SS mesh braid - letting grain through

[llamatabrew]

So I recently switched from a copper manifold to the standard SS hose braid setup that many are using with "coiled copper" inside for support. Ran my first mash cycle with it today, and from the looks of the runoff I'd say it performed WORSE than the copper manifold.

I noticed after I dumped the grain that there were several areas that kinked and there might have been a few spots where the braid "came apart" a little more than others.

Should I be trying to make sure the SS braid stays as bunched together as possible? Perhaps by using a few drops of silicone to keep it secured to the bottom of the tun so it doesn't kink?

 

[winvarin]

Have no experience with the SS braid. But I have had similar experiences with my Bazooka screen letting grain in. I solved it by purchasing on of the grain bags used for BIAB. I wrap this around my bazooka screen as an extra filter for the grain. I have done my last 4 or 5 batches this way with no effect on flow rate when I sparge.

Perhaps something similar will work over your SS braid?

 

[DeNomad]

If you pulled the inner plastic tube out of the braid it is possible you overstretched the braid and created some gaps. When I did mine I compressed the braid as shown in the video in this THREAD LINK (POST #8).

Anyway my braid come off nice and tight this way and I have absolutely no grain coming through. Also I did nothing to secure my braid to the bottom of the cooler, it flops around to wherever it wants to sit.

 

[malkore]

like Denomad, my SS braid flops around, although I do have a brass plug zip-tied on the far end which adds some weight...it still floats a little though.

I see grain bits while vorlaufing, but these clear and then I collect.

Is your grain bed set? What was your grain bill like? Is it maybe over crushed, or would your grainmill gap setting benefit from grain conditioning?