Thinking of a stir plate...

[redwing_al]

Hi, I am thinking of getting a stir plate for making yeast starters. Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on making starters. I've only done it one other time and I did so by simply using a growler and some DME to get it going.

Should I save the mega-moola and do it the minimalist way or are there distinct advantages to getting some new gear and using a stir plate and flask?


Oh, and how big of a flask should I get for 5g batches? 1000ml or 2000ml?

here is the plate I may order:http://www.ritebrew.com/product-p/841256.htm?CartID=1

thanks!

 

[d3track]

That's not a bad price.
Get the 2000mL, and if you don't have it, fermcap.

Depending on how much you want to spend, there are many threads on making stirplates ranging from $0 to $40ish, and it isn't a bad build, maybe 1-2 hours including playing, I mean, testing the strength of the vortex.

 

[redwing_al]

are there distinct advantaged to making a starter in a growler and shaking it from time to time? just wondering if it's worth it and what the benefits are?

 

[Beernik]

Growlers are bigger but shaking is less efficient for promoting yeast growth.

 

[tagz]

You will grow a ton more yeast with stir plate vs shaking.

 

[d3track]

You can put the growler on the stirplate too

 

[FiddlersGreen87]

I did a major over-haul and a ton of upgrades this past summer and a Stir Plate was one of them. Understand, I never made starters before at all, so I can't give you a side-by-side comparison. What I can tell you is that my results have been excellent. I set the stir plate up with the starter going for 48-72 hours in advance and just let it run. I use a 2L flask, and I make them with 16 oz of water and 1 cup of DME. I end up with a great starter, waste little DME, and decant the majority of it once I take it off the stir plate for an hour or so prior to pitching to let the yeast settle out.

I've seen some of the home-made ones, and if that's your thing go for it, but I really like the compact stir plate and flask I use. I set it up off to the side on the counter and just let it run.

 

[p40whk]

Stir plates are easy to make if you have decent soldering skills and can read a schematic. Otherwise, $40 is cheap compared to what your labor is worth. I built mine but I like to do that kind of stuff. If you're not a DIYer then by all means, buy one.

Like others have said, they increase your yeast yield tremendously!

 

[redwing_al]

excellent advice, thank you... is it possible to over-produce yeast? is too much a bad thing?

 

[Beernik]

You can put the growler on the stirplate too

If it has a flat bottom. If it's a curved bottom, stir plates have a tendency to throw the bar.

All my bottles are curved on the inside.

 

[Konadog]

excellent advice, thank you... is it possible to over-produce yeast? is too much a bad thing?

You can "use" to much yeast, but if you "have/make" too much, just save it for the next time you need yeast and save some $$. That's the best part of making starters, free yeast next time you need it. I always make a 2000mL starter and save 500/700mL for next time.

 

[kh54s10]

Read all the stickies on starters, watch videos, etc.

Making a stir plate is not too difficult, and can be inexpensive if you have an obsolete or dead computer.

You can make smaller starters and finish them faster on a stir plate.

Get the 2 liter flask. A 1 liter flask is only big enough for low gravity recipes.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[redwing_al]

Thanks everyone!

 

[dschoemaker]

LOVE my stirplate, get at least 2000ml flash, and the bigger stir bar. Really take care of the yeast side of things.

Dave

 

[Foosier]

Making a starter is the biggest step up. It ensures you have enough yeast for a vigorous, fast ferment. The shaken growler method works well. I did that a number of times and had good results. I got a stir plate and am super happy with how much easier it is. I don't have to shake the starter and it just cranks away happily in the counter.

The best thing is that you make starters. Get a stir plate and they will justbe better.

 

[Brew_Dude41]

Used my dyi stir plate for the first time this weekend. I am shocked by how much more yeast I got from the starter vs just the occasional shaking.
For about $20 in materials it is well worth a little time reading to do a pretty easy dyi.

 

[podz]

LOVE my stirplate, get at least 2000ml flash, and the bigger stir bar.

