Timmsy wrote:Ive been doing a few partials of late and i have the stainless still braid that i am using as a false bottom. Tho it works ok to me it doesnt seem to drain of the wort fast enough. My idea is that the braid has shrunk and has tightened up. It takes a while and i use the mash spoon to circulate the wort to get a faster flow. But from reading up the oxidating the wort isnt the best. Now i am curious what could i use besides the braid? Maybe a copper style?? It is for use in a 27ltr esky
Timmsy,
Now given the date of the original post you've probably moved on to better things, but for the sake of others who might be interested. I'd say whats happening is that there is a combanation of the braid being clogged by the mash as well as being squashed by it too. Though saying that having a slow run off is not such a bad thing as it allows better flushing of the sugars from the grain. Slow and steady gets the result.
I made my own manifold out of copper pipe and get the store to crush my grain. I use a cheap esky that is now so warped that I have to put something heavy on the lid to stop it getting to cold, but still manage to get around 80-85% efficiency. It is definately brewing on more of a budget than getting one of the flashy stainless steel false bottom things, but does get the results. If you plan to make your own out of copper etc.. then still the best site (and free, so your wallet will still be your friend) is
http://www.howtobrew.com the brewing manual by John Palmer. The relevant sections are
http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixD.html where Palmer explains why a deep mash is better and how things are working which effect efficiency and
http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixD-1.html with some good manifold designs for round and retangle tuns(eskies).
Sounds like Beer O'clock.