesh cover and is about a foot long. Figured it should work but did my first batch yesterday and ended up with major stuck sparge. Was able to get through it but I need a false bottom. Any ideas on making one for a 10 gal rectangular cooler? Not much info on this one online.
 
Go to youtube and do a search for "build mash tun" You will get a ton of good instructional videos and manifold ideas.
 
Yooper's pegged it. Haha Peg....That's me.

HBT also has a Wiki for terminology (fly sparge, batch sparge etc) Poppa. By the way, awesome profile picture.

If you want advice from a guy who started small....

BUY a big cooler and skip the braid. Get a decent false bottom like CPVC or even copper.

If you want to skip the cooler, and like DIY, go Stainless Steel....

If you go Stainless you have the option that every man loves.....FIRE. Direct fire baby!!! although fire isn't necessary (insulation works) My Mashing Keg looks like something that was dumped off a shuttle while in orbit cus I converted a Water Cooler blanket. Nothing went to waste. Even had enough to make a lid insulator and bottom insulator for it to sit on.
 
Pictures are worth 1000 words

image-1581482241.jpg


image-3158901244.jpg
 
Pictures are worth 1000 words

That's awesome Peg! Unfortunately I have already purchased and installed the braid, so I'll try it out first if for no other reason than to get the experience. Direct heat huh? I'll look into that some.

By the way, my pic is of my Trusty Sidekick "BEAR" of the Chicago Clan... Almost felt a little weird taking advise from Yooper, being that he's a pack fan and all... Oh well takes all kinds! LOL
 
Well, being a female and a Packer fan probably took me off of your Christmas list permanently- but as Popeye says, "I yam what I yam"!

I talk a big game, but I will admit I have both women and Packer fans on my Christmas card list. ;)
 
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