First Mash Paddle
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- Twisted Brick
- Master of Distillation
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First Mash Paddle
So the plan for the upcoming first AG mash is a bourbon using 'old school' techniques, meaning only rye and barley malt for enzymes and one of those manual paddles to stir with. I fully intend to construct a motorized stirrer (with a windshield wiper motor) at some point, but figured I'd start out with this just so I can say I used to do it the old-fashioned way.
I found a piece of 5" x 44" mahogany in the garage and in about an hour had it cut and sanded to shape. I ordered a 16oz bottle of tung oil on Amazon, and dammit if it didn't show up at the house 2pm the following day! Anyway, I oiled 'er up with four coats of oil and its been curing for about a week.
I figure once I get a motorized mash paddle in gear, I can always use this one to dough in single malt whiskies.
I found a piece of 5" x 44" mahogany in the garage and in about an hour had it cut and sanded to shape. I ordered a 16oz bottle of tung oil on Amazon, and dammit if it didn't show up at the house 2pm the following day! Anyway, I oiled 'er up with four coats of oil and its been curing for about a week.
I figure once I get a motorized mash paddle in gear, I can always use this one to dough in single malt whiskies.
“Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore, always carry a small snake.”
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer
Re: First Mash Paddle
Or for rock n' roll instead of a cricket bat (Spinal Tap reference).
Re: First Mash Paddle
Very nice twisted. She sure is purty
HDNB wrote: The trick here is to learn what leads to a stalled mash....and quit doing that.
- Twisted Brick
- Master of Distillation
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- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:54 pm
- Location: Craigh Na Dun
Re: First Mash Paddle
RedwoodHillBilly wrote:Or for rock n' roll instead of a cricket bat (Spinal Tap reference).
I'm not sure its stout enough to put through a coffee table or TV, but the other night the wifey caught me playing air guitar with it. After I handed it over, she promptly marched me upstairs and showed me who was boss!
“Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore, always carry a small snake.”
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer
Re: First Mash Paddle
That's good. I won't touch that with a 10 ft cricket batTwisted Brick wrote:RedwoodHillBilly wrote:Or for rock n' roll instead of a cricket bat (Spinal Tap reference).
I'm not sure its stout enough to put through a coffee table or TV, but the other night the wifey caught me playing air guitar with it. After I handed it over, she promptly marched me upstairs and showed me who was boss!
- jonnys_spirit
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Re: First Mash Paddle
That's really good! I'll be looking for a nice piece of wood to make one of these too
Good luck with it!
ciao,
j
Good luck with it!
ciao,
j
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i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
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i prefer my mash shaken, not stirred
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- Twisted Brick
- Master of Distillation
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- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:54 pm
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Re: First Mash Paddle
Thanks Jonny!
I Googled mash paddle and a ton of examples came up. I just picked one I liked.
One word of warning though. You are going to want to finish the wood to help it resist wear and bacteria. I chose pure tung oil because it is a natural product and after it has filled the wood's cell walls, oxidation causes it to polymerize, (become a solid) and becomes a durable resistor to water, oils and alcohol. The Chinese used this oil in the 1400's to impregnate their giant (440' in length) teak warships and the vessels that landed in America prior to Columbus in 1492. It is slow to dry however and will take 30 days to cure properly.
Just be aware that several manufacturers of 'tung oil' like Formby's and MinWax contain VOC's and solvents designed to speed up the drying process. I think by calling it Tung Oil Finish they can get around including only a small amount or no actual tung oil in the product. Boiled linseed oil is cheaper and quicker-drying, but is prone to mildew and yellowing. I think it cost me $5 more for 16oz of tung oil.
Good luck.
TB
I Googled mash paddle and a ton of examples came up. I just picked one I liked.
One word of warning though. You are going to want to finish the wood to help it resist wear and bacteria. I chose pure tung oil because it is a natural product and after it has filled the wood's cell walls, oxidation causes it to polymerize, (become a solid) and becomes a durable resistor to water, oils and alcohol. The Chinese used this oil in the 1400's to impregnate their giant (440' in length) teak warships and the vessels that landed in America prior to Columbus in 1492. It is slow to dry however and will take 30 days to cure properly.
Just be aware that several manufacturers of 'tung oil' like Formby's and MinWax contain VOC's and solvents designed to speed up the drying process. I think by calling it Tung Oil Finish they can get around including only a small amount or no actual tung oil in the product. Boiled linseed oil is cheaper and quicker-drying, but is prone to mildew and yellowing. I think it cost me $5 more for 16oz of tung oil.
Good luck.
TB
“Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore, always carry a small snake.”
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer
Re: First Mash Paddle
Very nice
I have a piece of unfinished white oak that I've been using on my rums from years (old axe handle). It probably has some funky stuff in it by now but not one infection in my rums unless I've intentionally put it there.
I have a piece of unfinished white oak that I've been using on my rums from years (old axe handle). It probably has some funky stuff in it by now but not one infection in my rums unless I've intentionally put it there.
Re: First Mash Paddle
almost looks to nice to use!
- Twisted Brick
- Master of Distillation
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- Joined: Sat Mar 09, 2013 4:54 pm
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Re: First Mash Paddle
Thanks, Bushman. I just hope my mashes do it justice.
“Always carry a flagon of whiskey in case of snakebite, and furthermore, always carry a small snake.”
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer
- W.C. Fields
My EZ Solder Shotgun
My Steam Rig and Manometer