5L Stir Plate Specs?

[breckenridge]

Hello all,

I tried to search for this, but no soap. I already have a 2L stirstarter plate that I like a lot, but want to DIY my own for a second and larger stir plate. I'll be using a 5L Erlenmeyer flask. I'm hoping someone can give me some info on what size/power fan, stir bar, project (or cigar) box and magnets I should use for this.

Anybody made a stir plate for starters this size? What works?

 

[erick0619]

This^ someone please respond

 

[sasky7777]

I am building one right now. If it works I will post pics and parts. Should be done by next week.

 

[erick0619]

I am building one right now. If it works I will post pics and parts. Should be done by next week.

Thank You!!!

 

[breckenridge]

I am building one right now. If it works I will post pics and parts. Should be done by next week.

Awesome, thanks!

 

[Eugenio]

Unless you purely enjoy the DIY aspect (which I understand, as this is part of what makes me enjoy brewing so much) I think at this point it might be worth considering buying a lab grade stir plate, I'm sure you could find a good powerful one on eBay for less than $100.

That being said, few things look cooler than a Pyrex Erlenmeyer flask on a cigar box!!


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[breckenridge]

Well, I emailed Dan at stirstarters.com asking about specs (why not go straight to the source?) and he got back to me in under an hour (while on vacation, no less!):

Thank you for the inquiry. You will need stronger magnets and a larger box, the fan will not need to be beefed up. I am on vacation, will send you part numbers for the magnets when I get home this coming Tuesday.

Dan​

Will update when I get more specifics...

 

[SavoryChef]

I use a computer fan with a speed control off Amazon with some strong magnets from home depot with no problems for my 5L starters

 

[breckenridge]

Dan got back to me about the magnet specs:

He uses the ND024 3/8" x 3/8" with 19 lb pull force from magnets4less.com. Gonna see if there's an equivalent one from amazon....Yep, about $13 w/ shipping for 10.

I don't need ten. Mini group buy, anybody?

Gonna ask Dan if he'll sell me a kit to "Ikea DIY" myself up a new stir plate.

 

[sasky7777]

So I am 99% done, the only downside is my cigar box isn't tall enough, so I need to shim the lid somehow, but I think I have proof of concept. Would I do a 5L starter on here regularly? Maybe. As seen in the first picture it pulls a vortex which lasts for about 75% of the time. I have heard that all you need is a dimple of the surface of the wort, others are looking for a whirlpool right to the bottom of the flask. In the second picture with more than 4L of water a vortex is formed 95% of the time. The last picture is the guts of the project. I tried to glue a washer to the fan and then attach the magnets to that as it is supposed to be easier to balance, but it wasn't and attaching the magnets directly to the fan are all that worked. The flask I have is quite large, and the stir bar will spin right from full speed on the fan, but you have to move the flask around until the stir bar locks onto the magnets before you throw the switch.

I like one stop shopping so I bought everything off Amazon.COM and then used a freight forwarder to get the stuff to Canada.

Parts:
Flask http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008CFSEUI/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Stirbar http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002VBW5HW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Power Supply
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000VRL632/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Magnets
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0084UASJQ/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Fan with Speed Control (this also had enough excess wire for the whole project) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WM4SZG/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
DC Power In http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CQMGXJW/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Power Switch http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0087YAHOK/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
Power Light http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00880CZUC/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[sasky7777]

duplicate

 

[Sudz_Makenzie]

Nice work ... so far maing ... keep us posted!
Cheers

 

[killebrew]

The diy cigar boxes are sweet. I am just not that good with the smaller electronic stuff. With that said I have 2 things... 1st I always used the vortex stir plate with a 1.5 inch cross stirbar and it worked with no problems at all. And 2nd, I no longer have the need for a 5L starter as my batches are much smaller now, so I have a 5l flask I got from Williams brewing I'd be willing to sell if anyone is interested.

 

[KIAKillerXJ]

Made mine out of an only external HP HDD enclosure. 5w power, rheostat, 1" stir bar. 4 hard drive magnets stacked on each other. Neither of these pics have a full 5L in them, but it will pull a vortex all the way to the bottom full. Nice and stable since the HDD enclosure is a good size. Look very professional IMO and probably wouldn't realize it was DIY'd if I didnt mention it.