Stainless hop spider?

[Jimmy]

Anyone have a suggestion for a stainless piece to replace the pvc piece on the hop spider? I built one similar to the one below, but during its first use it warped and almost fell in the pot. I've seen some people suggest a sink drain, but I'm wondering if anyone has a better suggestion.

hop spider.JPG

[mr x]

It looks to me that you just need a piece of SS pipe. Too easy. What length and diameter?

[Jimmy]

It looks to me that you just need a piece of SS pipe. Too easy. What length and diameter?

Yeah, I guess that would probably work..and I suppose you have some stashed away somewhere lol

A piece about 4" long with a diameter of about 4 or 5" would be ideal.

[Jimmy]

This one isn't melting! Thanks Rob

IMAG0114.jpg

[Tim Gregory]

Question about these things. Will they work with pellets or just leaf?

[Jimmy]

Question about these things. Will they work with pellets or just leaf?

Works with pellet, that's all I've ever used.

[amartin]

Second question: at what point does the wort get transferred through it, and doesn't it clog up?

[Jimmy]

Second question: at what point does the wort get transferred through it, and doesn't it clog up?

The wort doesn't actually get transferred through it. It hangs in the wort through the whole boil while the hops float around in it. Once the boil is over, pull the spider out and you're good to go.

[GAM]

Does this affect the useage of the hops? How much and how much trub does it save on?

Sandy

[LiverDance]

Does this affect the useage of the hops? How much and how much trub does it save on?

Sandy

People say that it decreases utilization but I've never noticed a difference. It saves all the hops that go into you brew from going into your fermenter.

[akr71]

How 'bout chilling? Do you use an immersion chiller? I can't see that it would be very easy using that thing and an IC at the same time.

[Jimmy]

How 'bout chilling? Do you use an immersion chiller? I can't see that it would be very easy using that thing and an IC at the same time.

I just pull it out and put the chiller in. You can have both in at the same time if you want to.

[Jimmy]

Does this affect the useage of the hops? How much and how much trub does it save on?

Sandy

I can't comment on the hop utilization because I haven't brewed enough to know the difference, but it prevents all hops from entering the fermenter.

[jeffsmith]

With regards to utilization—I have a sneaking suspicion that hop utilization was reduced with the spider I had built (similar to Jimmy's), but I think it may be due to the fact that I was just using a 5 gallon paint strainer bag (not big enough). I didn't use it on my latest batch to see if there'd be a difference in the finished beer.

Of course, it may all be in my head…

[Jimmy]

With regards to utilization—I have a sneaking suspicion that hop utilization was reduced with the spider I had built (similar to Jimmy's), but I think it may be due to the fact that I was just using a 5 gallon paint strainer bag (not big enough). I didn't use it on my latest batch to see if there'd be a difference in the finished beer.

Of course, it may all be in my head…

That's what I originally bought from Kent, since then I've purchased a much larger bag.

[akr71]

How 'bout chilling? Do you use an immersion chiller? I can't see that it would be very easy using that thing and an IC at the same time.

I just pull it out and put the chiller in. You can have both in at the same time if you want to.

I don't like to pull out.

[Graham.C]

How 'bout chilling? Do you use an immersion chiller? I can't see that it would be very easy using that thing and an IC at the same time.

I just pull it out and put the chiller in. You can have both in at the same time if you want to.

I don't like to pull out.