Grain Bag Tripod

[ottiscan]

I posted these pictures in another thread and thought they might be useful in the DIY section.

I used the top of a bucket fermenter to draw out the circle of 3/4 inch plywood and screwed and glued the c-shaped leg mounts to the plywood. I drilled pilot holes since this is softwood. Ideally hardwood would be best for this but the economy is down at the moment.

The top of the legs are cut with 30 and 60 degree angles to nest in the leg mount 90 degree angle. I numbered the legs and mounts because the holes drilled for the bolts aren't identically placed on each leg mount. The bolts are 1/4" glv.

I use a "boom vang" set up, similar to those used on sailboats to hoist the grain bag out of the pot. The boom vang has a fiddle block with a clam cleat that easily grips the rope when you get it to the height you need. The rope just snaps in the clam cleat making lifting the bag a one man operation with no need to tie off the rope.

I also made a hardwood crossframe with hooks for lifting the frame and to support the bag.

The tripod hold my weight easily so is actually a bit overkill for the job.

[GuingesRock]

I’ve been looking closely at the pictures (here and in the other thread) of your design at the top (which is clever by the way) the way the legs lock in, and the position of the bolts, and I can’t help wondering still, if you cut the sharp angle off the top of the leg, you would still have some of the same stability as far as preventing the legs from splaying, but you would then be able to fold the legs in (like a camera tripod) for getting it down and stowing. Might be worth a try with a piece of scrap 2x4. The idea of using a block with a clam cleat is a great one, haven’t seen them used in BIAB before but have used them sailing. Will you yell “ready about!” and “lee ho!” when you are using it.

[ottiscan]

I did think about having folding legs to be able to fold it up and store it. But it's 10 ft long and the only place I have to store it is under the deck so it would still get wet. I figured that there's no problem if the legs get wet but there's a few nooks and crannies in the top of it that would hold water and probably rot faster. And that'd be a great spot for earwigs, Earwig IPA. Ha. The way it is, at least I can keep the top of it inside and dry. Since the top was the hardest to build, and "most expensive" a few rotted legs could be replaced more easily. Rounded tops on the legs would work though.
I've never done a lot of sailing, plenty of boating, not much sailing. But I just happened to have a fiddle block kicking around that I knew I'd have a use for someday, mission accomplished. They're on ebay an kijijijiji though.

[ottiscan]

Rrrrrrrrr maties, bring er about, there's a bock dead ahead.

[GuingesRock]

You could name your tripod design the "Ottiscan Scalliwag"

Found another one, similar to the Scalliwag, on Aussie Home Brewer. It has wheels on it, which might be a safety issue if someone bumped into it: http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/73379 ... ?hl=tripod

[ottiscan]

That looks good. If it's hardwood that should be able to hold quite a bit of weight.

[GuingesRock]

Rrrrrrrrr maties, bring er about, there's a bock dead ahead.

Have you had a chance to swashbuckle any bocks yet? How's the brewing going?

Damn: there’s already a Swashbuckler brewing company

…and some Scallywag beer

...and a Drunken Sailor Brewery

I've been trying to find a name for my mini-brewery. I thought of "Rebel Brewing", but then the first brewery I ended up visiting in England turned out to be called the "Rebel Brewing Co." I came back with some of their glasses, but I can't use that one now

[ottiscan]

We put on a Cascade Celebration Ale that we may bottle up this weekend. Some day will have kegs.
There are 3 1/2 pounds of cascade hops and dry hops in this 15 gal batch. It smells wonderful, can't wait to try it.

How about Admiral of the Black Brewery or Bilge Rat Brewery.

[GuingesRock]

The beer sounds really good!


Admiral of the Black Brewery
Heretic Hop Brewery
Mutineer’s Mug Brewery.

[ottiscan]

Thought I'd add a few pics of the rig in action.
I had to add a quick tarp support due to rain.

[Jimmy]

What happened to the bag?

[mr x]

I thought that was Becky's handywork.

[ottiscan]

Ha,

I was wondering how long it would take Jimmy to notice that. Three seconds, not bad.

It was torn slightly against the temp probe on the first brew. Lesson learned, won't happen again.

[Jimmy]

How long is the temperature probe? I'm running a 2" probe on my OBK kettle and have never had an issue with it catching. Does the probe have a pointed tip, or is it rounded?

