sparge arm - how to make home-made

[reelseasick]

So, I got a showerhead, but that does not spread the water as much as I want. who's built them and how?

 

[Axegod]

You can get really complicated with a calibrated, gravity feed-spinny thingy....or just something that slowly releases water into the top of the mash-tun without distirbing the grainbed.
I got drunk whilst making a copper manifold...and it looked bad. I have this with the slots up, as my sparge arm. I thought of many ways of making one...but just decided as long as it gently feed water into the tun, good enough for me.

Cheers.

 

[Monster Mash]

Anything that sprays will lose heat. It is best to just let the water flow on top of the grainbed, all you need is something that spreads the water evenly over the top without spraying.

I built this manifold so I can recirculate the wort and sparge without worrying about grains clogging the holes.

 

[Grimsawyer]

The design I like the best is the simplest. It is a fixed pipe bent in a circle with holes in it pointing down. The end is crimped i believe. When I make mine I think I"ll jam a SS bolt in the end for cleaning purposes. Just remove the bolt and the grains that got stuck in it will flow right out.

 

[reelseasick]

thanks, but what is the thing hanging off to the side with what looks like a power cord?

 

[Shockerengr]

looks like a float switch to control the flow of sparge water.

I'm pretty sure he has a solenoid valve on the hlt

 

[Orfy]

I love batch sparging.

 

[Brewsmith]

I just use a one quart measuing cup and do it the manual way.

 

[Brewiz]

I made this one and it has worked like a champ

 

[Grimsawyer]

I love batch sparging.

ME TOO!!! It's great, easy, no brainer!!! Don't have to worry about tannins, which is the reason I batch sparge... hehe If I fly sparged I'd screw it up. BTW Brewiz that's sweet! how do you clean the inside though? I made a fancy killer sparge arm and got a few grains in it. I don't use it anymore because I couldn't take it apart to clean them out.

 

[Brewiz]

ME TOO!!! It's great, easy, no brainer!!! Don't have to worry about tannins, which is the reason I batch sparge... hehe If I fly sparged I'd screw it up. BTW Brewiz that's sweet! how do you clean the inside though? I made a fancy killer sparge arm and got a few grains in it. I don't use it anymore because I couldn't take it apart to clean them out.

After the brew I boil some water to run thru my pump, chiller and it. Never got any grain in it the holes are too small and the end is capped.
And I love fly sparging!!!! I feel like I have more control over the sparge and plus I love to use first wort hops. By fly sparging and using FWH's you get a lot more hop complexity (IMHO), but whatever works for each of us is what makes this a great hobby.

 

[Grimsawyer]

Due to Mickey Mouse and the parts that he makes while stirring, not very aggressively either, the flippin morebeer weldless false bottom kit came apart and I sucked a liberal amount of grain through my system... It got into my sparge arm and the way I put it together I can't get it all out. The cost and effort to retrofit would be the same as just looping copper tubing and drilling a few holes. Making something I could clean easier. I would have never got any grains in there either if stuff hadn't come loose. Just a friendly warning from someone who has been down a certain path. Hope It comes in handy for someone out there in beer land!

 

[Grimsawyer]

Due to Mickey Mouse and the parts that he makes while stirring, not very aggressively either, the flippin morebeer weldless false bottom kit came apart and I sucked a liberal amount of grain through my system... It got into my sparge arm and the way I put it together I can't get it all out. The cost and effort to retrofit would be the same as just looping copper tubing and drilling a few holes. Making something I could clean easier. I would have never got any grains in there either if stuff hadn't come loose. Just a friendly warning from someone who has been down a certain path. Hope It comes in handy for someone out there in beer land!

 

[wuttheheeck]

Anything that sprays will lose heat. It is best to just let the water flow on top of the grainbed, all you need is something that spreads the water evenly over the top without spraying.

I built this manifold so I can recirculate the wort and sparge without worrying about grains clogging the holes.

Where did you come across the metal that hold your float sensor. I am looking to add a switch to my sparge arm but can't decide how to connect it

 

[Black Island Brewer]

Just a warning... On an almost 7 year old thread, you may not get a response from the person you're asking.