Best All Grain Press is a "No-Press"!

[corene1]

That is such a good idea. I use a planter for my hot peppers that are called Geo Pots, available at hydroponics stores and online. They come in 1 to 50 gallon sizes, a 3 or 5 gallon would fit nicely in a bucket and are made of a porous fiber material that lets water drain out and lets the roots breath . They are very durable and washable. I have a bunch of them so I think I will try them and see if they work. They are only 5 to 7 dollars a piece and have handles sewn into them. Good experiment for this coming weekend, just happen to have a mash that need straining.

geo pot.jpg

Bought a 7 gallon one. How are the handles holding up? I am thinking I could pour a whole bucket in there and let it drain into the pot rather than rack + clear

I have used the 7 gallon ones with my peppers for 3 years now and they are in great condition. The handles are fine even when lifting a complete plant with wet soil. I am going to wash one up real good and then give it a try this weekend to see how it works. The black ones seem to be a bit tougher than the brown ones.

[bearriver]

Agreed. I use those felt pots for growing indoor plants. You can find them on eBay from 1 to 50 gallons. Those would be perfect for this. The nicer ones have handles to boot.

Good idea there.

[S-Cackalacky]

I bet that stuff would work really well in the ass press.

Not trying to hi-jack the thread but do you have a picture of that ass press? I need a visual.

The ass press: From left to right - the bottling bucket would be the bottom, the bucket with holes (strainer) goes inside the bottling bucket with a 5 gallon mesh paint strainer inside the strainer bucket, the on-the-grain wash goes in next, and lastly the bucket on the right filled with water goes in on top of the wash.

The ass press assembled:

With the bottling bucket spigot opened the wash runs into a bucket or carboy through the attached 3/16" hose.

I'm thinking one of the fabric buckets Corene described would work well to replace the mesh paint strainer. If the fabric works as well as Flatwoods describes, might not even need the weighted water bucket.

[LBHD]

I bet that stuff would work really well in the ass press.

Not trying to hi-jack the thread but do you have a picture of that ass press? I need a visual.

The ass press: From left to right - the bottling bucket would be the bottom, the bucket with holes (strainer) goes inside the bottling bucket with a 5 gallon mesh paint strainer inside the strainer bucket, the on-the-grain wash goes in next, and lastly the bucket on the right filled with water goes in on top of the wash.

Ass Press-1.png

The ass press assembled:

Ass Press-2.png

With the bottling bucket spigot opened the wash runs into a bucket or carboy through the attached 3/16" hose.

I'm thinking one of the fabric buckets Corene described would work well to replace the mesh paint strainer. If the fabric works as well as Flatwoods describes, might not even need the weighted water bucket.

Do I spy a winro tighthead HDPE pail there at the bottom?

Are you a no-chill brewer?

I am starting to wonder if we are somehow the same person.

[S-Cackalacky]

I bet that stuff would work really well in the ass press.

Not trying to hi-jack the thread but do you have a picture of that ass press? I need a visual.

The ass press: From left to right - the bottling bucket would be the bottom, the bucket with holes (strainer) goes inside the bottling bucket with a 5 gallon mesh paint strainer inside the strainer bucket, the on-the-grain wash goes in next, and lastly the bucket on the right filled with water goes in on top of the wash.

Ass Press-1.png

The ass press assembled:

Ass Press-2.png

With the bottling bucket spigot opened the wash runs into a bucket or carboy through the attached 3/16" hose.

I'm thinking one of the fabric buckets Corene described would work well to replace the mesh paint strainer. If the fabric works as well as Flatwoods describes, might not even need the weighted water bucket.

Do I spy a winro tighthead HDPE pail there at the bottom?

Are you a no-chill brewer?

I am starting to wonder if we are somehow the same person.

That container was just there for demonstration purposes. It's from a print shop and contained some chemical used in the printing process. I don't use it for the hobby, but wish I had a few new unused ones.

[Haus]

Outstanding!!!

I know what I am doing during Thanksgiving.

Thanks S-C

[S-Cackalacky]

Flatwoods, thanks for starting this thread and bringing this material to light. You always seem to be on the cutting edge of this hobby.

