If you have been following the false bottom conversation, you will find this post is a logical follow up.
As I am looking at all of my options to enhance my brewing setup to be all-grain ready, the second option in helping me separate grain from wort in my mash tun is a Bazooka Screen (This appears to be a trademarked term of the Zymico company-you may be able to find alternatives under the term ‘mash screen’).
There is some debate on our site and elsewhere that the screen works better than the false bottom. There is definitely a price difference. False bottoms (most prices I saw are >$30 as of 1/9/2009) are more expensive than the screen (most prices are <$20 as of 1/9/2009).
The other factor that I am using to base my decision is the compatibility with another component I have to buy, which is a ball valve spigot that I want to fit onto my cooler. I will write a post on the spigot later.
The screen may be the winner….although it would be interesting to get the false bottom for educational purposes and compare it to a screen. Hmmm.
Kevin
Hey this is off topic for this post, but what came of your yeast blending experiment in December? It’s got to be out of primary by now.
Ben Spiegel
For a cheaper option you could always get a toilet supply line and use the stainless hose from that. That is what I’m using and it works great! I got it and all the fittings I needed at Home Depot.
travis
First off, I used a home-made bazooka for a while and had great efficiency and an overall great experience (with the exception of a few issues related to construction). I think your bigger concern should be the size of your cooler. I saw you are thinking about a 5 gallon cooler, I would say that you want a minimum 60qt cooler to do a five gallon batch. This will give you the headspace to make a bigger brew if you need to. A five gallon cooler wouldn’t be able to do a 5 gallon batch of brew because of the 7gallons needed to brew.
This time of year, you can usually pick up coolers for a dance so I would spend the $ and get one. I use an “ice cube” that’s a square one. It works really well and was bought at Rite Aid for like $15.
travis
BTW – One more quick thing; I am as cheap as they come, but speaking form experience, you will make up the money you invest in this thing in your first batch. Don’t be afraid to spend a little on it. I used the water supply line and it worked well, but with all the random little fixed I had to make on it, I realized that I should have spent the $30 and got the bazooka. Same thing with the cooler, ball valve (get a ball lock from home depot or something, not a silcock), and fittings. Get the right stuff and you’ll be happier. After all, even if you spend $100, you’re saving like $50-$100 in buying one.
Aaron
I’ve been having this debate as well, and I think I’m leaning away from the bazooka screen. I’ve heard they can flatten out from too much grain weight.
At this point, I think I’m leaning towards cpvc piping with small holes drilled/cut into it.
Hopshead
I use a bazooka screen in my 9 quart Coleman Xtreme cooler. It is great! I get mash efficiency doing a batch sparge procedure of about 75% to 80%. I have used this mashun/bazooka screen setup for 10 gallon batches as well. The screen did not flatten out due to the extra weight of the grain.
Kevin
Midwest supplies has the false bottom for $23, and the adapter to hook it up to your ball valve spigot for $4. I’ll sell you mine (bottom and adapter for $18).
Mike
It depends upon what you want the item to screen out. I made a bazooka screen from a supply hose and it works great in my keggle, to separate the hops and break from the wort. I don’t worry about scorching, there.
I also have used false bottoms in both coolers (ten gallon Gott) and Keggles, as well as tube screens (both homemade and purchased). My experience is that false bottoms are generally more efficient than screens and that they also reduce the chance of scorching when performing a stepped mash.
All that said, I use a Scmiddling Easymasher in my mash tun (keggle) and I batch sparge. This is not the most efficient setup but I like it, it’s easy and it makes great beer. I also use a homemade screen tube for my keggle.
Ted
Brewer’s seem to prefer this screen. I’ve never needed to get one cause my false bottom works like a charm. Also, I am still a skeptic as to how efficient it is especially when fly sparging. This goes for copper tube manifolds as well. I have a “made-up” theory that some channeling in the grain bed would occur because the wort is being pulled out through a smaller and centralized point, especially if it becomes clogged in areas. The pull of the wort through a false bottom is uniform across the whole bottom.
Still, I’m very interested about these though. So… With screens like this, what are brewer’s experiences with A. Clogging & stuck sparges? B. Flattening of the screen from grain bed weight? C. Cleaning the screen?
Mike
I have used a copper manifold, grain bag and screens. I like the screen better. I use a 5 gallon cooler and used the stainless steal covering from a water supply line. I coil the screen in the bottom of the cooler, this helps with channeling. I have had not problems with the screen flattening. I batch sparge and single infuse. If your like me you will get more satisfaction from making your own set up. Chances are it will cost you less if you don’t mind putting in the time.
Blackstar
I use a false bottom and a homemade ss line screen below the false bottom- never get a stuck sparge anymore and the tea clears up really quick. I think the holes in my homemade false bottom are too big maybe so the Stainless line helps to further strain the grains and keeps a nice slow but steady flow.