The stir plate that OP is looking at can handle max 2 litre flask.

For the stir plate from that site that can handle a 5 litre flask, you need to pay 30 bucks more.

Makes me wonder if they both use the same motor, with the cheaper model using a potentiometer and the expensive model using a pulse-width modulator.

 

[Singletrack]

I had similar questions a couple years ago and saw some people recommending 1 liter flasks and some 2 liters. Do yourself a favor and go big from the start. I bought a 2 liter, but even that really isn't big enough. I now use a 5 liter. If it will fit on your stove and fit in a fridge or cooler (assuming you will decant), and if you think you may ever do batches a little larger than 5 gal, or you will ever brew a lager (of course you will), then you NEED more than 2 liters. My 2 liter goes unused. Go BIG!

 

[podz]

you NEED more than 2 liters. My 2 liter goes unused. Go BIG!

LOL! I own two erlenmeyers. One is 50ml, and the other is 5l. I'm not even sure why I have a 50ml flask.

 

[Singletrack]

LOL! I own two erlenmeyers. One is 50ml, and the other is 5l. I'm not even sure why I have a 50ml flask.

You must mean 500 mL -- not 50 mL? What could you do with a flask that small. Well, what do I know, we don't even use the metric system!

 

[podz]

You must mean 500 mL -- not 50 mL? What could you do with a flask that small. Well, what do I know, we don't even use the metric system!

No, I really mean 50ml.

What do you mean you don't use the metric system? You talk about 5 litre flasks, 750ml bottles of wine, grams of cocaine, 2 litre bottles of coke, people in the army are driving "5 clicks northeast" (kilometers), etc and so forth :fro:

 

[Singletrack]

No, I really mean 50ml.

What do you mean you don't use the metric system? You talk about 5 litre flasks, 750ml bottles of wine, grams of cocaine, 2 litre bottles of coke, people in the army are driving "5 clicks northeast" (kilometers), etc and so forth :fro:

True. It would be more accurate to say we just can't give up on the _____ system. Honestly, I don't even know the name of the U.S.'s crazy system of measurement. Imperial? (Hope this doesn't get me deported.) When I was a kid, I was sure we would adopt SI units, and I was strongly in favor. Now, I'm just as resistant to change as anyone. As you noted, that means we need to use two systems sometimes.

I spent a week in Canada, and I was already getting comfortable with degrees C and kilometers. I immediately forgot it all when I returned to the States.

 

[podz]

True. It would be more accurate to say we just can't give up on the _____ system. Honestly, I don't even know the name of the U.S.'s crazy system of measurement. Imperial?

US uses Customary system of measurement. British use Imperial.

There are differences, for example an Imperial gallon is a whole wine bottle bigger than a Customary (US) gallon : 4.54 - 3.78 = 0.76 litres, i.e. 760ml

 

[Singletrack]

US uses Customary system of measurement. British use Imperial.

There are differences, for example an Imperial gallon is a whole wine bottle bigger than a Customary (US) gallon : 4.54 - 3.78 = 0.76 litres, i.e. 760ml

 

[JMSetzler]

I have one of the stir plates like the original poster linked here and it works great. My biggest issue is finding a flask with a flat bottom. I have both the 1000 and 2000ml flasks but the bottoms of them aren't flat and it's a bit tricky to get the stir bar positioned where it won't fly off center and stop working.

If any of you have a source for flat bottom flasks, I'd love to have a link

 

[podz]

I have one of the stir plates like the original poster linked here and it works great. My biggest issue is finding a flask with a flat bottom. I have both the 1000 and 2000ml flasks but the bottoms of them aren't flat and it's a bit tricky to get the stir bar positioned where it won't fly off center and stop working.

If any of you have a source for flat bottom flasks, I'd love to have a link

Round flasks are meant to be used for boiling (think Walter White type boiling here). You can easily find flat bottomed erlenmeyer flasks from Amazon.