Domed false bottom

[mooj]

Does anyone use the domed false bottom as sold by hop and grape?

http://www.hopandgrape.com/public/detai ... TA20222272

I'm tempted but not heard any reviews...

[kitwom]

I've bought one. it is solidly built and would not appear to be crushable which is what I was concerned with. Not actually used it yet as i don't have a suitable vessel. but quality wise I have no regrets, appears to be a solid bit of kit.

[mooj]

Thanks kitworm, more tempted now. Have you measured guage of this (or can you give a rough idea of thickness) ?

[fego]

I've got one of those and it's very good. Probably about 1mm thick - well too thick to bend with your fingers.

Works very well for me.

[mooj]

Cheers fego, sounds fit for purpose then. The only downside for me is I don't want the hole in it or the connector, if I could get one without that it would be ideal.

[smeggedup]

What size is the hole in the middle
Would something like this be suitable for a 15mm tank connector fitting ?

[mooj]

Yes, the hole is ok for a 15mm tank connector (1/2" bsp")

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004B7GIV8/

edit: just realised that advert shows the sheet guage too, 18 gauge (1.27mm)

[smeggedup]

great will order one myself when the wife says its ok lol

[mirogster]

Guys is it SS 304 or 316?

[mooj]

Well I went ahead and bought one, turned up today. I would say it is neither 304 or 316 as it is significantly magnetic, presumably it's a cheaper grade. I'm still pleased with it though, doesn't feel like it will crush with the weight of the grain. I would have preferred it without the hole or fitting (and about a tenner off the price)! If you're planning on using the fitting then I would say the price is very hard to beat.

Edit: I'm wrong with my assertions, I always thought 304 & 316 were supposed to be only mildly magnetic, however, the stainless nuts supplied are stamped 316 and I expect the the elbow is probably 316 too, these are both magnetic. I suppose it really doesn't matter as I'm sure they wouldn't sell it if it wasn't foodgrade, and no-one has mentioned any corrosion problems. Feel a bit of a fool as I made similar assertions about the piece of stainless I got from wilkinsons.

[smeggedup]

Just ordered one
Can't wait to get it

Don't you just love pay day

[Chiltern Brewer]

What size is the hole in the middle
Would something like this be suitable for a 15mm tank connector fitting ?

I've used the 12" version for a few years - I had to order it from the US back then - and after a few brews I switched the hosetail and "high-temp" PVC tube over to compression fittings (Conex from Screwfix) and a small length of 15mm copper pipe. I reused the two (1/2" NPT?) nuts with a male elbow 15mm x 1/2" BSP and then connected the copper pipe using a female coupler 15mm x 1/2" BSP directly to the 1/2" thread of my mash tun's tap. Fiddly bit was bending the short length of copper pipe as I hadn't planned on using it when I originally fitted the tap so the compression fittings weren't in alignment.

Anyway, I find it works well. Dead space isn't a problem and as long as you don't move the MT about the false bottom doesn't lift and let grain through. Using the copper pipe means that I can give the mash a vigorous stir without fear of knocking the tube from the tap. I use a Curtec 34 litre open neck drum as my MT as I found that the false bottom fitted it perfectly.

[smeggedup]

What size is the hole in the middle
Would something like this be suitable for a 15mm tank connector fitting ?

I've used the 12" version for a few years - I had to order it from the US back then - and after a few brews I switched the hosetail and "high-temp" PVC tube over to compression fittings (Conex from Screwfix) and a small length of 15mm copper pipe. I reused the two (1/2" NPT?) nuts with a male elbow 15mm x 1/2" BSP and then connected the copper pipe using a female coupler 15mm x 1/2" BSP directly to the 1/2" thread of my mash tun's tap. Fiddly bit was bending the short length of copper pipe as I hadn't planned on using it when I originally fitted the tap so the compression fittings weren't in alignment.

Anyway, I find it works well. Dead space isn't a problem and as long as you don't move the MT about the false bottom doesn't lift and let grain through. Using the copper pipe means that I can give the mash a vigorous stir without fear of knocking the tube from the tap. I use a Curtec 34 litre open neck drum as my MT as I found that the false bottom fitted it perfectly.

Just got the tank connector
But is the rubber washer food grade ?
Will it take the temperatures for mash ?

[Chiltern Brewer]

If you're going to use it for connecting a pipe to the centre of the false bottom then the washer isn't needed?