BeerBorg

Found a nice device at Lowe's yesterday for aerating wort in the LBK or LBC. It's a "Blue Hawk 1 gallon paint mixer" that works with your drill. It was $6.97 + tax. ($7.44)

Haven't used it yet but I'll be adding it to my sanitation bucket next batch. Should beat getting all spastic with my long handle spoon! Just a heads up in case anyone else might be interested.

As long as it's clean and sanitized, that thing will work. I've read on other forums where a number of brewers use this and have given them good results.

Great idea! But be careful not to scratch up your fermenter.

Nice, like Paul and John said, that will work and don't scratch.
But the real burning question is "how the heck do you keep that desk top clean and tidy". Mine looks like a small explosive device has gone off in the room.

John Sand wrote:Great idea! But be careful not to scratch up your fermenter.

Exactly. Going to have to pay CLOSE attention. Thing is, flailing away with my long metal spoon was probably more dangerous.

At least this thing I can hold steady and just touch wort. Too bad I don't have a drill press or I could set up the level ahead of time! LOL

BTW, they make a 5 gallon version where the handle is longer for a bucket.

Inkleg wrote:Nice, like Paul and John said, that will work and don't scratch.
But the real burning question is "how the heck do you keep that desk top clean and tidy". Mine looks like a small explosive device has gone off in the room.

It's a like a movie setup. It's all a facade. The mess is off camera!

Make sure that debris from the drill doesn't fall into the wort. I know my drill has sawdust in nooks and crannies, and I'd be concerned as to what drops in. I might make a shield that's a lot bigger than the opening blocks the opening off to catch stuff.

BrownstotheBone wrote:It's a like a movie setup. It's all a facade. The mess is off camera!

Touché
I'm putting a package together for you. Let you know when it's on the way.

RickBeer wrote:Make sure that debris from the drill doesn't fall into the wort. I know my drill has sawdust in nooks and crannies, and I'd be concerned as to what drops in. I might make a shield that's a lot bigger than the opening blocks the opening off to catch stuff.

Good point Rick. I was thinking about that. Maybe a piece of Plexiglas or plastic with a hole drilled in it to hold over the LBK hole. Or even a spare lid with the shaft stuck through a hole. Need to come up with something.

Inkleg wrote:

BrownstotheBone wrote:It's a like a movie setup. It's all a facade. The mess is off camera!

Touché
I'm putting a package together for you. Let you know when it's on the way.

I'm not only honored I'm excited as hell. How cool. Thanks my brother!

BrownstotheBone wrote:

RickBeer wrote:Make sure that debris from the drill doesn't fall into the wort. I know my drill has sawdust in nooks and crannies, and I'd be concerned as to what drops in. I might make a shield that's a lot bigger than the opening blocks the opening off to catch stuff.

Good point Rick. I was thinking about that. Maybe a piece of Plexiglas or plastic with a hole drilled in it to hold over the LBK hole. Or even a spare lid with the shaft stuck through a hole. Need to come up with something.

Yes, good advice. I'm sure you'll be able to come up with something that works well.

FWIW, I use a wine degasser for my five-gallon batches. It fits in my drill, and also fits nicely through a carboy bung, so I can sanitize the degasser and the bung, and I'm good to go. Works great! Lots of foamy aeration!

FWIW one day I was whipping up some stuff in the kitchen and the handle fell off my wisk. On the way to the garbage can a lightbulb went off in my head and I realized it was now just the right size to chuck in my drill. Works like a champ! But it is getting a bit long in the tooth so may have to try the paint mixer next time I hit the improvement store.

Well there already was a couple of blenders in my kitchen so all I had to do was dedicate one to brewing gear and it works great. Wipe it down with Star San and use one blade; it doesn't touch the sides or bottom of the LBK at all just sits right in the center of the opening.

Brewbirds wrote:Well there already was a couple of blenders in my kitchen so all I had to do was dedicate one to brewing gear and it works great. Wipe it down with Star San and use one blade; it doesn't touch the sides or bottom of the LBK at all just sits right in the center of the opening.

I was holding the paint mixer down inside a spare LBK last night and there's more space than I thought in there. Especially deep. There's the whole trub portion as well.

I would have to get but just below the wort/water line to make some noise and that would be way safe. So I feel a little better after actually fitting it in there.

Really appreciate everyone's input and advise as well!

It looks fantastic but like others, I would be afraid of scratches.
I've taken to using a handheld mixer I inherited from the wife when I "accidentally " ran water on it. She got scared and I let it dry out a couple of weeks before I used it.
Works fantastically. Can fill the head space with foam in just a couple of minutes!
Cheers!