[ottiscan]

It's a 2" probe, but the end is square, not rounded. Well not square but cut off flush if that makes any sense. I knew it was a potential problem at the time but was learning the ropes of getting the bag out of the pot and was distracted. Now, I cup the end of the probe with the stainless spoon while pulling the bag out and that works great.

I had binding sewn inside and out over an area larger than the small tear and it seems to be holding well. I will be ordering another bag though. Would be nice to have another one on hand any way.

[GuingesRock]

The bag might come out of the pot more easily without the crossframe/spreader? The rig looks like it works well and the tarp another brilliant idea.

A guy last night after a few (hoppy 9.5% beers) came up with “knock your socks off brewery”. Also suggested were...“Socks Be Gone” “Honolulu Panty Removers" (not sure how Honolulu got in there). I was glad we had the smaller Brewnoser Belgian glasses.

[ottiscan]

It does work pretty good. I put a 15" pizza pan, the kind with holes through it, on top of the grain in the bag when I lift it out and slowly pour hot "sparge" water on it. The water diffuses through the grain quite well but was wondering if anyone else might have suggestions for "sparging" the grain in the bag. With the spreader there, I can get at the pizza pan to pour the sparge water in quite easily. If I only have one point to lift, the bag will be closed off. Maybe I don't need to sparge????

[GuingesRock]

I see what you are up to! I do a 2.5 gal sparge in order to get a 10 gal high OG batch from a 16 gal pot. I drain through the ball valve, rather than "pulling the bag," to a second pot though and then just dump the sparge water on top of the grain in the first pot, but that requires a second pot. Dunk sparging (dunking the bag in another pot of hot water) would also require a second pot of sorts, but just a cheap pot would do. So your idea might be the best option for your setup and fairly ingenious.

[ottiscan]

That's a good idea you have too. I like the idea of draining the wort with the bag in and then adding some more water. The wort must get saturated with sugars to the point where it can't extract any more from the grain in a concenttrated mash. So fresh water migh get a bit more sugars out. Since it hasn't been boiled yet you could drain into a clean bucket, sparge, remove grain, then put the wort in the bucket back in. Loads of room in the pot to do this too.

Just had a terrible stroke of luck, loaded the car to head to the camp, drove 2 miles and noticed smoke behind the car. Busted rear strut, wrecked tire = two new struts and new tire. Ka ching!! I need a beer.

[GuingesRock]

The higher the grain bill, the lower the efficiency with BIAB, but with a grain bill of 27.5 lbs and OGs of 1.075 I’ve been getting BeerSmith efficiencies of greater than 80% doing it that way. The recent overnight mash that I did was quite a bit higher than that, although I haven't worked it out. I didn’t bother to re-heat the mash in the morning but instead drained the mash and sparged with 2 ½ gal water at 175F.

Sorry to hear about the car. I hope a couple of beers might fix it. At least it wasn’t the transmission or something. Maybe God wanted you to stay at home and drink beer this weekend. I hope it turns out eventually to be a good weekend.

[ottiscan]

I've been getting fairly good efficiencies as well, but would be nice to get a bit higher. I'm very happy with the way the beer is coming out though so may just be being too picky.

Made it to the camp, took my daughters car. Got a good price on rear struts and had installed for $100. Not too bad.
I'll check out your overnight mash, never heard of it.

[Maritimer]

I use a "boom vang" set up, similar to those used on sailboats to hoist the grain bag out of the pot. The boom vang has a fiddle block with a clam cleat that easily grips the rope when you get it to the height you need. The rope just snaps in the clam cleat making lifting the bag a one man operation with no need to tie off the rope.

boom vang=block and tackle?
this fidde block thingy sounds like just what I need. Does it have another name that a landlubber might understand ? there must be similar devices for construction purposes. Anyone know where you can buy them and if they are expensive?

[GAM]

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6 ... ?locale=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
plus
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6 ... ?locale=en" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Mounted on a 2x6 and mounted to the lift structure (clamped or screwed).

Sandy

[Maritimer]

thank you sir,
Similar to my Ghetto setup only with mechanical advantage!

[GAM]

I was trying to figure out how to do it with minimal cost. Thats how the boat I sailed on (mostly as ballast) worked.

Sandy