Stuck sparge before the sparge even starts?

[zackattack784]

So I brewed my second all grain batch today. First batch went great and I nailed all my numbers. Everything was going great today until I went to vorlauf. I opened the valve a bit, grains came spewing out then nothing. Uh oh. My buddy and I ended up dumping the entire mash tun, grains and all into my kettle, cleared the obstruction from the line in the mash tun and we proceeded without a hitch from there. So my question is, how do I prevent something like this in the future?

 

[Spectre216]

My suggestion would to be either make your crush a little coarser or use rice hulls next time. You could also try mashing in a grain bag. I did it for a while, not ideal but it works.

 

[turkeygecko]

So I brewed my second all grain batch today. First batch went great and I nailed all my numbers. Everything was going great today until I went to vorlauf. I opened the valve a bit, grains came spewing out then nothing. Uh oh. My buddy and I ended up dumping the entire mash tun, grains and all into my kettle, cleared the obstruction from the line in the mash tun and we proceeded without a hitch from there. So my question is, how do I prevent something like this in the future?

Before dumping the whole mash and whatnot, attached hose to the ball valve and blow into it. You should be able to move the blockage. Also, when you vorlauf, open the valve slowly and do a couple quarts with slow runoff rate.

 

[Jhenjum]

I tend to flood the outlet prior to doughing in to keep grain out

 

[Happywanderer]

buy 3 yards of voile fabric. Line your mash tun with it (you don't need to sew a "bag" shape...just line the mash tun).

You'll never have a stuck sparge again. No rice hulls needed. Ever.