Boil kettle bottom ideas?

[kujo]

I'm trying to figure out how to get the max amount of wort out of my boil kettle. I haven't tried a whole lot of things, but what I have now is really stupid and only gets me down to where I still have at least a gallon left in the bottom.

I'm wondering if doing a MLT-style copper false bottom manifold (the ol' copper loop with the slits cut into it) wouldn't work just fine.

If you have pics of your solution, post links! If you have experience with things like the bazooka screens, let me know that too! If you know how to make cleaning a choreboy easy, let me know that too ;-P

btw - my system is all converted kegs with weld-b-gone fittings.

[HogieWan]

I got a false bottom for my kettle just to have something to pick up the most wort, but it does a great job at filtering 90% of the hops out when using pellets and almost all when using whole flowers

[paulcgi]

I made my own for it based on what I read here. copper compression fitting from bulkhead coupling out to center of kettle, then down about 1 inch to a TEE fitting then off each side of the TEE. On these I put the SS lint traps from the B.O.B.
Note: I only use whole hops. The hops make a nice kind of filter bed, BUT the screens get filled up with gunk and they are a PITA to clean. you kinda have to turn them inside out to get all the tiny little particles that are trapped in the mesh to come out.
otherwise, works great. break material will still get thru and I would imagine that pellet hops would too, but the whole hops work great. Also I can siphon down to maybe a pint or pint and a half left.

oh.. and since the SS lint traps are only like $2. I just decided that after a few brews I will replace them

[kujo]

ok - well, where'd you get the SS lint traps? I went looking for generic screen material yesterday at Lowe's, but all they had was fiberglass (which looks like black plastic) and aluminum, which I'm not sure about in terms of food-safety.

As for the compression fitting, I've managed to evolve my brewery from a coleman cooler and a pot to all converted kegs without mucking much with compression fittings at all. If anyone has a link to a howto on this that'd be great.

[paulcgi]

sorry... the B.O.B. (Big Orange Box)

Home Depot, in the plumbing isle. 2 pack of SS lint traps for like $2.50

oh.. and I have converted kegs too. I've got 1/2 SS couplings welded in. All ya gotta do is get the adapter to go from 1/2inch mpt to compression. works really well because I can take the thing out for cleaning, put it back in, take it out.. and the compression fitting is not a factor for getting leaks or anything. I can take some pics of the stuff if you are interested. If you do a search on the site about the hop-stopper there's a thread in here somewhere about it and that's what prompted me to build mine

[dparsons]

Tip the kettle. Wait until it is mostly empty to do it. Something between 45 and 60 degrees is probably optimal. Use pot holders too.

[barleyburps]

I do what dparsons said - tip the kettle. I also built a strainer by splitting a length of copper tubing, hammering it out flat, and drilling small holes in the flattened portion.

My brew pot has a temp. probe which extends ~2" into the pot directly above the bottom drain valve. I drilled a hole in the strainer at that location, so it will slip over the temp. probe and then I clamp it into place at the top rim of the kettle.

I use whole leaf hops and this works really well to keep from plugging the drain valve.

[Beerbilly]

I use a piece of SS braiding. You can buy lengths as long as you want from Jegs.

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by paulcgi
I made my own for it based on what I read here. copper compression fitting from bulkhead coupling out to center of kettle, then down about 1 inch to a TEE fitting then off each side of the TEE. On these I put the SS lint traps from the B.O.B.
Note: I only use whole hops. The hops make a nice kind of filter bed, BUT the screens get filled up with gunk and they are a PITA to clean. you kinda have to turn them inside out to get all the tiny little particles that are trapped in the mesh to come out.
otherwise, works great. break material will still get thru and I would imagine that pellet hops would too, but the whole hops work great. Also I can siphon down to maybe a pint or pint and a half left.

oh.. and since the SS lint traps are only like $2. I just decided that after a few brews I will replace them

You mind posting a picture of that?

[kujo]

yeah I'd like to see a pic as well!

Also, I just found this thing called the 'hop stopper', but it's insanely expensive for what it is. Anyone know where I can get stainless screen material? ;-)

[Mad Scientist]

Originally posted by kujo
yeah I'd like to see a pic as well!

Also, I just found this thing called the 'hop stopper', but it's insanely expensive for what it is. Anyone know where I can get stainless screen material? ;-)

Yeah, but I hear that it really works.