Grainfather

[Níall]

Cheers Mick. Yeah, I was a bit puzzled how the hop flower made it that far as the pump filter seemed well secured and intact.

In terms of the grain particles getting into the boil is this something you've experienced? I did notice when the mash started that a lot of foam was produced and perhaps some grain went down the overflow, it was hard to see it clearly due to the foaming.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

I've ordered a small mesh sink strainer to sit over the overflow pipe inlet, that should stop any grain getting through

[Dunkel]

I had similar problems, and found the blockage was occurring at the spring-loaded ball bearing just below the flow valve on the wort pipe after the pump. I took the ball bearing and spring out, and had no further problems.

[Níall]

That did cross my mind at the time, as it happens the spring and ball valve on mine were clear.

I'm wondering if something else may have caused this - I attached the chiller with a few minutes left and dropped the wort output hose into the boiling wort. With the lid on and the chiller sitting above it the boil rose very quickly and reached the lid before I killed the heat. I wonder if the lone hop leaf I found in the chiller could have got pushed up this hose from the vigorous boil as I can't see how it would have got through the pump filter. In any case I think I'll wait until the boil has finished next time before I attach the chiller.

[DEMPSEY]

When I used a different system I had a counterflow chiller with a 10mm pipe. I piece of hop pellet had not dissolved and so got sucked into the pipe and even my mighty chugger pump could not shift it so a bit of hop can cause a major blockage.

[Pheeel]

I don't attach the chiller until the boil is finished and record for 2 mins to sterilize. Not sure why you have so much crap getting through. It shouldn't be!!

[DEMPSEY]

Where is everyone getting the stainless steel sink strainer from.

[mick02]

I'd put this down to a freak occurrence. As I said, I've done about 60 sessions on my Grainfather and the only issues I've had were knocking off the filter when stirring the wort. Other than that I've never had any real problems.

If it happens again I reckon you're doing something wrong or something isn't hooked up right but I'd chalk this one down to experience.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Where is everyone getting the stainless steel sink strainer from.

Where else but AliExpress 

[Níall]

I'd put this down to a freak occurrence. As I said, I've done about 60 sessions on my Grainfather and the only issues I've had were knocking off the filter when stirring the wort. Other than that I've never had any real problems.

If it happens again I reckon you're doing something wrong or something isn't hooked up right but I'd chalk this one down to experience.

Hopefully that's the case, I plan on brewing again between Christmas and New Year so will have a better idea then if it was a once off.

[DEMPSEY]

Anyone using the hop spiders we bought on the group buy and if so what do they think of them.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

I've used mine twice, I did a weissbier and a half batch IPA with the micro pipe work.

There appeared to be a layer of flour on top of the pellet mush at the end of the boil, dunno how this behaved during the boil though.

[fishjam45 (Colin)]

Used my new sink stopper to stop any bits of grain going down the overflow pipe, great little idea and I recommend it highly.

[DEMPSEY]

And I thought I was finished spending. I just bought 3 now on Ebay. http://www.ebay.ie/itm/18CF-63mm-Silver-Tone-Stainless-Steel-Wire-Mesh-Tea-Leaves-Spice-Strainer-Basket-/322333113909?var=511238373486

[DEMPSEY]

Here is the Grainfather Equipment profile that works.