At long last...

[mckay75]

Do share!

[kberry]

If you look at the under side of the table top you'll notice that the supports run the length of the table with no cross support. The supports are raised ~3/4 inch from the table top. We cut 3/4 inch plywood to fit between the supports (this does not have to be perfect) running the length of the table. For cross supports we used slotted strut and bolted this to the original supports on the table using self tapping metal screws with appropriate washers. We made 4 or 5 cross braces per table. Plywood was purchased and cut at Kent. All other supplies were purchased at The Fastening House in Burnside (see links). Strut will need to be cut as well (reciprocating saw).

Slotted Strut:
http://www.fasteninghouse.com/shop/susp ... t-12-slot/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Self Tapping Screws:
http://www.fasteninghouse.com/shop/fast ... head-tek3/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Fender Washers:
http://www.fasteninghouse.com/shop/fast ... 14-od-plt/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[mckay75]

That is great! I may do this at some point anyway. Thanks for sharing that!

[GAM]

How much was that strut materal?

Sandy

[kberry]

How much was that strut materal?

Sandy

Hey Sandy

I can't remember how much the strut costs. I can remember feeling it was rather inexpensive considering it's weight/sturdiness. Strut is actually pretty cool stuff. You can buy all sorts of accessories such as brackets for securing pipes (RIMS tube anyone?).

-Kevin

[mckay75]

So...after 3 batches on this system...I find myself asking WTF? I went from what was a simple system (BIAB)...hitting my numbers each and every time...to a setup that (in my mind was going to be too easy and simplify my brew day) has turned into a complete clusterfuck. I'm 3 batches in...missed my gravity each and every time. Completely frustrating. I'm about to start selling shit and get back to basics at this point.

[GuingesRock]

Sorry to hear:) Hang in there. I think it will turn out for the best. Everyone is probably going to say it takes time to become familiar with a new system ...like a honeymoon couple fighting and yelling at each other.

[mckay75]

Sorry to hear:) Hang in there. I think it will turn out for the best. Everyone is probably going to say it takes time to become familiar with a new system ...like a honeymoon couple fighting and yelling at each other.

haha...that's a great analogy! Thanks! I know it will take time to get it sorted. I was hoping it would be a simpler process. I've found I've lost faith in Beersmith...and really not sure where to start to get my numbers right again. I'm going to run out of kegs here soon...as I find I don't want to have to wait 2 or 3 weeks in between brews to sort shit out. A positive I suppose is I will become more popular with my friends with the amount of beer I will be giving away in the weeks to come.

[GuingesRock]

Can you simplify anything in the process with the new system and take it back a notch closer to where you were? In keeping with that old acronym KISS (keep it simple stupid). I like simple, it suits me better.

[LeafMan66_67]

So...after 3 batches on this system...I find myself asking WTF? I went from what was a simple system (BIAB)...hitting my numbers each and every time...to a setup that (in my mind was going to be too easy and simplify my brew day) has turned into a complete clusterfuck. I'm 3 batches in...missed my gravity each and every time. Completely frustrating. I'm about to start selling shit and get back to basics at this point.

Here's a couple of quick comments and questions that I'm sure you've already looked into:
1. Relax, don't worry, have a home brew
2. You say you are missing your gravity - are you high, low? Are you off by much? Is it your pre-boil or post boil gravity that's off?
3. What are you using to measure your gravity - refractometer or hydrometer? If refractometer, have you calibrated it lately?
4. How are your volumes? What are you using to measure your volumes?
5. What is your process? Assuming you are using one pot as a BIAB mash tun, and pumping wort to the boil kettle? How do you maintain mash temperature?
6. Relax, don't worry, have another home brew - remember - this is a hobby and it is supposed to be fun and stress free!

[mckay75]

So...after 3 batches on this system...I find myself asking WTF? I went from what was a simple system (BIAB)...hitting my numbers each and every time...to a setup that (in my mind was going to be too easy and simplify my brew day) has turned into a complete clusterfuck. I'm 3 batches in...missed my gravity each and every time. Completely frustrating. I'm about to start selling shit and get back to basics at this point.

Here's a couple of quick comments and questions that I'm sure you've already looked into:
1. Relax, don't worry, have a home brew
2. You say you are missing your gravity - are you high, low? Are you off by much? Is it your pre-boil or post boil gravity that's off?
3. What are you using to measure your gravity - refractometer or hydrometer? If refractometer, have you calibrated it lately?
4. How are your volumes? What are you using to measure your volumes?
5. What is your process? Assuming you are using one pot as a BIAB mash tun, and pumping wort to the boil kettle? How do you maintain mash temperature?
6. Relax, don't worry, have another home brew - remember - this is a hobby and it is supposed to be fun and stress free!

1. Had several last night...The pilsner brew session ended up lasting until 3:30 AM lol I blame Woody.

2. First batch was under by 3 pts. I brewed that one using the BIAB. Second batch was using a false bottom and using one of my kettles as the mash tun and pumping to the other. Gravity was under 8pts. Last night I used the false bottom again, bumped my grain bill up by 20% and still ended up 3 pts under. The last part of your question I can't answer because I'm so far removed from Beersmith now...I no longer which numbers are correct. When using BIAB...the water volume for my strike water that Beersmith provided me was always too high...so I had an equation Woody provided me that worked out perfectly for me.