[ga flatwoods]

Flatwoods, thanks for starting this thread and bringing this material to light. You always seem to be on the cutting edge of this hobby.

In the very near future I may have a 3 ft wide roll to share around with some of you guys. We will see. Maybe Santa comes again this year.
Can't wit to hear from Corene with use of her bag.
Ga Flatwoods

[MichiganCornhusker]

Can't wit to hear from Corene with use of her bag.

Same here, I have a grow center just down the street, they have something similar, but couldn't tell me if it was woven or not. This could be a real find, thanks 'Woods.

[ga flatwoods]

Can't wit to hear from Corene with use of her bag.

Same here, I have a grow center just down the street, they have something similar, but couldn't tell me if it was woven or not. This could be a real find, thanks 'Woods.

It will be easy to tell if it is woven or not. If is is you will see individual large strands running in two directions whereas the nonwoven will not be stranded or oriented in any discernable direction.
Ga Flatwoods

[S-Cackalacky]

Corene, wondering if this is the same thing you're using - http://www.geopot.com/products/tan-self ... th-handles" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow ? I won't order until I hear how your experiment goes.

[LBHD]

Can't wit to hear from Corene with use of her bag.

Same here, I have a grow center just down the street, they have something similar, but couldn't tell me if it was woven or not. This could be a real find, thanks 'Woods.

It will be easy to tell if it is woven or not. If is is you will see individual large strands running in two directions whereas the nonwoven will not be stranded or oriented in any discernable direction.
Ga Flatwoods

Looks like the geopot bags are nonwoven.

Is there an advantage to one over the other for our application?

[HDNB]

woven will be like a fabric, with limited porosity...it will be like one of those plastic feed bags, it would leak but not well.
the non woven material is basically all holes...it will drain in all directions quickly and easily.

non woven for this purpose all the way. read the nilex link up there^^

[corene1]

I will be doing a test tomorrow. The bags are not woven but are a porous material. My only concern is that a mash with a bunch of corn in it will plug them up. I was also considering trying burlap. The bags are readily available at the feed store for a buck fifty.

[HDNB]

GA, i think this is the biggest thing to hit grain straining since the corntrifuge.
another use for this "filter cloth" is keeping dirt from plugging weeping tile around a homes foundation. i have dug up these types of installations that are a decade old and after 10 years of rain going through it the dirt is still only one one side. the guys that sell this stuff call it geo textile, but the guys that instal it call it filter cloth...i wonder if this is the best kept secret.
i have not tried this for our purpose *yet*, but i think you will get nominated for the Nobel award for distilling with this stroke of geniosity as more folks give it a go.
@Corene1. i'd bet the burlap will plug up...but the non woven stays running clear. keep us posted!

[Brutal]

This is interesting, and reminds me of a material I saw earlier this year but couldn't specifically think of a use for. There are specific "pads" made that will only absorb oil, or only absorb water. The ones I saw were designed to absorb oil but reject water. I immediately thought one would take the oils out of cloudy distillate, but rejected the idea as they are made of "meltblown polypropylene." The material would not be suitable for high alcohol content, and they were never made to be food safe anyway. But I didn't think of filtering the mash through it.. 5-8% isn't going to hurt anything. I wonder if these geotextile sheets are made in a similar manner? or have similar oil retaining qualities? Getting the oils out of an all grain mash would definitely help with the clarity, and you mention it was very clear.

Heres a link: http://www.oildri.net/Oil_Pads.html

[MichiganCornhusker]

I picked up a 10 gallon geo-sack at the grow shop today. It is much lighter weight, maybe 1 ounce rather than 4, but for $5 I figured I'd try it out.
Seems kinda like a cross between Tyvek and felt. Definitely not woven.

[corene1]

I picked up a 10 gallon geo-sack at the grow shop today. It is much lighter weight, maybe 1 ounce rather than 4, but for $5 I figured I'd try it out.
Seems kinda like a cross between Tyvek and felt. Definitely not woven.

