Malting at home

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by mdwalsh, Sep 16, 2012.

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  1. hopdog09

    hopdog09 Initiate (0) Sep 6, 2012 Michigan

    I used my hop oast I built out of an old refrigerator w/ shelves and a blower..I was able to do approx 40 lbs..the oast wasn't made for grain so I think that if I was to do another oast/grain kiln I could make it work for 50 lbs..plenty of old referigeators around.
     
    #21 hopdog09, Sep 26, 2012
  2. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,944) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    That's a good question. Some units may have some kind of tilt sensor to shut it off if it falls over. I would try one to see if it works. Or look for a low profile heater like this one. http://www.amazon.com/Lasko-5624-Pr...1348670776&sr=1-2&keywords=low+profile+heater
    Unfortunately I don't think that one has a fan on it, which you probably want for circulation. I guess you can always add a separate fan.

    Alternatively, place the heater/fan unit external to the box and use a duct to connect.
     
    #22 Naugled, Sep 26, 2012
  3. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa


    I'm getting one from a friend to play with. I don't need a fan, I'm putting that on the top to suck air out.

    I considered the external..but what to build that out of?
     
    #23 mdwalsh, Sep 28, 2012
  4. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa

    Okay, it's built..you can check out pictures at my facebook page (www.facebook.com/walshartisanmaltings)

    It's working in principle, but the ceramic heater I've got just turns off when it gets to a higher temp, so I need to figure out a way to overcome that....
     
    #24 mdwalsh, Oct 3, 2012
  5. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,944) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    I see the fan on top, and you said it is positioned to suck the air out of the box right? But I don't see an air intake. I would think you want the air to flow through the malt and screens, so from bottom to top of the box.

    I would cut a whole in the back bottom of the box, big enough for the heater to sit in so the air can be sucked through it, into the box, up through the grain and then out of the exhaust fan. You may have to seal up the opening for the heater with some insulation or something to force the air to flow through the heater.

    This might also fix the heater over temp shut off. I''m sure the heater is shutting off because it is being baked inside of the box. I wouldn't recommend modifying the overtemp switch in the heater. You could end up with a melt down.
     
    #25 Naugled, Oct 3, 2012
  6. jlpred55

    jlpred55 Initiate (0) Jul 26, 2006 Iowa

    Let me know when you start selling the malt. I live in DSM and would love to try some on a few batches.
     
    #26 jlpred55, Oct 3, 2012
  7. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa


    So there are 9 intake holes around the bottom of the kiln, but I could do more. perhaps a big one in the rear for intake to the heater, I see what you're saying about the overheat because of hot air feeding through....
     
    #27 mdwalsh, Oct 3, 2012
  8. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa

    A little update....I've found a heater that is working, I'm just waiting to get a temp override sensor that I can use for the whole kiln instead of just inside the heater. Then I will do probably a 15 lb batch for trial...see pictures on the facebook page mentioned above...
     
    #28 mdwalsh, Oct 11, 2012
  9. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa

    Another update...started a 15 lb batch steeping today. Kiln has continued to work great on test runs, but has been running a little warmer than hoped. I think this will be balanced out by the cooling effect of the evaporating moisture, but we'll see. The goal is to start germinating tomorrow and drying on Thursday or Friday.
     
    #29 mdwalsh, Oct 14, 2012
  10. skivtjerry

    skivtjerry Pooh-Bah (1,865) Mar 10, 2006 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    http://www.johnnyseeds.com/search.aspx?SearchTerm=barley
     
    #30 skivtjerry, Oct 14, 2012
  11. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,944) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    How do you plan to couch it? Do you have a floor set up?
     
    #31 Naugled, Oct 15, 2012
  12. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa

    For now, I will be couching on a table I have rigged to be a little more rodent proof,b but long term yes I will set up a floor system.
     
    #32 mdwalsh, Oct 15, 2012
  13. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,944) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    Sounds like you might need a cat.
     
    #33 Naugled, Oct 15, 2012
  14. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa

    I'd be afraid that to a cat, a pile of grain would be too similar to a pile of kitty liter..
     
    #34 mdwalsh, Oct 15, 2012
  15. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa

    I've put quite a few Facebook pics up in the last two days detailing the process if you want an update
     
    #35 mdwalsh, Oct 18, 2012
  16. mdwalsh

    mdwalsh Initiate (0) Feb 1, 2009 Iowa

    I've put quite a few Facebook pics up in the last two days detailing the process if you want an update
     
    #36 mdwalsh, Oct 18, 2012
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