3. Using a hydrometer.

4. First batch was way over. Second slightly under and the third was under...ended up dumping more of the trub in to try to squeek out more volume. I'm using a piece of copper pipe that I have marked off in 2L increments.

5. I'll describe what my intentions were last night lol. Heat strike water in mash tun. Mashed in with a bit more than half of the water. My plan was to mash for 60 min...then heat up the remaining water to add at then end of the mash and recirculate for 20 min or so (mash out if you will) then transfer to boil kettle. Boiled for 90 min. Cool and transfer to carboy and put it in my fermentation chamber. So basically a full volume mash. I somehow managed to fuck up the strike water temp and ended up 10 degrees under my intended 154. Still unsure how I did that. I ended up adding boiling water to bring it up to 152 and said fuck it...close enough. Adding the remaining water at the end of the mash was a total disaster too...only brought it up to 154...when i wanted 168.

6. I know at the end of the day...it will still be beer. I'm a bit of a perfectionist and drives me nuts messing shit up. My own worst enemy really. I will have another home brew...only I think i'll wait until tomorrow...because i'm hungover as shit today!

I'm very curious to see what others have to say about my intended process. Any and all criticism is welcome!

[Keith]

Did you change your mill or adjust your mill gap?

[mckay75]

Did you change your mill or adjust your mill gap?

First batch when I did BIAB I had it set to 0.030. Last night I had it set to 0.035 as I had a stuck sparge on my first batch with the false bottom.

[Keith]

What is your efficiency set at? With 0.035 I'm getting in around 72%. Are you also stirring your mash or vourlafing?

[GuingesRock]

Did you change your mill or adjust your mill gap?

First batch when I did BIAB I had it set to 0.030. Last night I had it set to 0.035 as I had a stuck sparge on my first batch with the false bottom.

I had a terrible time trying to use a false bottom when I got my new Blichmann pot, that I use for mashing in. I have a 2 vessel system like you, the Blichmann for mashing in and the other pot does the boil and the primary ferment. Once was enough for me and I ordered a bag from Becky to use in conjunction with the false bottom. Never looked back. Makes clean up a lot easier too. It's a 20 Gal Blichmann and I don't pull the bag, but pump wort from there to the kettle when the mash is done.

[mckay75]

What is your efficiency set at? With 0.035 I'm getting in around 72%. Are you also stirring your mash or vourlafing?

It's set at 70% right now...but I've lost confidence in Beersmith completely. I'll typically stir about half way through and also have been recirculating for a while before draining it into the boil kettle.

[Keith]

What is your efficiency set at? With 0.035 I'm getting in around 72%. Are you also stirring your mash or vourlafing?

It's set at 70% right now...but I've lost confidence in Beersmith completely. I'll typically stir about half way through and also have been recirculating before a while before draining it into the boil kettle.

Only thing I can see is your volume is off slightly, or your boil off rate isn't dialed in.

[mckay75]

Did you change your mill or adjust your mill gap?

First batch when I did BIAB I had it set to 0.030. Last night I had it set to 0.035 as I had a stuck sparge on my first batch with the false bottom.

I had a terrible time trying to use a false bottom when I got my new Blichmann pot, that I use for mashing in. I have a 2 vessel system like you, the Blichmann for mashing in and the other pot does the boil and the primary ferment. Once was enough for me and I ordered a bag from Becky to use in conjunction with the false bottom. Never looked back. Makes clean up a lot easier too. It's a 20 Gal Blichmann and I don't pull the bag, but pump wort from there to the kettle when the mash is done.

I have one of those bags as well...but find the bag drains too slowly. The whole idea with this setup was to get away from having to handle the bag.

[GuingesRock]

Not that slow really, and not as slow as getting stuck though. That's what happened to me too.

I thought I was going to get away from the bag also, but went back to it and was happy with my brewing again. That's what I knew and was comfortable with.

[mckay75]

Not that slow really, and not as slow as getting stuck though. That's what happened to me too.

I thought I was going to get away from the bag also, but went back to it and was happy with my brewing again. That's what I knew and was comfortable with.

Maybe i'll have to give it another try. Are you using the false bottom still to keep the bag off the bottom of the kettle? Do you mash out before transferring?

[GuingesRock]

Not that slow really, and not as slow as getting stuck though. That's what happened to me too.

I thought I was going to get away from the bag also, but went back to it and was happy with my brewing again. That's what I knew and was comfortable with.

Maybe i'll have to give it another try. Are you using the false bottom still to keep the bag off the bottom of the kettle? Do you mash out before transferring?

Still using the false bottom plus the bag. Not mashing out, gave up on that a couple of years ago (not worth the time and trouble). Good luck.

[GuingesRock]

Also, mashing out is one more thing to potentially go wrong. The less headaches and stress the better. The more control the better too. It's easier to control a more simple process.

[GuingesRock]

Biabwafb. New process. (brew in a bag with a false bottom). Potential for BIAB step mashing (with enough stirring). Reinventing that wheel.

[GuingesRock]

For a step mash though, I prefer to calculate (using BS tools) and pump in an amount of hotter water to step up the mash temperature to the next level.

[mckay75]

ok thanks! I may have to give the bag another go! I'm up to 3 batches in 2 weeks right now...I'm running out of carboys and space!

THanks for the input! I appreciate it!