I was at my friends shop today also . We looked at a bunch of different possibilities to try. I think the lighter weight geo bag is a better option as far as sludge packing it up. Also saw some compost bags that are used to make compost tea fertilizer as a good option. They also had some air filter material that was like a gauze cloth in sheets but I think it will catch the grain and the sediments but will not let go of them to clean it. Got everything washed and cleaned tonight and will give these things a test tomorrow. A double layer of burlap looks promising also and is also the least expensive material I have found so far.

[LBHD]

So, the geopot did not get it "clear" - It is still murky and opaque. However, it did filter the dickens out of some junky wash (corn and barley flour). The wash was drained out in <10 min, which makes me think that I have a lighter weight than ga flatwoods' version.

For comparison, I have a super-fine mesh (so fine you wouldnt see the holes unless you hold it about 6 inches from your face) bag that I used for beer brewing (http://www.brewinabag.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow)

Usually, pouring wash through here takes 30+ min, and it clogs up big time and requires major squeezing. The geopot did not need any squeezing really - a thorough squeeze at the end got about a cup more of fluid.

I poured the filtered wash back through the fine bag and it didnt catch ANYTHING, so at the very least, it is filtering to the same degree or better in less time. So, I still consider it 10 bucks well spent.

I would like to use the geopot as a prelim filter, then maybe pass through something like ga flatwoods 4oz fabric as a final clearing filter? I can only find 150yd rolls for $$$ though.

[ga flatwoods]

Give me some time I think I have a source and can help for cost plus mail costs. This stuff is the shit!
Ga Flatwoods

[corene1]

I had pretty much the same results. It worked well but the murk that comes from a corn based mash tends to plug up the pores a bit. I also tried a double layer of burlap, from a feed bag and it worked pretty well but will still have to let the drained mash clear and then siphon. I do think this is on the right track though. Maybe use my paint strainer bags for the next one to get 90 % of the solids then run it through the pots and bags. Gives me a good excuse to start another mash today. As if we need an excuse! Hopefully GA can find a source for the material he used.
Just thought I would add a picture of the strained mash. It is a dark mash with corn , oats , wheat barley , roasted grains in it so probably not the best to test with.

[LBHD]

I did notice that my cloudy mash dropped out pretty quick. Garage is 67 degrees and the sediment dropped in 3-4 hrs. That is not normal for me - usually have to refrigerate etc. and wait a couple days.

[LBHD]

Give me some time I think I have a source and can help for cost plus mail costs. This stuff is the shit!
Ga Flatwoods

Very cool - let me know if you need help with anything. Not sure what I could do but anything to facilitate better filtering is worth my time!

[Haus]

S-C,
Are there holes in the bottom too or just the sides?

[S-Cackalacky]

S-C,
Are there holes in the bottom too or just the sides?

Yes, the bottom also has holes.

Note: make sure your 3 buckets nest loosely inside each other. You could probably use a regular 5 gallon bucket with a faucet installed as the bottom bucket - however, the 6 gallon bottling bucket gives a lot more fill space.

[Haus]

S-C,
Are there holes in the bottom too or just the sides?

Yes, the bottom also has holes.

Note: make sure your 3 buckets nest loosely inside each other. You could probably use a regular 5 gallon bucket with a faucet installed as the bottom bucket - however, the 6 gallon bottling bucket gives a lot more fill space.

I have 3 of those ale pails like yours, then I figured out two different brands of the 5 gallon ones would fit loosely.

Thanks!

[Haus]

I don't know which one of you geniuses can take credit for "The Ass-Press", please identify yourself, I am putting you in for the Nobel Prize.

Fantastic, Work smarter not harder.

[heartcut]

I agree Haus, plus the name itself deserves some recognition.

[S-Cackalacky]

I don't know which one of you geniuses can take credit for "The Ass-Press", please identify yourself, I am putting you in for the Nobel Prize.

Fantastic, Work smarter not harder.

I don't remember the thread topic name, but the first person I know of who described it was OBX_Phantom(sp?).

[Brutal]

I did notice that my cloudy mash dropped out pretty quick. Garage is 67 degrees and the sediment dropped in 3-4 hrs. That is not normal for me - usually have to refrigerate etc. and wait a couple days.

If the material has absorbed some of the oils out of the mash it will clear much more quickly. Makes me think it's got some of the qualities of the oil absorbent pads described in my previous post.