DIY stir plate

[mtsoxfan]

I did a search but couldn't find the DIY stir plate. My interest is in the magnets. I made everything else. I tried using a computor hardrive magnet but not strong enough. Can someone link me please???

[Beer-lord]

Honestly, I don't think you'll do better than here: http://www.stirstarters.com/ but, this one is talked about often: http://byo.com/stories/projects-and-equ ... stir-plate

[mtsoxfan]

15 seconds... Damn Stalker... LOL thanks so much for the quick reply...

[Inkleg]

Yep, tried to make one, didn't work. Like starker man said, went with Stirstarters and couldn't be happier.

[Beer-lord]

I have a new nickname now? me likes.

[mtsoxfan]

Thanks Guys... I did a test run with a screw instead of a stir bar and it didn't turn all too much. I don't know if the growler bottom is too thick, or my hard drive magnet needs to be doubled up...I will buy a stir bar, but thought a screw would be a decent sub to test with...

[Beer-lord]

I've used my Stir Starter with both a 1L and 2L flask. I've done as much as 2.5L with a 1" stir bar and I've never had a problem.
As evidence Your Honor, please see Exhibit A: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=2170

[Inkleg]

but thought a screw would be a decent sub to test with...

Nope, stir bars only. Even for test purposes.

[mtsoxfan]

Are stir bars magnets themselves, or a plastic coated metal bar?

[philm00x]

they are magnets themselves, having two polar ends and aligning to the poles of the magnet spinning underneath the plate. usually coated in either teflon or glass so that they are not reactive in the starter wort.

[mtsoxfan]

Thanks. I went to the website BL and Inkleg suggested... too many choices. I think I'll take my chances that my LHBS has one in stock when I go buy my grains this week. They are inline with online that has shipping costs... Is there a suggested size, or 1.2" the norm? I'm hoping to be able to use a growler... this is a low/no cost stir plate setup...

[Insanitized]

This seems to be working. 45 RPM I made the mistake of picking it up and giving it a swirl earlier. It blew the the foam top off and spilled beer in my man cave.

[FrozenInTime]

That's seriously not what your doing is it?

[Insanitized]

And if I answer yes?

[FrozenInTime]

Then your not actually stirring the wort. There needs to be a magnet bar in the flask spinning the wort infusing oxygen into it. Spinning the flask and wort like that is not different than just letting it sit on the counter, which works albeit a lot slower.