I had a few stuck sparges in a row and decided to adjust my mill gap to get bigger husks to assist in my sparge/lauter. Currently my mill gap is set at .045" and it’s awesome in regards to lautering, but I’ve noticed my last 3 batches have all been about .10-.12 points short on my calculated OG. I know the standard gap on my barley crusher is .39", but I’m wondering how some of you set your gaps and whether you condition your malt (if you crush tight) and whether that’s impacted your efficiency besides just your lautering process? Thanks!
I use a JSP adjustable mill and I have the gap set as tight as it will go. I’ve never measured it becasue I just don’t care what it measures. It did indeed have a positive impact on efficiency. I have never had a stuck runoff, do not use hulls or condition the grain before milling. I think it has as much to do with your lautering system as the crush.
I have never measured my gap, but I do make a lot of flour, and often times get stuck runoffs in which case I lightly rake the surface of the mash to get things flowing again. I have never conditioned the malt (by spraying with water) but consistently get efficiencies around the 90% mark. I just hit 89% efficiency on my last batch a couple of days ago. I have opened the gap on my mill to reduce efficiency and get fewer stuck mashes, and I am going to open it even more, as I theorize that the degree malt flavor is suffering with efficiency this high. I would rather be hitting around 83-84% consistently than 90-ish.
two changes i made in order that raised my efficiency: switched to batch sparge from fly sparge, and tightened gap on mill to .027. went from 60’s-70’s to mid to high 80’s.
just play around with the crush, and find what your system will tolerate.
EDIT: forgot about my mash-i also mash in on average about 1.75-2.00 qts/lb
I constructed a copper manifold and also noticed that my slits on the pipe were closing up, so I also adjusted that aspect of my setup. Now that I’m back to lautering well, I know it’s my mill gap.
I currently batch sparge as well and likely average about 1.25qt/lb. I found a lot of good info on Braukaiser’s page about mill gap size and conditioning. I’ll start by adjusting one area and finding what happens.
Maybe…my experience is that both manifolds and false bottoms are more prone to stuck runoff than using a braid.
FWIW , my experience shared-i had stuck sparge only with the braid and never with my copper manifold. that’s not to say one is better or worse than other, and perhaps more to do with the construction and design of each and how they’re put to use in the system.
Yep. It could very well have to do with the braid you use or how your manifold is built. But FWIW, I have heard from many people over the years whose stuck run offs went away when they started using a braid. And many more who solved stuck run off issues by shortening the braid.
+1
I’ve always used a braid, and the only time I got stuck was when I switched to a longer one. I switched back and run off like a champ again.
I very well could have built/deployed the worst braid in brewing…but on a positive I may have built the best copper manifold since its been trouble free. :
I had occasional stuck runoffs with my braid until I shortened it a bit - no problems afterward.
What’s a good length then without being too long? I may have to test it out when I have time to put it together. Or make a second mash tun.
I assume it might vary with cooler size /shape, but I think my braid was maybe 6-7". I shortened it to ~ 4". I only occasionally would get stuck initially, but I haven’t had a stuck runoff since. Might take a little trial and error to get it dialed in for your system.
It all comes together eventually, huh?
I’d guess mine is somewhere between 12-18". I tried different lengths and that was the last one I tried, so I left it. But shorter ones worked just as well. The braid I use is Lasco brand (part number 10-0121 or 10-0321). I think that may also have something to do with it. I’ve used the same braid in my cooler for 17 years and 473 batches and never had a stuck runoff or collapsed braid, which I hear from people who use other braids.
Denny, you’re saying it’s the actual same braid, or the same part purchased more than once? I know mine has collapsed and I have shortened it because of that. My main problem is having it tight enough to not come free of the tubing it is hose clamped to, without crushing the tubing and causing more problems. I make it work, just amazed if yours has lasted that long without replacement
I solved this issue in two ways. First I used thick walled tubing. Worked ok for a while, but a buddy yanked on it once causing it to pop loose. Mash water went everywhere. My second fix used normal 3/8 tubing, but I stuck half of a nylon barbed coupler in the tubing. This fix has been in place for at least 5 years now.
I tried some of these things and finally went with the bargainfittings bulkhead conversion with a valve. It’s definitely overkill, but I do like how the braid connects into the bulkhead.
+1 - That place and the owner are A-1 amazing. I went this route with my 70 QT, but never felt the need to mess with my 50 QT. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Yeah, really good company. I ordered some stuff once, meaning to get fittings other than the ones I ordered. So I called the guy and he sent out the ones I actually wanted free of charge (expedited shipping) and told me to keep the other fittings, too. Good guy.