Hop Spider
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    This discussion was created from comments split from: Bulk Hops from Hopsdirect.com.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    Here's a cheap Hop Spider for anyone interested. Total cost was about $7 and that includes:

    1 x 3" to 2" PVC Reducer
    4 x 5.5" Carriage Bolts
    8 x 1/4-20 Hex Bolts
    8 x 1/4 Flat Washers
    1 x 3" worm clamp
    1 x 1 Gallon Paint Strainer

    yes i borrowed it off the internet
    hop spider.jpg
    599 x 450 - 87K
    Ain't that a Bitch
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    Thanks lothos... I'll be building one of those soon.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • LothosLothos
    Posts: 2,146
    well see i usually use the small hop bags that cost $.50 from the brew store fill it with hops tie it off and throw it in when the wort is done throw it away

    that includes pellet hops also
    Ain't that a Bitch
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    I'll probably use stainless steel screen mesh, so it's easy to clean and permanent.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    Ok, I give. What is a hop spider?
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,821
    Benvarine said:

    Ok, I give. What is a hop spider?



    scroll up. a hop spider is a simple tool that holds a hop bag. it keeps it from sinking towards the burners/heating element, while keeping the opening of the bag open for further additions.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    I saw the photo, so it just sits at the top of the boil the entire time? Cool.
  • frydogbrewsfrydogbrews
    Posts: 44,679
    Benvarine said:

    I saw the photo, so it just sits at the top of the boil the entire time? Cool.



    yeah, i really need to get on building one of those. i think i am going to make one that is wider though. i would fear that the hops would still bunch up in really hoppy batches and that's mostly what i make
  • BenvarineBenvarine
    Posts: 1,606
    One issue I will have is brewing 5g bathes in my keggle. The wort is a long way from the top of the keggle. The hop bag would have to be huge or I will need to modify the way the bag hangs. Or just brew 10g batches.
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,907
    for my last brew I used a wire strainer and some wire. I just rested the handle on the side of the pot and adjusted the wire to hold the other end so that it was in the wort (adding a little length as it boiled down). It worked okay since I only use 1oz of pellets. Wouldn't work for the hop-head like Fry. I feel like a normal colander would work alright with whole cone hops, just add a wire hanger for each handle... I guess it wouldn't be as good as the spider posted... I'd like to have one of those... some day... some day... I want a lot of things.
    Can someone post a pic of one in use and or about to be in use, I'm still a little unsure of how this design is used.
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,821
    from the original discussion:


    FromZwolle said:

    frydogbrews said:

    they make a spider for hops? i just use my regular spider from the kitchen to scoop them out. 3 or 4 scoops and pretty much all hops are taken out.



    hop spider

    image

    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • JayrizzleJayrizzle
    Posts: 90,907
    FromZwolle said:

    from the original discussion:



    Oh, right, as mentioned in the first post... some how I missed that. Thanks
  • djsethalldjsethall
    Posts: 4,041
    Lakewood said:

    I'll probably use stainless steel screen mesh, so it's easy to clean and permanent.



    This and This is why
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    Ok. so i'm getting ready to source some material on this... what size mesh would you think will work best. I want it large enough that the boiling wort will roll through the mesh freely, but fine enough to keep most of the hop particulate contained.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • FuzzyFuzzy
    Posts: 49,821
    Lakewood said:

    Ok. so i'm getting ready to source some material on this... what size mesh would you think will work best. I want it large enough that the boiling wort will roll through the mesh freely, but fine enough to keep most of the hop particulate contained.



    i would think it would have to be pretty fine to keep pelletized hop material from getting out.
    The pinnacle of lame and awesome in one singular moment. -Lake
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    there are a lot of different sizes... i'm looking for some guidance on roughly where on the standard sizing i should aim. 20x20, 40x40, higher?
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Lakewood said:

    there are a lot of different sizes... i'm looking for some guidance on roughly where on the standard sizing i should aim. 20x20, 40x40, higher?



    I have been thinking about building one of these as well. I'll see what I can find on the interwebs.
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Found this site for ideas...

    http://www.twpinc.com/control/featureProducts?pft_MATERIAL=STAINLESS_STEEL_T316&productFeatureTypeId=MATERIAL&SEARCH_REQUIRE_AMOUNT=N

  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    jlw said:

    Found this site for ideas...

    http://www.twpinc.com/control/featureProducts?pft_MATERIAL=STAINLESS_STEEL_T316&productFeatureTypeId=MATERIAL&SEARCH_REQUIRE_AMOUNT=N



    awesome. i'm thinking a 16 mesh will be effective. it really helps to see the hand in the picture for reference.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    I was looking at the 14 too. I wonder of the 3x3 swath is enough?
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    jlw said:

    I was looking at the 14 too. I wonder of the 3x3 swath is enough?



    3" x 3" is a sheet of toilet paper... i'm drawing something up right now. mcmaster has a 12"x24" sheet for $5 http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-wire-cloth/=g7vfny
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Lakewood said:

    jlw said:

    I was looking at the 14 too. I wonder of the 3x3 swath is enough?



    3" x 3" is a sheet of toilet paper... i'm drawing something up right now. mcmaster has a 12"x24" sheet for $5 http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-wire-cloth/=g7vfny


    Clearly didn't look close enough. i thought it a 3'x3' sheet.
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Lakewood said:

    jlw said:

    I was looking at the 14 too. I wonder of the 3x3 swath is enough?



    3" x 3" is a sheet of toilet paper... i'm drawing something up right now. mcmaster has a 12"x24" sheet for $5 http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-wire-cloth/=g7vfny


    Oh, and when you finish the design I would like to see. Can you post a file or email it?
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    jlw said:

    Lakewood said:

    jlw said:

    I was looking at the 14 too. I wonder of the 3x3 swath is enough?



    3" x 3" is a sheet of toilet paper... i'm drawing something up right now. mcmaster has a 12"x24" sheet for $5 http://www.mcmaster.com/#stainless-steel-wire-cloth/=g7vfny


    Oh, and when you finish the design I would like to see. Can you post a file or email it?


    Yeah, I'll post it up here. I'm trying a few different shapes to get the most out of a 12x24. I may go up to 12x36. I'll post a few designs and show how the scale with a keggle.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    ok so this is a half baked, incomplete design, but i wanted to share a bit of where the design is at. im thinking just a couple of brass rod hangers to set the depth. I want to figure out an attachment scheme that allows it to be hung a different heights depending on the size of your boil. anyway, take a look, let me know what you think.

    hopCage.PNG
    330 x 501 - 64K
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    in case you are wondering how (well) that fits on a 12x24" sheet of material...

    cage.jpg
    1026 x 658 - 63K
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Cool design. Just put it on the to do list for the next few months.
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    im still working on this conceptually... im thinking i'll buy some inexpensive brass screen and make a prototype.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • ThymThym
    Posts: 123,483
    although if i can find a good deal on the brass screen material i may just make something the full size of the keggle opening.
    The only thing between me and a train wreck is blind luck..... - Kenny
  • jlwjlw
    Posts: 16,454
    Keep me posted.
  • C_BC_B
    Posts: 89,703
    jlw said:

    Keep me posted.



    This. I'm very interested.
    "On it. I hate software." ~Cpt Snarklepants
  • flyfisherwesflyfisherwes
    Posts: 1,053
    the stainless idea is interesting. I've been using paint strainer bags just clamped to the edge of the keggle opening. It has an elastic top. So all I do is pull the elastic open dump in the hops and release. Then to clean it I wash it in the clothes washing machine on HOT with my BIAB bag and a scoop of oxyclean.
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