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stir plate
so I got me a stirplate a while back. It came with a regular old stir bar, but somehow I let it fall down in the sink and get mangled by the disposal. I don't have a flat bottomed flask to make starters in, and the stir bar couldn't move a real big starter without flying off, so I figured I'd get a barbell shaped one as a replacement. So now I can't get even a slight vortex going at all without throwing the stirbar. I can get 1/8 inch at most. what's up with that? I thought barbell shaped ones were supposed to work better in a non flat bottom vessel, not much much worse. Before I could get a good vortex going as long as I didn't put too much liquid in. now I can't get one even if I use less liquid. Any possible fixes, or am I going to have to buy either a new stir bar or a new flask?
try putting a spacer between your container, and the lid. I use the top of a tupperware container. This will help throw off the power of the magnet. This was the problem with my stir plate, I hope it works for you.
I will try that. thanks for the suggestion
sorry, between the bottom of your container, and the stirplate
well, I tried that trick with a lid and with a piece of cardboard. putting something between the jug and the stir plate results in the stir bar not aligning to the center. magnets must not be strong enough or not set right for the size of the stir bar. I also noticed that the plastic case that houses the stir plate was bending down under the weight of the jug. I thought it might be touching the magnets and interfering, so I took the little rubber feet off the bottom of the case, and put t hem on the corners of the fan, to try and hold up the case top, but still no luck. guess I'll be getting another stir bar, like the first one I had. a small vortex will be better than none. unless I can find a big jar or jug with a flatter bottom, as buying and shipping a large flask is not how I want to spend money.
if you just put the stir bar on top of the stir plate does it spin?
Does it spin with your just empty?
If not to either of these then the sitr plate's magnet is not strong enough.
I have never liked the dumbbell stir bars. They touch the vessel bottom in two places and that crates more drag. A normal stir bar, as you know, usually has a single rib in the dead center. In my experience, that can still work well regardless or a curved base or not.
I have found that the best stir plates are lab grade. The magnets are much stronger and can work in most any vessel.
I'm thinking I'm going to need a new stir plate. it won't spin with the jug empty. since I put the rubber feet on top of the fan to support the top of the plastic box, I've been having problems with the on/off switch and the speed knob as well. I may just have to bite the bullet and buy an expensive one, as this one seems to be too cheap. anyone have recommendations on quality stir plates?
I just picked up a stir plate from E-bay today. All stainless commercial grade Honeywell. 0-3000 rpm, with a stir bar and retriever for $19.95. Will do up to 2 liters. With the original box and documentation.
I am planning on sticking with dry yeast for a while, there are other issues I need to work on to get my process down, but when the time comes, it should come in handy. I may not need it right now, but for the money I couldn't pass it up. Seems as if I can only find deals on stuff when I don't really need it(yet).
Great deal rual, for depth of flavor, and I guess you would say character Liquid yeast is great for those special beers. Like most of us, i'm sure you will experiment with numerous varities of the liquid yeast. Then a funny thing will happen. You'll need a beer asap, or you don't have time to make a starter, and you will grab for your dry yeast reserve, and you will find the dry yeast is awsome, and start using it again, Ha ha. At least that's what I did.
I have a Hefeweizen, using the T-58 , and a summer ale using the S-04. They haven't even been in the primary a week, and they have fully fermented out, unbelievable.
Liquid yeasts are friggin fantastic, but can take up to a month to fully ferment out, or get the maltiness or esters that your looking for. WLP005 perfect example. So remember when your knee deep, and brain dead from playing with all your liquid yeasts, the dry yeast comes in really really handy. In fact I don't make an IPA without using S-04, it doesn't steal the hop Mojo.
I got my stir plate going again, at least a little. I might have to start trolling ebay for a new one though, if they're on there for that price, Rural. I got a 4 pack of various size stir bars with the pivot ring in the middle. the smallest one, 1 inch, the stir plate will spin ok. doesn't make much of a vortex, just a little dimple, when using it on a 2 liter starter. The beer I made using the starter began fermenting quick, so I guess it did enough to help the yeast grow.
the dry yeast is fine, I like it because it's cheap and easy. But there just isn't the variety available as there is with liquid. White Labs had a seasonal strain Australian Ale, that I've used for my last 2 batches. I used it in a pale ale which came out awesome, and it's currently fermenting away on the second brew. It might become my go to yeast, I've been saving some in a jar since it's seasonal.
I think I just lucked into this stirplate. It was a "Buy it now" for that price. I figured it best if I ran it past SWMBO first and figured it would be gone by then. Hard to find one of that quality for that price, but even a blind hog finds an acorn once in a while. :-)
I know eventually I will start experimenting with liquid yeasts, and having the ability to build a starter from saved yeast will pay for the stirplate in short order.
My next batch is going to be a 1554 clone, or something hopefully close to it. I know they say it is fermented with a lager yeast at ale temperatures, but of the dry lager yeasts I have seen, none of them look like they will work for this. I picked up some W-34/70, but I think I will save that for this winter when the basement is cold enough to do a pilsner justice. The T-58 sounds like it might be just the ticket. I think I'm going to give it a shot.
just hit up ebay for a new stir plate. Here's the one I bought:
http://cgi.ebay.com/VARIOMAG-Mono-BRINK … 5ae10f63da
Hope I made a good choice, anyone know anything about these? from what I could tell from the description it should stir up to 3 liters, which should be plenty for any starter I'm going to be doing.
well, I'm thinking the problem is me, not the stir plate. I got my new stir plate, and while I was at it went ahead and got a 5 liter flask. I thought the flask was supposed to be flat bottomed, but apparently it is only mostly flat upon looking at it. anyway, with 2 liters of water I could get the 1 inch stir bar to work, but not the bigger ones. with 3 liters, nothing doing.
since I was planning on doing a 2 liter starter I figured it was good enough, but the problem with the starter is I can't see through it to see if the stir bar is in the center, so I can't get it going. this is really frustrating. it doesn't sound like it should be this difficult. I wonder if there is a book called "Stir plates for dummies", I think I need a copy
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