Barley Belly's Biab Urn False Bottom

[Barley Belly]

Here a few pics of my custom false bottom. I originally planned to use a big stainless sifter as a false bottom to keep my bag away from my element. But I wasn't really happy with the idea and yearned for something better. An idea came to me and I got a local stainless fabricator to build it for me. All for $50.

It's 340mm in diameter, which fits nicely inside my 355mm urn and has 50mm feet on it which keeps my bag a safe distance from the element and best of all it's stainless.

 

[Mayor of Mildura]

Nice setup mate. Slightly more advanced than my "false bottom"

Here's a pic

Mayor of Mildura's false bottom.

 

[beerbog]

It's gotta beat a cake rack as well. :beerbang:

 

[Bribie G]

Just the shot for stepped mashes. When doing a single infusion mash I just turn the power off and lag the urn, but I'll def have to get something similar If I'm going to have a serious crack at Pils this year, using Hochkurz or another stepped mash
I've never had anything to do with fabricators, stainless or otherwise - how would you find your nearest one - are they a trade in their own right or is it a sub-speciality of muffler shops or something?

Edit:
Hey, seeing as he has the specs I wonder if he'd like to knock out a few more for anyone interested? If you can have a word with him, he's got a definite order here and I could send him a 3k satchel.

 

[Barley Belly]

Just the shot for stepped mashes. When doing a single infusion mash I just turn the power off and lag the urn, but I'll def have to get something similar If I'm going to have a serious crack at Pils this year, using Hochkurz or another stepped mash
I've never had anything to do with fabricators, stainless or otherwise - how would you find your nearest one - are they a trade in their own right or is it a sub-speciality of muffler shops or something?

Edit:
Hey, seeing as he has the specs I wonder if he'd like to knock out a few more for anyone interested? If you can have a word with him, he's got a definite order here and I could send him a 3k satchel.

I'd never had anything to do with fabricators either Bribie. It is just lucky I have two specialist Stainless Steel ones in an industrial estate only 5 minutes from my house. I originally went in just to buy a sheet of perforated plate and do the cutting and legs myself. He quoted me $30 for a piece 500mm x 500mm. I went to get some cash and realised he would do the job a lot better than I could, so I asked when I got back how much to cut a 335mm circle and weld 4 legs on 50mm from the edge. He said $50, so I went ahead.

Would of liked to get a piece of 3mm bar welded around the edge to protect the bag, but didn't ask how much it would cost, figured I was pushing my friendship at $50 for what I got.. So I just rounded them off a little and are conscious of not having heaps of bag hanging in the pot. It's work for two brews now.*fingers crossed*

Not sure if it would fit in a 3kg satchel, but I will definetely ask the guy if he can do another one for $50 if you are keen. You'd just have to sus out the freight side of things. We would have to double check the specs of your urn and if not we can just change them to suit. I'm easy. Not cheap. Just easy.

 

[felten]

you could put a slit in some suitable tubing and slide it around the edge, if there's enough leeway between the side of the kettle

 

[Bribie G]

Thanks, I'll measure up my urn as the Crownie is a bit taller and skinnier than the Birko.

 

[Barley Belly]

you could put a slit in some suitable tubing and slide it around the edge, if there's enough leeway between the side of the kettle

Tried some fish tank 3mm silicone when I was testing. Held on OK until it heated up, then it fell off.

Was thinking of trying 3/8 or 1/2 but it's an expensive test.

 

[Malted]

I could send him a 3k satchel.

Sheesh! That sounds expensive! I thought $50 sounded reasonable but 3K! No way! Or maybe you're growing a cash crop on the Island? Yeah Yeah, that is why you go to Morayfield so often!

 

[mwd]

Probably too big to fit in the Auspost 3Kg envelope.

 

[Bribie G]

Probably something like a pizza box.

 

[malbur]

Folded up something close a couple of years ago,a mate got a big SS rack out of a bakery, and this was on the bottom of the shelfs.
I just cut it out and folded the sides down as the legs

 

[Ross]

Get yourself an urn with a concealed element & no problem to solve .... Some nice solutions though

Cheers Ross

 

[Bribie G]

I was always under the (mistaken) impression that the Crown Urns with a concealed element were sheer flat bottomed inside with the element under that, giving an indirect heat and hence a poor boil. I was at a brew club meeting last night and actually got my first look at one, and the element is concealed but, at the same time it's under a sort of little shroud at the bottom of the urn - not quite what I had expected - and I can imagine that it should still give a reasonable boil.
Not in the market for an urn as I now have two of them but I'll be interested to see it in action (I'll be going back there for our mash day in a couple of weeks and I'll crank it up for a look-see).

Edit: it's a sort of Systems Wars brew day with a couple of 3vs, BIAB (me) and enhanced Kit brew. If the owner is agreeable I'll see about using my exposed element urn for his HLT and use his concealed element for my BIAB day and see how the cow actually sits in the cabbage patch.

 

[Ross]

It's a total misconception that the concealed element gives a poor boil. We have sold well over a hundred with not a single complaint.
We offer both, but the concealed element out sells the exposed by approx 10 to 1.

Cheers Ross

 

[Paul H]

"I was at a brew club meeting last night ...."

What brew club meeting Bribie, I don't mean to sound elitist however I didn't know any other clubs existed except for Babbs :huh:

Cheers

Paul

 

[geoff_tewierik]

PUBS Paul, you know the Pine Rivers mob.

 

[mason]

Quote:BribieG-"I was always under the (mistaken) impression that the Crown Urns with a concealed element were sheer flat bottomed inside with the element under that, giving an indirect heat and hence a poor boil. I was at a brew club meeting last night and actually got my first look at one, and the element is concealed but, at the same time it's under a sort of little shroud at the bottom of the urn - not quite what I had expected - and I can imagine that it should still give a reasonable boil."

Here's a little video of a Crown urn with concealed element at full rolling boil.

 

[BEC26]

We offer both, but the concealed element out sells the exposed by approx 10 to 1.

Cheers Ross

Hey Ross

this may be due to your desciption of the urn on your site

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=2936

in this you say

These are our preference for boiling wort

Not having a go at all, just saying that your opinion and business is well regarded by many of us and may influence buyers

Cheers

 

[Barley Belly]

Just upgraded tap and pick up.

Go to this link for pics Click me