Grain Dryer

[MrChalky]

As some of you are aware from this thread, I've tried my hand at malting my own grain.

The most annoying part of that was drying the grain, so I've been thinking of building a grain dryer.

At first, I was just thinking of building something where I could spread out the grain on sheets of some sort of mesh, and pass air over them.
Then I figured that this probably wouldn't be enough, so I started thinking of some sort of heating system.
But to maintain the temperature at the right level with any sort of efficiency, it'd need to be an enclosed system.
But then build up of humidity would be a problem, so I'd need to add some sort of dehumidifier.

Am I overthinking this?
Does anyone know of any simple DIY solution?

[JimmyM]

I think BrenMurph said he malts his own grain.
Or maybe he just toasted it a bit.
I remember some youtube videos of an ozzy guy malting it using a modified dishwasher.
I do remember him having it spread out all ove r the floor though too waiting for it to germanate (?)

[Padraic]

This might be an interesting project for malting:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-41wQHHi0o

[Will_D]

When I first tried home malting I used the tumble drier as a drier (Theres a clue in the name!!)

Put the wet grain, about a kilo into a pillow case, tie off the end

Repeat for about 3 or 4 pillow cases or whatever.

Set the drier to low, and put a temp sensor thermistor from and STC or ATC or chepo digital thermometer in the air out duct.

Depending on the load will take about 2 or 3 hours to dry.

How do you know when its dry?

Mark a pillow, weigh it, record weight, after some time weigh again, and again etc. when weight loss is getting constant then its dry!

If you exceed the desired temp knock the drier onto cool.

The pillow cases contain most of the dust, the sprouts get rubbed off and the resulting malt is ready for next stage - mashing or roasting

BTW: The smell in the house is FANTASTIC! Just make sure the misses likes malt!! I'm lucky mine loves it!!

[Ciderhead]

Love the concept, nice one Will, does it eat malt like my socks?
You could have malty smelling smalls

[Will_D]

Love the concept, nice one Will, does it eat malt like my socks?
You could have malty smelling smalls

No way Hosséé 4 bags in, 4 bags out.

Now if you want a Munich Beer Hall malt then the odd Leder Hossen und Socken may just help 

The only problem with my home malting of wheat and barley to make a Hefeweissen was that the HW was not particularly great. So when the group buys started I decided that the amount of effort and leckky was not worth it.

But come the great disaster scenario this doomsday prepper is ready to go! Just need to get a bigger anti-gouger deterant (best not say ass. rfle!!)

[MrChalky]

I heard about the tumble dryer solution, but I be a bit reluctant to try that. The dryer in my house is old, and was there before I moved in, and it was absolutely filthy. I spent 2 hours cleaning it before I'd even put my clothes in it, and I still don't really like using it. I'm not going to put grain in it.

[Shane Phelan]

Would this work?

[Will_D]

Would this work?

I doubt it. I assume that its a cool dehydrator?

Malted base grains (keeping the enzymes ) need to be dried up to about 50 or 60 C

I think?

[Ciderhead]

eerh 78! tried to cook Dempsey Tub and me today in a hot air drier, and the freaky thing is leave you coat on as it insulates you from the heat!!

[Will_D]

eerh 78! tried to cook Dempsey Tub and me today in a hot air drier, and the freaky thing is leave you coat on as it insulates you from the heat!!

I think that at 78C the phrase is "render down"

[Ciderhead]

the only thing being rendered was the fat on our arses.

[DEMPSEY]

As Ciderhead said,78c,IT WAS BLOODY HOT. We went in to the drying area and there was 10% moisture still in the grain,needs to get down to around 3%. So the heat was still on at 78C. I cannot remember if I ever experienced that level of heat but our tour guide seemed non too bothered about it.He wore a big jacket and seemed content to let us cook as he was giving us detailed facts about the procedure. Tube went to remove his jacket and he said not to as you would cook even quicker,when he suggested we could go back outside again,you never saw such a sorry lot as us not being polite about who goes out the door first.    

[MrChalky]

From what I understand, 50 - 60C would be way too high for drying. I think it needs to be between 30 - 40C. Then the temperature is upped to kiln the malt. The temperature of kilning depends on the type of malt you want.

[DEMPSEY]

From what I understand, 50 - 60C would be way too high for drying. I think it needs to be between 30 - 40C. Then the temperature is upped to kiln the malt. The temperature of kilning depends on the type of malt you want.

I would love to see you writing this on your tablet while on a visit to the kiln like us yesterday . I dont recall any of the facts he was telling us while we were in there