Automated Stirstick

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by OldBrewer, Nov 12, 2017.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
Page 1 of 3
  1. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    I often make lagers, and it usually takes about 45 minutes to cool the wort down to the mid-50's F (I use a 75 foot copper coil). During that entire time, I'm stirring the wort by hand (using a paddle) to speed up the cooling process. I know you can do counterflows with a pump, but I'd rather stick to stirring the wort. Is there such a thing as an automated stirstick that would do the job, or does anyone know of any plans for making one? It would have to have a long extension and be able to attach (in a stable way) to a large stainless steel container.

    I have thought of using one of those paint paddles you can get from Home Depot and attach it to a power drill, but the drill would have to have variable speed settings and be able to be attached securely to the container. Thanks.
     
    #1 OldBrewer, Nov 12, 2017
  2. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Whirlpools that move the wort are easy to create if you are willing to use some pressure from a pump or even gravity. Personally, I would just as soon move the chiller myself for a 5 gal batch... Ground water in Ontario must be a little on the warm side for this time of year. I brewed my first batch of lager too early myself this year. Cheers
     
    #2 GreenKrusty101, Nov 13, 2017
    OldBrewer likes this.
  3. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    Yes, I was trying to avoid using pumps and was hoping for a solution that just involved some type of mechanized stirstick. I usually make my lagers during the Spring or Winter since the tap water in Ontario can be quite cold at that time. In addition, if I brew outside, the cold air temperature can also help cool the wort. During the Summer and Fall it's far too warm, and thus I could never cool it to the mid-50's. Thus I never brew lagers during that time.
     
    #3 OldBrewer, Nov 13, 2017
  4. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    You could try soaking a sponge or towel in cold water and repeatedly wet down the sides of the kettle as you run the IC and stir. Won't be a replacement for automation, but should cut some time off the process.
     
    #4 MrOH, Nov 13, 2017
    OldBrewer likes this.
  5. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    #5 VikeMan, Nov 13, 2017
    donspublic, OldBrewer and GreenKrusty101 like this.
  6. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    You can always get a pond pump, and after you get below 100*F start running ice water from a bucket through the IC using the pond pump.

    Or use a paddle attachment and a drill...
     
    #6 jbakajust1, Nov 13, 2017
    chavinparty, minderbender and OldBrewer like this.
  7. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    Thanks - that's a great idea!
     
    #7 OldBrewer, Nov 13, 2017
  8. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    #8 OldBrewer, Nov 13, 2017
    GreenKrusty101 likes this.
  9. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    I have been using a pre-chiller coil of 25 feet of copper coil in a bucket of ice water. It helps a little, but not as much as I thought it would. It would likely work better with a counter-flow chiller.
     
    #9 OldBrewer, Nov 13, 2017
  10. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    In my experience, pre-chillers are nowhere near as efficient as the pumped ice water setup @jbakajust1 described. The pump for that can be fairly small and cheap.
     
    #10 VikeMan, Nov 13, 2017
    minderbender, OldBrewer and jbakajust1 like this.
  11. minderbender

    minderbender Initiate (0) Jan 18, 2009 New York

    I agree with @VikeMan's advice on using pumped ice water rather than pre-chilling. Just one observation, which may be obvious—you should start out with tap water and only switch over to pumping ice water when the wort is down to, I don't know... 85°F? 75°F? Somewhere in that general range. (~25-30°C.) The point being, Ontario tap water is plenty cold enough to get the wort down to that range, and it would be a waste of ice to pump ice water before then. (And it wouldn't even speed things up much, I imagine.)

    In a cold, dry climate I suppose you could make an argument that it's better to recirculate ice water than to run tap water through, on a water conservation basis. This depends on ice being cheap and easy to get, for instance if you can just leave buckets of it outside to freeze overnight. This would also be rather labor intensive, since the first batch of ice would melt pretty quickly. Anyway, to my knowledge Ontario is not a region where water is particularly scarce. Maybe for someone in, I don't know, Montana or something, it's a possibility worth thinking about. Not sure. In dry regions I imagine brewers often reclaim the water anyway, making it a somewhat moot point.
     
    #11 minderbender, Nov 14, 2017
  12. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    During the colder months, it's relatively easy to get the wort down to about 65-70 F using tap water. It then takes longer and longer for each drop in degree, but over a long enough period, you can reach 55 F (tap water is about 45-50 F). Thus, pumping the ice water beginning at about 65-70 F would like be the best solution. Also, in the winter, you can leave a bucket or two of water outside overnight, and use it for the later pumping stage. As for wastage, I try to collect as much of the run-off as I can, and use the warmer runoff for cleaning my equipment. Unfortunately, the colder runoff has to be discarded, but fortunately it should not be more than a bucket or two.

    As an update, I have reconsidered using a pump and recirculating the wort during the chilling. I purchased a few feet of copper tubing, a couple of elbow joints, a couple of swivel hose barb adapters, and a couple of clamps. I already had some tubing on hand, and a pump.
     
    #12 OldBrewer, Nov 14, 2017
  13. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    If that's the case, buy/make a cheap CFC and attach a nozzle to your immersion chiller and use that also.
     
    #13 GreenKrusty101, Nov 14, 2017
    OldBrewer likes this.
  14. Hogue2112

    Hogue2112 Initiate (0) Apr 7, 2016 Ohio

    I would be nervous about the paddle bit technique. Lot's of hot side aeration there.
     
    #14 Hogue2112, Nov 15, 2017
  15. riptorn

    riptorn Pooh-Bah (1,776) Apr 26, 2018 Georgia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    If stirring is still under consideration:
    Maybe modify an electric ice cream maker? They’re two-speed (off and approx. 75 rpm).
    Not sure if 75 rpm moves you toward your goal but it would keep the wort circulating in a "set it and forget it" mode. Of course, you'd want to determine (to your comfort level) if the motor, plastics and other components are suitable for the environment.

    It could probably be done in the $30-$40 range, including modifications.
     
    #15 riptorn, May 7, 2018
    OldBrewer likes this.
  16. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    Good suggestion. I think I saw a similar suggestion somewhere quite some time ago. I've been on the look for a used electric ice cream maker for some time. I did use a pump a couple of times, but it seemed to be too much of a hassle, trying to get it primed, sanitizing it, etc. I went back to manual stirring.
     
    #16 OldBrewer, May 7, 2018
  17. Brewday

    Brewday Zealot (721) Dec 25, 2015 New York

    When my neighbor junks his audi i want to use the window motor to run my mash rake. They usually have a octagon connection that would work perfect.
     
    #17 Brewday, May 8, 2018
    OldBrewer likes this.
  18. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    Another great suggestion, although you would need a 12 volt battery or converter. Maybe I could find such a motor at a used car parts dealer.
     
    #18 OldBrewer, May 8, 2018
  19. donspublic

    donspublic Grand Pooh-Bah (3,552) Aug 4, 2014 Texas
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    #19 donspublic, May 9, 2018
    OldBrewer likes this.
  20. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    #20 OldBrewer, May 9, 2018
Page 1 of 3
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.