Spin Dry Grains with 3200RPM Spin Dryer

[700G]

I haven't made anything to drink in a year or so and the whiskey is gone! This go around I'm gonna try out the Panda 3200 RPM Spin Dryer instead of squeezing the bags. I plan on putting the grains into a 5 gallon mesh bag and throwing it in the spinner.

Anyone else used one of these for this purpose before?

Check it out: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Panda-3200- ... lsrc=aw.ds" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[fizzix]

Well, it has an 85%, 5-star (highest) user rating.
Reading through the customer comments on Amazon
it seems the few 2 common complaints are that it leaked around the base,
or the spin wouldn't start with a minor load.

Eh, that's worth a toss of the dice, but I wouldn't throw the box away too quickly.
One reviewer has a video, and it looks like a 5-gallon grain Brew Bag could fit "balanced" inside.
I wonder how well the plastic drain & a 10%ABV mash would play together.

700G, I hope if you get this centrifuge you report back with your experience.
The only part of this hobby I find a pain is the straining and squeezing.

Here's a promo video:

[WIski]

This looks interesting. The capacity is stated at 22pounds. I would guess you will get approximately 2 to 2.5 gallons of liquid separated per 5 minute cycle. If it works as hoped for this process will take a bit longer than squeezing but a hell of a lot easier. Good luck with this adventure...….

[700G]

Should know something within a week or two!

[cranky]

I wonder how well that would work on apples

Actually this gives me an idea about converting my small mall chopper into an apple centrifuge

[shadylane]

I wonder how to get the spend grain out of it?

[StillerBoy]

How would it be cleaned, and how would it be sanitized ? ? even just a hose wash would be not enough to remove the grain oils, and that could be a problem the next time it is used..

Mars

[HDNB]

How would it be cleaned, and how would it be sanitized ? ? even just a hose wash would be not enough to remove the grain oils, and that could be a problem the next time it is used..

Mars

run some star san through, and then spray with star san and let it dry out. give it another star san then water rinse before using the next time.

(i had to post something to sub in, i gotta know what happens!) (video could be entertaining!)

[StillerBoy]

un some star san through, and then spray with star san and let it dry out. give it another star san then water rinse before using the next time.

HDNB.. one would need to have a good bank account to support that process.. lol

Mars

[fizzix]

My wringer mop bucket never got the StarSan treatment beyond first pressing, and a spray bottle goes a long way if it did.
And as far as the grain, 700G has the right idea with a 5-gallon BIAB. I can out-lazy the bunch of you and this thing looks like
it's right up my alley. Keep us posted, 700G!

[ShineonCrazyDiamond]

un some star san through, and then spray with star san and let it dry out. give it another star san then water rinse before using the next time.

HDNB.. one would need to have a good bank account to support that process.. lol

Mars

That's like $1.50 in star sans...

[700G]

I got a set of 8 different mesh bags of different micron ratings to put the grains in for $39. They seem to be out of the 5gal 8 bag set now though - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AN ... UTF8&psc=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[jonnys_spirit]

If it’s got particulate residue PBW and hot water does a great job of loosening. Then hot water to rinse it. Then star san to sanitize. Don’t let the gunk dry and you can probably skip the pbw. On work days in the cellar/distillery i usually make up 2gal of each in the bottle washer sanitizer system and in a five gallon bucket.

Cheers!
-jonny

[700G]

I finally got to test this thing today. I give it an A+! It made short work of the grains from an 18 gallon AG ferment. Dumped grains in paint strainer bag and put inside of another 190 micron bag and stuffed it in the spinner. About 5 minutes later the grain was dry, even drier than I can get them by squeezing. 18 gallon ferment only required 2 separate runs in the spinner and I was done. No more squeezing for me from now on!

[OtisT]

700g, you are my new hero.

How was cleanup?

Otis

[700G]

I just ran a bit of hot water through it then some starsan, super easy.

