Show us your DIY stir plate!

[mattcuso]

Moved on to this

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[nab911]

Finally got around to picking up a rhiostat so I have speed control. Added a switch as well. REALLY had to cram it all in there but it works perfectly!

 

[alien]

OK, not exactly DIY, but I did have to fix the front panel to get it to work

Blog post: http://smokedprojects.blogspot.com/2013/12/stirplate-hot-fix.html

 

[mattcuso]

Any one know of any super deals on a flask

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[barrooze]

Any one know of any super deals on a flask

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What size? I've got a 2L that works great for almost all 5-6gallon batch brews I do. Here's the best price I've seen lately.

http://www.homebrewfinds.com/2014/01/reader-tip-2l-american-borosilicate.html

 

[theck]

My local shop was $22. Pretty good compared.

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[nab911]

What size? I've got a 2L that works great for almost all 5-6gallon batch brews I do. Here's the best price I've seen lately.

http://www.homebrewfinds.com/2014/01/reader-tip-2l-american-borosilicate.html

That's the one I got. Right at $15 shipped. Works great. There are some imperfections in the glass but I am not cooking meth, so who gives a ****. It gets boiled and cooled so you should not have any infection problems.

 

[Fat_Maul]

First I thought a high-tech approach was warranted. This is science after all!

[ame="http://youtu.be/ct50C180UCg"]http://youtu.be/ct50C180UCg[/ame]

Then I decided on a more practical (and power friendly) approach...

 

[Skep18]

Only shots I have of mine. Everything was sourced from scrap/stuff I had lying around with the exception of the stir rod.

 

[alien]

Any one know of any super deals on a flask

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This is the one I got. (2L Erlenmeyer $15.75, free shipping with $35 order.) Pretty good deal I reckon.

 

[Sbarnard80]

I love all the creative designs here, nice work! Gave me inspiration to cobble together my own. Spend a grand total of $4 on the stir bar, everything else was scraps I already had or got from someone else. BTW, I had a b@#ch of a time trying to figure out what to do about a potentiometer. I couldn't find a dial to use anywhere in the house and my wall adaptor was a bit too strong and kept throwing the bar. But I finally realized that if I hooked up a little Christmas light inside, it might draw enough current to slow it down just enough. And damned if it didn't work. And have light inside as a bonus. Takes 30 seconds to transfer to any 12 bottle box just depending on my mood

 

[COEBRA]

I spent $12 total on mine minus the stir bar. I had a really hard time getting the bar to stir without throwing it. Cutting the hole in the top of the box was the trick!


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[renegade]

Built back in 2011, Around $20 into it

Click link
https://plus.google.com/photos/116582724815739880986/albums/5688253571804436993?banner=pwa

 

[Reaver]

Finally got my double stirplate tuned in. I had to change out the fans a couple times to get it where it would hold. I found that more weight would help slow the fan down enough to not throw the bar with a 12v power supply. I do mostly 10gal batches split into 2 carboys so I like to have split starters. Local Cigar shop had a perfect box for the task. I just got it tuned yesterday, so I'll put a layer of clear coat on it to protect the wood.

 

[jkjones15]

Simple, and built out of things I already had lying around the woodshop! The holes on the side help to keep the fan from overheating since it runs for 24 hours straight!


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[groundchuck]

What size stir bar is everyone using? I have the 2" bar and I cant get it to spin much at all with out throwing it. Should I get a 1" instead? Mine is similar to most of the cigar box ones on here.
Thanks!

 

[Reaver]

Mine are 2" and I had the same issue. I needed to slow down the fans a bit. I tried various methods. I eventually added more weight to the set up by using 2 hard drive magnets. Add some extra mass and see if it helps you. I also have a 28 Ohm Rheostat almost at the slowest setting.

I had originally cut the fan blades off, that is one reason it was too fast.
And the transformer I used output 14VDC instead of 12VDC (typical).

 

[501irishred]

What size stir bar is everyone using? I have the 2" bar and I cant get it to spin much at all with out throwing it. Should I get a 1" instead? Mine is similar to most of the cigar box ones on here.
Thanks!

Not all stir bars are made alike. I nearly gave up after I could never get my first stir bar to hold. Out of desperation I bought a second (supposedly identical) stir bar, and can run my fan at nearly full speed without it throwing the bar.


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[MedicMang]

I haven't tried it but I have heard that the barbell lookin stirbars are great for not being thrown. I have tried a 2" stirbar and like you guys, it got thrown. Went back to my 1" er and it spins 5L just fine.

 

[groundchuck]

Not all stir bars are made alike.
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Thanks for the input guys. I was wondering if there was possibly something wrong with the stir bar. I have pretty strong magnets and the fan is running so slow I can almost count the revolutions on the stir bar.

I should pick up another stir bar and I will probably go with the 1" instead this time. Hopefully that does the trick!

 

[501irishred]

Thanks for the input guys. I was wondering if there was possibly something wrong with the stir bar. I have pretty strong magnets and the fan is running so slow I can almost count the revolutions on the stir bar.



I should pick up another stir bar and I will probably go with the 1" instead this time. Hopefully that does the trick!

May very well work as-is, but be prepared to reset the mag position if it doesn't work right away with the smaller bar.


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[blanstuf]

Finally got around to taking some pictures. Here it is on the floor in my workout/fermenting room.

 

[Monday30]

Here is mine! Made it out I recovered fan and hard drive magnets from an old computer. I added a rocker switch and a potentiometer for speed control.


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[uncleben113]

So I finally got around to making a stir plate. I wanted mine to have a little flare so I found this Jurassic Park lunch box on ebay and made my stir plate out of it. I was obsessed with Jurassic Park when I was younger and think I even had this lunch box so I am stoked about it


Here she is!

First small starter on it to refresh some old yeast.

The inner workings

Easy storage for the power cord

It rattles a little bit but I am proud as can be of it!

 

[groundchuck]

May very well work as-is, but be prepared to reset the mag position if doesn't work right away with the smaller bar.

I just picked up a 1" stirrer and it works like a champ. No adjustment or tweaking necessary. It also "holds" a lot better to the magnet on the fan. The 2" magnet sort of held it self in place. The 1" magnet "jumps" into to place and holds on tight.

When I picked up my new stirrer today I "stuck" them all to the steel shelf that they were sold from. I noticed some held better than others so I grabbed the "best" one (as far as I could tell).

So ........ tip of the day ......... when you buy your stirrer from a LHBS try them all out first if you can. :rockin:

 

[groundchuck]

Here is a picture of the final product. Everything packs in side when it's not in use.

 

[Jcbrown360]

Here is mine in the process of running a starter for my NW IPA.

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[501irishred]

I just picked up a 1" stirrer and it works like a champ. No adjustment or tweaking necessary. It also "holds" a lot better to the magnet on the fan. The 2" magnet sort of held it self in place. The 1" magnet "jumps" into to place and holds on tight.



When I picked up my new stirrer today I "stuck" them all to the steel shelf that they were sold from. I noticed some held better than others so I grabbed the "best" one (as far as I could tell).



So ........ tip of the day ......... when you buy your stirrer from a LHBS try them all out first if you can. :rockin:

Glad to hear it! Sounds the same as mine, other than the change in size. With my first one I would have to adjust and rotate the flask to get it to "bite"........


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[MikeInMKE]

Very useful link on what types of magnets to use and in which orientation for a DIY stir plate:

http://www.kjmagnetics.com/blog.asp?p=stir-bars

 

[Coppinburgh]

Just finished mine! My 15 year old son made the wood box in wood craft class. Man I love that kid!


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