Stir bar size?

[Wrecked]

I use a stir plate and a 2L flask to make starters. I feel like the 1" stir bar I have is just to small to keep a 1+ liter starter in motion. Am I just being paranoid or can I use a 2" stir bar with no problems?

Cheers.

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

 

[DarkPhyre]

I use 1" in my 2L flask. works like a champ

 

[Wrecked]

I use 1" in my 2L flask. works like a champ

Maybe I am just being paranoid, lol.

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

 

[beergolf]

I use 1" in my 2L flask. works like a champ

Sitting her looking at my 2 L flask spinning away right now. 1" stir bar works fine.

 

[tchuklobrau]

I use 1" in my 2L flask. works like a champ

+1 Remember you do not need a deep vortex to still have great results.

 

[ajf]

And yes, you can use a 2" if you want. That's what I use.

-a.

 

[atoyot]

I prefer the 1" over my other, longer, stir bars.

 

[mabrungard]

I prefer a 3" bar, but I use a 6L ehrlenmyer.

A larger bar means that you can spin slower and still have the entire bottom moving.

 

[Golddiggie]

For any starter amount over about 2L (in either a 2L or 3L flask) I prefer my 2" stir bar. I can spin it slower and still get a good vortex (doesn't go all that deep, but enough to do the job). For anything over about 1.5L, I use my 1.5" stir bar. Any starter that's smaller usually works with the 1" stir bar. Although, the larger ones do it just as well, with lower RPM's... Since I have a stir plate that I can adjust the speed on, I prefer lower RPM's over higher ones. Mostly so that I don't hear it going in the kitchen (small, 1 bedroom apartment right now)...

 

[SilverZero]

I prefer a 3" bar, but I use a 6L ehrlenmyer.

A larger bar means that you can spin slower and still have the entire bottom moving.

6L? For what, primary fermentation?

I have a 6L flask in my classroom, it's gigantic. I can't imagine a starter that needs such a large vessel, especially since my stir plates never produce any long-lasting foam anyway. But I'm still relatively new, so I can't judge.

 

[Wrecked]

I prefer a 3" bar, but I use a 6L ehrlenmyer.

A larger bar means that you can spin slower and still have the entire bottom moving.

This is my reasoning for going with a slightly lager bar. The 1" bar works awesome in my 1L flask. In the 2L flask I can see settling around the outside bottom with the 1" bar, unless I crank it up to a sucking vortex. Maybe I will try a 1 3/8" bar and see what happens.

Sent from my iPhone using HB Talk

 

[mabrungard]

6L? For what, primary fermentation?

I have a 6L flask in my classroom, it's gigantic. I can't imagine a starter that needs such a large vessel, especially since my stir plates never produce any long-lasting foam anyway. But I'm still relatively new, so I can't judge.

I agree that flask size is overkill. I was chasing a foaming problem with my starters and kept bumping up the size of my flask to reduce the chance of causing foam from rising up and flowing out of the flask. (I got a great deal on ebay)

I was using an air stone and finally figured out that you don't need an air stone if you keep the headspace above the wort flooded with filtered air and the wort is stirred. That solved the foaming, but I like the huge surface area offered by the 6L flask and it should improve the oxygen transfer. I usually limit my 5 gal. ale starters to about 1.5 L.

Good catch!

 

[SilverZero]

I agree that flask size is overkill. I was chasing a foaming problem with my starters and kept bumping up the size of my flask to reduce the chance of causing foam from rising up and flowing out of the flask. (I got a great deal on ebay)

I was using an air stone and finally figured out that you don't need an air stone if you keep the headspace above the wort flooded with filtered air and the wort is stirred. That solved the foaming, but I like the huge surface area offered by the 6L flask and it should improve the oxygen transfer. I usually limit my 5 gal. ale starters to about 1.5 L.

Good catch!

Makes sense to me, I just know my wife would never let me have a flask that big on the kitchen counter.

 

[TrainSafe]

Just remember - its not the size of the boat, but the motion in the ocean.