[hellbilly007]

Awesome find, 700G. Thanks for the follow up too. This is just what I need with my limited time off work. At least that's my excuse for a new toy.

[jonnys_spirit]

This looks great but be careful too! “Not much” bad can happen when spinng 20lbs of grain @ about 53 spins per second.

Cheers!
Jonny

[700G]

This looks great but be careful too! “Not much” bad can happen when spinng 20lbs of grain @ about 53 spins per second.

Cheers!
Jonny

I was actually surprised at how stable the thing was while spinning all that grain around. It was only wobbly when I tried smaller amounts of grain and took longer to stabilize.

[NZChris]

This looks great but be careful too! “Not much” bad can happen when spinng 20lbs of grain @ about 53 spins per second.

Cheers!
Jonny

I'b be very surprised if a bag of wash didn't balance itself and even more surprised if there wasn't a built in safety shut off for out of balance loads.

[Tomb]

Wow, this is high tech!

But inquiring minds want to know.....

How much wort did you get from the 18 lbs of wet grain?
(Some would say a extra pound or two is better than all the effort)

T

[frunobulax]

I like it! Might have to try it on the next run of Bourbon. Keep us posted on how it holds up.

[ydoih8u]

Wow, this is high tech!

But inquiring minds want to know.....

How much wort did you get from the 18 lbs of wet grain?
(Some would say a extra pound or two is better than all the effort)

T

I'm pretty sure it's about less effort (automated removing liquid from grains vs hand squeezing).

[MichiganCornhusker]

It made short work of the grains from an 18 gallon AG ferment.

What was the grain bill? Wondering how it would do with high corn or high rye recipes.
Looks like a great machine, thanks for checking it out!

[Benredbeard]

Toys are great, one of life's simple pleasures, but grain is cheap. You can get those sugars with an extra pound of malt for a dollar.

[700G]

It made short work of the grains from an 18 gallon AG ferment.

What was the grain bill? Wondering how it would do with high corn or high rye recipes.
Looks like a great machine, thanks for checking it out!

Trying out the Honeybear recipe:

15 lbs corn meal
1.5lb Gambrinus Honey Malt
3 lb white wheat malt
3 lb red wheat malt
3lb pale malt

[Brum]

Be careful about using appliances that are not designed as food-grade applicable. Running a wash through such a machine can introduce your brew to brass, aluminum, pot metals, and plastics, not to mention metal shavings and other unwanted byproducts of the manufacturing process. All of which are not suitable for food or drink production. You can buy a stainless steel rectangular strainer at Walmart for around $20. The unit is designed with extendable arms to allow it to fit across most sink widths, so it will also fit over your brew kettle. Placing portions of your previously steeped grain in the strainer and sparging with heated wash, then hot water, will remove most of the sugars left in the grain. It's manual labor, but safer. Works great for pre-washing your grains too. To give you an idea of it's capacity, the image attached shows the strainer being used to rinse 6 pounds of corn kernels. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Heavy-duty-S ... /665238521" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

[still_stirrin]

Hey Brum, do you know that the hose inside of that flexible stainless steel shower hose is rubber?

It’s ironic that you caution about plastics and such and then show a solution which opposes your very admonishment.
ss

[StillerBoy]

It's really interesting, how information is mis-understood.. low abv in grain mash is one then, high temp alcohol vapour are a total different animal..

And why would one want to rinse the grains before milling them.. exposing the grains to mildew and who what else, not discounting the milling would be almost impossible..

Mars

[DetroitDIY]

I wonder how well that would work on apples

Me too. I haven't invested (time or money) into any drying device yet, other than an apple press. But I would be very interested to know if anyone tries this on extracting liquid from a pulpy fruit ferment. I've got an apple pomace / water / sugar ferment that I need to separate... about 80 gallons, and this sounds tempting.

I may have to give this a go. Any thoughts on mesh size to hold in the pomace? I'm sure I'll use it on grains in the future too... if I take the leap.