Design me a Better Hop Stopper!

[chivelegs]

A task for the hive-mind of Jims.

I've had real problems the last 2 brews with the runoff from boiler to FV. Last time out all manner of hops went through into my solar pump, wrecking it and buggering up the brewday by leaving me pouring out the wort through a sieve into the FV.

OK, I thought; let's wrap the copper stopper in net curtain material to strain out the worst of the debris before it has a chance to block the holes.

Result?

Untitled by chivelegs, on Flickr

The material seems totally covered in goo and runoff dried to a trickle leaving me to bail out again.

Now I'm sure these beers will be OK, as there's not much in the way of wild yeast or other nasties about to bugger up the brew (2c today) but THIS MUST STOP!

My problem is that I use an old Burco with a 'back-to-back C' element so I have to fit any stopper around that. Any ideas?


Untitled by chivelegs, on Flickr

[Befuddler]

See here:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=32195

The pics are gone, but you can get the gist from my words.

You don't even have to destroy a seive... A sheet of this, folded over and crimped, works perfectly:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STAINLESS-STE ... 3a7c9692b0

[jmc]

On my main boiler I avoid the element my 'bending filter back on itself and going around outer circumference. It works fine for whole hops.



For LIDL boiler, which has an annular hidden element, I stepped down to 10mm and as its much softer I was able to bend much more. I increased length to adjust for smaller diameter. Ends slightly squashed so end caps are a push fit. Easy then to clean inside with tap brush.
Pic shown upside-down

[fisherman]

Look at the Copper Kettle homebrew site . On the homepage you will see a video jonnys how to brew and he shows you his boiler. As mine the hop strainer is a copper plumbing stick which you can bend to any shape you want by hand easily. Tiny holes or slots in the bottom and it's great.I drain off all but the last half pint and thats not bad for 50 litres. I have a set up just like jonnys and it's amazing.

[far9410]

I use a copper manifold, in a rectangular shape, i then place an ikea stainless splatter guard over this, to take the worst of the crud ( it blocked first time so i drilled 3mm holes in the mesh, works great now)

[chivelegs]

Thanks all, I'll investigate the stainless mesh pasty option I think.

Was it something along these lines?

http://kotmf.com/pix/displayimage.php?album=36&pos=9

[Befuddler]

Thanks all, I'll investigate the stainless mesh pasty option I think.

Was it something along these lines?

http://kotmf.com/pix/displayimage.php?album=36&pos=9

Yeah, but mine was much less scruffy looking than that.

This is my newer version, using mesh sheets from ebay:


The tank connector on the inside stops the pocket from collapsing, which stops it from clogging up and only using the area around the pipe as a filter.

[jmc]

Thanks all, I'll investigate the stainless mesh pasty option I think.

Was it something along these lines?

http://kotmf.com/pix/displayimage.php?album=36&pos=9

Yeah, but mine was much less scruffy looking than that.

This is my newer version, using mesh sheets from ebay:


The tank connector on the inside stops the pocket from collapsing, which stops it from clogging up and only using the area around the pipe as a filter.

Nice simple design. Have you tried if with pellet hops?
What size was the mesh you bought?
Cheers John

[Befuddler]

Nice simple design. Have you tried if with pellet hops?
What size was the mesh you bought?
Cheers John

I used #30 mesh. It's OK for a mixture of whole and pellet hops, but if you want to do 100% pellet recipes, you should probably use #40. The joint between the tank connector and the mesh might need improving as well...

[jmc]

Nice simple design. Have you tried if with pellet hops?
What size was the mesh you bought?
Cheers John

I used #30 mesh. It's OK for a mixture of whole and pellet hops, but if you want to do 100% pellet recipes, you should probably use #40. The joint between the tank connector and the mesh might need improving as well...

Thanks.

[chivelegs]

My only concern for that design is that it will sit on the element and short it out. Any thoughts?

[jonnyt]

You cannot short an element out from the outside, given it's not even a conductor!

[jmc]

My only concern for that design is that it will sit on the element and short it out. Any thoughts?

You could only short it out if outside of element was live, and you'd certainly know that when you stirred wort.

SS mesh on element not likely to be a problem but I wouldn't like to rest a fabric mesh on element in case of scorching.

[Befuddler]

My only concern for that design is that it will sit on the element and short it out. Any thoughts?

As others have said, you can't short out the element. My hop stopper actually sits under the element quite comfortably. It can be as close as you like and maybe even touching without issue, as the wort will carry away all the excess heat and stop the mesh getting too hot.

[chivelegs]

Brilliant. I've been worrying about nothing then. I've a few bits and bobs that may work then, watch this space...