I see a lot of people talking about stir plates and whatnot, and since I'm not an electrical engineer, I was wondering if stir plates are made commercially at all. The brief search I did on Google popped up a couple of sites that sell them, but they all seem home built, and I'm not even sure of what a good price range is. I found one here (http://www.stirstarters.com/) for $45, and here (http://morebeer.com/view_product/19911/beerwinecoffee/Hanna_Magnetic_Stir_Plate) for $99. Any suggestions/recommendations from the homebrewing elite?
Heh, here is that cheap one but for $5 less - https://bellsbeer.com/store/products/StirStarter-%2d-Yeast-Starter-Stir-Plate.html Honestly, as long as it stirs your starter, I think you will be fine. Also note that it says: This product comes with a lifetime repair or replacement warranty. Simply put, if The StirStarter fails to perform for ANY reason, return it to me and I will repair or replace at no charge. Customer satisfaction and great beer is my goal! Thats gotta count for something.
i have a stirstarter plate and been using it for maybe 4 years now with great success (got one as soon as they came out). I use both 2L & 5L flasks on it. Having worked for years in a biochem lab, it's not a professional grade stir plate, but definitely it's a good nuff stir plate. Serves the purpose for a good price. I would guess the morebeer one is higher grade, but you won't hear me complain about the stirstarter plate.
I've also used the StirStarter plate for about 6 months now on a half-a-dozen beers or so...so far, so good.
I've had no problems using my StirStarter plate. I've worked as a Chemist in a lab for 12 years using top notch Fisher and VWR Labs stir plates, and while the StirStarter won't take the abuse and misuse those will, it does what it's supposed to.
Nice! I like that it's from Bell's, somewhere I could trust. That alone makes it worth the buy. Thanks a lot!
Bell's charges for shipping and StirStarter doesn't, so Bell's is a bit more ($2.01 for me in CT with the $7.01 shipping charge) but you could get some cool Bell's gear in the same shipment as well.
You could also get a 2L flask right there from the same menu for a lot cheaper than stirstarter. You save $8.50 right there. Negates the shipping
Already have a 2L flask so I am just comparing the stir plates but good point if you need the whole package.
I have a stirstarter and it will handle a 5L starter. That Hanna model will only handle 1L, 2L will burn it out eventually. I have one with a burned out motor, past the 2 yr waranty. Dan from stirstarters is a guy local to Bells. Bell's "only" has 16% of the centennial crop, per the chat at the new brewery open house. Wonder if they have a contract for more?
