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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 15:13:55 GMT -6
I mentioned awhile back that a bud of mine was going to make me a mash cap. He's got a lot of fancy equipment and has fabricated some cool stuff. He said he would make me something and I gave him the specs. He hasn't made it yet and it's getting to the point where it might be too embarrassing to ask so I considered making something. I went to Home Depot today and found some thin, plastic board that is meant to protect walls from moisture. It's very thin, white plastic and comes in 4x8 sheets (entirely too big and I did not see smaller ones). Eventually I gave up because I started thinking about what kind of material should be in contact with 150° wort at a pH that is slightly acidic. I'm thinking both in terms of 'the correct material' so that it doesn't get damaged but also something safe that won't impact the wort. I have some plastic boxes with lids that could possibly be used but again... what material constraints should I consider? It's not about insulating so the thickness is probably not a concern... it's about keeping O2 out. Thoughts?
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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 15:18:46 GMT -6
Another idea: My Ace Hardware sells plastic signs (garage sale, for sale by owner, beware of dog, etc). Their thickness would allow them to be cut to size easily. It would be easy to make and easy to clean but again, would it be a problem for that plastic to be in contact with the wort?
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Post by zymot on May 17, 2020 16:13:15 GMT -6
McMaster Carr has all kinds of sheets of different materials. If I understand what you are trying to do, a sheet of teflon would be ideal. I do not know about machining and cutting teflon. But teflon is inert and high temp material.
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Post by drez on May 17, 2020 16:14:30 GMT -6
Is your MLT round or square? If round are you opposed to a ss pizza pan?
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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 16:17:18 GMT -6
McMaster Carr has all kinds of sheets of different materials. If I understand what you are trying to do, a sheet of teflon would be ideal. I do not know about machining and cutting teflon. But teflon is inert and high temp material. Yeah, that I can't do. When I mentioned this to my bud he was talking about stainless (he can cut it) and also some kind of thick plastic that he had a name for and I didn't recognize it. If I had a 1/4" thick sheet of plastic that was 15" x 15", I could use a jigsaw on it. It probably wouldn't be pretty but it would be usable and it would be easy to clean. Teflon... I don't have the tools for that. Thanks Zymot. |
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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 16:19:22 GMT -6
Is your MLT round or square? If round are you opposed to a ss pizza pan? Round. About 12.5" is what I need. I have measured so many things in my house including plastic and metal lids, beer trays, etc. Everything is either 11", 12" or 13". It may be the unusual size that keeps me from finding something that is already made. This mash cap I made from foam insulation and covered in foil needs to go. I can't keep it clean. |
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Post by jimdkc on May 17, 2020 16:23:09 GMT -6
Teflon is really easy to cut, good for high (and low) temperatures, and is chemically inert (unless you get it hot enough to burn it... not likely here!) It's not cheap, though.
Hdpe (high density polyethylene) is much less expensive, but a mash tun is right at the edge of its temperature rating (180 deg. F)
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Post by jimdkc on May 17, 2020 16:25:47 GMT -6
Yeah, that I can't do. When I mentioned this to my bud he was talking about stainless (he can cut it) and also some kind of thick plastic that he had a name for and I didn't recognize it. If I had a 1/4" thick sheet of plastic that was 15" x 15", I could use a jigsaw on it. It probably wouldn't be pretty but it would be usable and it would be easy to clean. Teflon... I don't have the tools for that. Thanks Zymot. Teflon sheet is quite soft. You could easily cut it with a jigsaw. |
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Post by drez on May 17, 2020 16:36:27 GMT -6
Is your MLT round or square? If round are you opposed to a ss pizza pan? Round. About 12.5" is what I need. I have measured so many things in my house including plastic and metal lids, beer trays, etc. Everything is either 11", 12" or 13". It may be the unusual size that keeps me from finding something that is already made. This mash cap I made from foam insulation and covered in foil needs to go. I can't keep it clean. I would just get a 12" ss pizza pan. If you want really tight slit a 1/2 silicone (yes I know "they" don't like silicone) and make a gasket on the top. |
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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 17:11:24 GMT -6
Yeah, that I can't do. When I mentioned this to my bud he was talking about stainless (he can cut it) and also some kind of thick plastic that he had a name for and I didn't recognize it. If I had a 1/4" thick sheet of plastic that was 15" x 15", I could use a jigsaw on it. It probably wouldn't be pretty but it would be usable and it would be easy to clean. Teflon... I don't have the tools for that. Thanks Zymot. Teflon sheet is quite soft. You could easily cut it with a jigsaw. Really? Never thought that would be possible but maybe I'll look around for some 'teflon stock'. |
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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 17:52:07 GMT -6
I went over to McMaster-Carr and found THIS page. My 12.5" dimension will be an issue because most of the smaller stuff is 12x. To move up to 24x24 things get spendy. What thickness seems adequate? A 24x24 sheet at 1/4" is $437!  |
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Post by jkor on May 17, 2020 20:41:29 GMT -6
What's a mash cap?
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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 21:11:01 GMT -6
It's a part of the low-oxygen strategy. Among other things, you cover the mash with something to keep air out for the duration of the mash. I have a number of LO steps that I take (and some that I started and no longer do) and this is one of them. The LO steps taken on the hot side have made my beers much more pale overall... one of the indicators that keeping O2 out is good. Here is a helles I have on tap now. I never made beers that pale before the LO steps.  |
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Post by Ken on May 17, 2020 21:20:42 GMT -6
I made this one from foam board and then covered it in foil. It works but keeping it clean is tricky so I just need a solid piece of something that is safe to have in the mash environment and easy to clean.  |
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Post by jimdkc on May 17, 2020 21:54:37 GMT -6
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