I’m getting ready to set up a pulley to pull out my grain bag at the end of the mash and just wondering if I need to find a stud or if I can just put a big old drywall screw in? I do 5 gallon batches and my max grain amount is about 16 pounds dry. Not sure what it is wet. Anyone have experience with this. Do I need to find a stud? Thanks.
8 lb of gain absorbs about a gal of water. with 16 lb, that means 2 gal. of absorption. A gal of water weighs just over 8 lb. so you’re at a bit over 32 lb in your scenario.
Yes.
Assuming you want to hang the pulley over your kettle, you’re going to want to find a joist or, if you need to be between two joists, mount a backing board that spans the two joists above your kettle. Drywall just isn’t meant to hold repeated, dynamic loads like that, no matter what sort of anchor you use.
On average the absorption rate will be just over 1 qt of water/lb. of grain. About half of that will drain as you suspend the bag so lifting the bag slowly will reduce the maximum weight you’re actually suspending. Water weighs just over 8 lbs./gallon. Figuring 1 gallon for every 4 lbs. of grain, plus the weight of the grain, will build in a good safety margin. For 16 lbs. of grain, add 4 gallons of water (32 lbs.) for a total of 48 pounds. I definitely wouldn’t rely on a drywall anchor. Find a ceiling joist and anchor to it.
Found a stud. Just a pain in the butt because my garage is double drywall and it’s a super high ceiling but worked out. Thanks.