Fettling false bottoms :D

[GrowlingDogBeer]

My false bottom has arrived sfe and sound this morning.

Against my old one it looks rather smart

OLD vs NEW



And here it is in it's new home



Just need to get a brew on, I think it might be something resembling Schneider Weisse

[DomClarke]

Taking all the glory again I see!

[DomClarke]

On our mash tuns we have bottom take offs, so have the false bottom on 16mm screws (legs) to keep a nice gap between the hole in the centre of the base of the tun (similar to the one in this thread viewtopic.php?f=6&t=40789&p=449373#p449373 - can't be arsed to find the one beermonsta did of making mine). Those who have side taps tend to run a pickup tube through the false bottom to collect the wort from below it, search on here you should be able to find out how!

The only real way of moving the liquids without a pump is by gravity!

[GrowlingDogBeer]

As Dom said, we have bottom draining Mash Tuns which makes life easier.

You can just about see the hole in the bottom of mine in the pic above, underneath the false bottom.

As you have a tap in the side you will want to connect differently, this thread should give you some ideas.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=43561&p=459317&hili ... om#p459317

[beermonsta]

well done skptic , looks good to me. If it's slighty oversized or oblong ....it's amazing what a belt sander can do!

[Cazamodo]

These look fantastic! Where do you get the mesh from? Id love to try and make one for my MT and BK.
One question... I use 33L plastic buckets, and don't want to (well cant afford) to upgrade to a thermopot for my MT and stockpot for my BK. I will one day, but for now Im stuck with the plastic. Just wondering what size difference is between the standard size stockpots people use and these plastic buckets, as If I could make 2 false bottoms that I can still use when I finally upgrade the rest of my kit, it would be great.

[beermonsta]

the "mesh" is stainless steel sheet from a local (ish supplier) not cheap!
a 33l litre plastic pot unfortunately is going to have a smaller diameter than a 50/70/80 litre thermopot, so if you made one for it it would be too small for the thermopots, sorry! if your where downsizing though... !

[Cazamodo]

I thought is much. May have to upgrade earlier than expected!

[Kev888]

About the only way i know of having a false bottom fit different sizes of bucket/pot is to have a plate shaped one that seals with the bottom rather than the edges; you'd have to find a way to keep it located and fit your draining system but its still okay (it won't work on things with uneven bases though, like a blue HDPE barrel for instance). Hop and Grape do them here (i think they may also make the flat ones like on this thread too) and many people drill their own holes in stainless or sturdy plastic plates.

Cheers
Kev

[Steve1262]

For all those that have used THROUGH THE HULL CONNECTORS as outlets from mash tuns, how did you hold the fitting while tightening the elbow underneath. With it having no spanner flatts it wants to spin as you tighten. does something like CLS plumbing seal work better than a washer and do you tend to rely on the sealer rather than it's tightness.

[DomClarke]

The ones Beermonsta and I bought have two (for want of a better word) bits inside the drain hole which allowed us to screw it on with a suitable sized file shoved in the hole and the elbow held firm underneath!

[DomClarke]

You can see one in this image (just)

[Steve1262]

Yeah, I see what you mean but mine is as smooth as a babies r--g p---e down the hole.

[DomClarke]

Fraid I can't help there then, sorry!

[DomClarke]

Oh and re-reading your previous post, on the ones I've done/helped with we used a silicone washer cut from a silicone cake tin (definately food safe!) to seal the bottom of the fitting to the vessel and ptfe tape on the thread that screws into the elbow. Did put loads of ptfe on so did need the ability to secure the fitting though....