Bazooka tube vs False bottom

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by SirChugsAlot, Jul 17, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. SirChugsAlot

    SirChugsAlot Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2007 Washington

    What are some opinions on this debate? I've seen both used and work well, but which one proves to perform better?

    Does the shape of the mash tun make a difference?

    I'm looking to batch sparge and just wondering the pros vs cons.
     
  2. VikeMan

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

    For batch sparging, a bazooka should be cheaper and easier. And no less efficient. A bazooka can be used with any shape tun.
     
  3. bgjohnston

    bgjohnston Initiate (0) Jan 14, 2009 Connecticut

    I fly sparge with a bazooka tube in my 10 gal Igloo and love it. I think you could use it both ways.
     
  4. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    I use a false bottom, with a 10g Rubbermaid, and it has worked well for me.

    I think either would work just as well as the other in a cylindrical cooler...so I'd probably go with the cheapest of the two.
     
  5. HerbMeowing

    HerbMeowing Maven (1,295) Nov 10, 2010 Virginia
    Trader

    Top 5 Reasons Why Ba-zooka Be Better Than False Bottom

    ◊ Bazooka be less costly than false bottom.
    ◊ Grain particulate leakage into wort makes more problems with false bottom than bazooka.
    ◊ Bazooka be made by dissecting fresh water supply line.
    ◊ False bottom be made by pokin'holes in aluminum pie plate or a re-purposed screen door.

    Just sayin'.
     
  6. tngolfer

    tngolfer Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2012 Tennessee

  7. SirChugsAlot

    SirChugsAlot Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2007 Washington

    Thanks for the input guys. I was searching the online version of How to Brew to see if there was anything in there. I'll have to check my hard copy.
     
  8. AlCaponeJunior

    AlCaponeJunior Grand Pooh-Bah (3,452) May 21, 2010 Texas
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I believe "channeling" can be an issue with fly sparging if you don't have a false bottom. However, I do not have any personal experience with this, as I batch sparge, and I don't know of anyone who has personally experienced channeling either. I will probably fly sparge with my new system when it's online, and I really didn't intend to buy an expensive stainless false bottom unless it's absolutely necessary. I was going to re-use my bazooka tube (or keep my 5gal mash tun intact, and just buy another bazooka tube for the new system). IF there's any issue, I'll probably just leave the tube on there but rig up a screen of some sort to stop any channeling that might be happening.
     
  9. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    Channeling is an issue with fly sparging, but that is usually from opening up the lauter phase too quickly and the sparge water basically finds one or several runnels down through the grain bed, usually along the edges. The problem with using a bazooka tube on a fly sparge is the large dead zones it can create. Here is a good article that covers that:
    http://morebeer.com/brewingtechniques/library/backissues/issue3.4/palmer.html
    You'll probably experience a fairly notable drop in your extract efficiency if you stick with a bazooka tube for fly sparging. Crafting a manifold from either cpvc or copper is a good alternative. If you do go over to fly sparge, I highly recommend a float valve. I use blichmann's and it's awesome, for my brew day, worth every penny.
     
    AlCaponeJunior likes this.
  10. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I built a manifold for my tun. I used a rectangular 48qt cooler for it, so a false bottom wouldn't have worked out, and I do fly sparge. It was a little tricky to build, and certainly more costly than a bazooka, but the trickinesss is part of the fun, no? It worked out perfectly my first brew with it, only needing a couple turns to run clear.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.