Is there a reliable way to ensure runoff?

[nigebeer]

Hi all,

Just done a brew today and like most, I lineally always encounter a very slow runoff from the boiler.I have tried different boiler filters and there seems to be no surefire way of success.

The filter I have at the moment is made from 15mm copper tubing and is a square shape circuit viewed from above,with hacksaw slots underneath, I did have a stainless braid over the top of this but took it off because of slow runoff.

Many Thanks

[NobbyIPA]

i had slowish run off on my old 33 litre pot which was side drain with 3/8 ball valve









side drain boiler
[/URL]

new boiler fitting


now i have bottom drain with 1 inch ball valve and bottom drain






far quicker than my old side drain
so maybe larger tap bottom drain is an improvement

[lord groan]

I've had similar problems, hopefully now in the past. I found I was getting a slow run-off because I'd end up with a litre of 'wallpaper paste' in the boiler, this blocked every type of filter. This was flour from the grain which the Irish moss caused to coadulate and settle out. I'd previously pretty much ignored the idea of recirculating several jugfuls of wort in the mash tun as it seemed pointless.

Then I tried recirculating 10 litres of wort in the mash tun before draining into the boiler. Wow Really fast run off and only about 100mls of sludge left in the boiler.
Turns out if I listen to the good advice of everyone on Jims life is much easier!
hth

[oakwell]

when I first started out ag brewing I used a hop filter which was made from perforated copper sheet rolled into a 15mm tube and never had run off problems. I've not seen one like it for a good few years now but this looks like it would work well assuming you're using leaf and not pellet hops

http://powellbrewing.co.uk/index.php?ro ... duct_id=60

[Belter]

Slots for the mash tun, holes for the boiler. In my previous brewery I had some copper pipe with 3mm holes in it and it never blocked.

[Fil]

lord groan, try jugging back or vourlaffing? before you drain/sparge your tun. that should help reduce the flour in the boiler, all the books imply its one or two jugfulls that need returning, ive found 8-10 2l jugs 3/4 full is more like it sometimes..

nigebeer i cant recall who right now but someone has had great results with a slotted filter like yours after simply bagging it in a net bag secured with a drawstring..
While NobyIPA's filter is a work of art a similar garth style filter can be made for a few quid using £shop splatterguards,, remove the handles and rim from one, then sandwich the rimmed mesh and unrimmed mesh together using a length of split beerline, the rim on the one mesh circle will act as a stop for the beerline..

[Danny]

lord groan, try jugging back or vourlaffing? before you drain/sparge your tun. that should help reduce the flour in the boiler, all the books imply its one or two jugfulls that need returning, ive found 8-10 2l jugs 3/4 full is more like it sometimes..

Agreed .. just before you shut off run out a few jugs and return it .. this clears the filter a bit and also sends boiling wort through the tap aiding sterilising ..

I have a copper tune set up through a new hole in the base of the boiler .. the tubes go out each side of an equal tee and are slotted ... they dont sit slots down .. i find that the hop flowers dont really pass through and act as a filter also .. runs off very quick after the chill ..