Cheesefood
Well-Known Member
How bad would it be to stitch together some aluminum screen using copper wire? I've read that the two can have bad interactions in water. Obviously I'm trying to devise a hopstopper of sorts.
desertBrew said:Cheese, you guys got an Ikea near you? I just bought 2 12" SS splatter screens for $2.99 each. Actually I bought 3 in case I f'ed up something. I pulled the screens out, folded them together around the edges about 1/8" twice and crimped it down with a pliers like someone mentioned here and left a 1" section open. I haven't finished it, but I plan on sticking the opening of the screen into the dip tube and hose clamp it down. I'll take some pics tonight, but I can't see where this is not going to be just like a hopstopper; except for that it cost me $6.
I got to head back to Phoenix in two weeks and probably am going to buy 6 more to have around.
http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15570&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&langId=-1&parentCats=15570*15679&productId=11633&chosenPartNumber=10010758
Reidman said:The splatter screens would work. I've also been thinking why not cut the screens out of a couple of cheap strainers and tie those together.
Chairman Cheyco said:High-five! :rockin:
The biggest problem I have had is attaching this to any sort of tube. How do you plan to solve this?
Bobby_M said:The only concern I'd have for the splatter screens is that it's really low grade stainless (18-8). It will hold up for a while and then rust, but at that price who cares right?
desertBrew said:Here's my DIY from 2 11" splatter guards
BTW - I'm one who will make some things, others I'd rather buy so no banging on the hopstopper here. This just seemed to be one of those DIY for me... Sight glass, IHS will be getting my order for .
Bernie Brewer said:Aluminum & copper. Dissimilar metals. Not a good idea.
aekdbbop said:well, it IS aluminum.. but should i be ok with this?
http://www.greatbargain.net/order/shop1.html
aekdbbop said:well, it IS aluminum.. but should i be ok with this?
http://www.greatbargain.net/order/shop1.html
Schlenkerla said:Aluminum is not recomended for brewing. My Beer for Dummies book discourages the use of aluminum pots.
This excerpt is from John Palmers Website.
http://www.howtobrew.com/section4/chapter21-2.html
Metallic
Metallic flavors are usually caused by unprotected metals dissolving into the wort but can also be caused by the hydrolysis of lipids in poorly stored malts. Iron and aluminum can cause metallic flavors leaching into the wort during the boil. The small amount could be considered to be nutritional if it weren't for the bad taste. Nicks and cracks ceramic coated steel pots are a common cause as are high iron levels in well water. Stainless steel pots will not contribute any metallic flavors. Aluminum pots usually won't cause metallic flavors unless the brewing water is alkaline with a pH level greater than 9. Shiny new aluminum pots will sometimes turn black when boiling water due to chlorine and carbonates in the water.
The protective (grayish) oxides of aluminum can be enhanced by heating the clean pot in a dry oven at 250°F for about 6 hours.
Try it, if you start getting metalic flavors you know why.
FlyGuy said:Dude -- I don't want to revive yet another aluminum good or bad debate, but did you read that passage you jsut quoted? The pH usually has to be above 9 for aluminum to cause metallic flavours. Not gonna happen with wort.
Also, in Palmer's latest edition (3) of his book, he very much advocates the use of aluminum.
I think you are badly misquoting him here in your post.
Feel free to quote the Beer for Dummies book, but I don't think it is regarded as highly as Palmer's book.
Schlenkerla said:Flyguy - Actually, I didn't quote him all. I indicated Beer for Dummies doesn't recomend aluminum. Then pasted in Palmer's off taste paragraph under metallic. Then said try it, implying it might not be a problem.
Palmer states it can and then says it usually won't unless the pH is over 9. Not a ringing endorsement for aluminum in my opinion.
I don't have his 3rd book, why don't you post his opinion in contrast?
Since aekdbbop asked I told him what I know and warned him that it might be an issue. Nothing more.
He's got the kettle he should try it and see if it works. If I just bought one and knew I could return it for stainless model, I would do that.
Who knows maybe new kettles are heat-treated differently. I kind of doubt it myself. My Northern Brewer Catalog doesn't offer aluminum, same with Williams Brewing.
Truthfully, I don't think I gave any bad advice.
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