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humorme
Stranger
Registered: 06/20/13
Posts: 5
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
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Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw
#18447483 - 06/20/13 02:45 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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I typically use two separate large tubs, one for the initial soak with dishwashing liquid and one for pasteurization. The straw is hand-transferred from one tub to another, leaving the tubs full of water. The tubs are much too heavy to move with the water inside, the pasteurization bath is too hot for handling, and I am stuck with the tedium of scooping out straw/water with smaller bowls or utensils.
Are there any methods to drain water from large pasteurization baths more efficiently?
I'm not entirely sold on the pillowcase method. Air pockets seem to form, there's no way to agitate the straw, and I'm unsure if this would allow for even distribution of additives(lime, gypsum, etc), which are scooped into the pillowcase prior to adding water.
An attempt has been made at drilling a hole into one tub and installing a drain valve, but the valve clogs quickly, even with a screen installed in front of the valve.
The only other method I can think of would be a dual tub method. Tub 1 would have many small holes drilled into the base, and would be nested inside of tub 2. Soaking and pasteurization would take place with the tubs nested, and upon completion, tub 1 could be lifted out of tub 2, draining as it is lifted. Large tubs of wet straw may still be prohibitively heavy, which is why I have not attempted this method yet.
Are there any other methods for easily draining bulk pasteurization baths?
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,899
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 33 minutes, 31 seconds
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: humorme]
#18447497 - 06/20/13 02:51 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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tubs with holes work great, i use a 3 tier sweater dryer
 i put a tier right over my tote and dump my bulk on
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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humorme
Stranger
Registered: 06/20/13
Posts: 5
Last seen: 11 years, 6 months
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: cronicr]
#18447640 - 06/20/13 03:14 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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That's one unique method for using household items. I'd assume one could use leftover fabric or screen door mesh to do the same.
How large are your tubs and what quantity of straw are you using with each bath? I'm just trying to get an idea for what quantity of wet straw I would be capable of lifting, as my tubs are very large.
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cronicr



Registered: 08/07/11
Posts: 62,899
Loc: Van Isle
Last seen: 33 minutes, 31 seconds
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: humorme]
#18447667 - 06/20/13 03:20 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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i reinforced mine with bigger pvc then you see in the pic but the mesh easily handles 20 pounds at a time(i use it with 20 pounds wbs bags in the tub to rinse) i use to use oven racks over my totes or even bath tub with a sheet over them
-------------------- It doesn't matter what i think of you...all that matters is clean spawn
I'm tired do me a favor
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Sillyputty67

Registered: 10/06/12
Posts: 2,239
Loc: Netherlands
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: cronicr]
#18447858 - 06/20/13 03:51 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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Put your straw in a clean pillow case, and put it in the washer on spin cycle.
-------------------- 1) Everything I ever posted or say is a lie.
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coffeehead
Perpetual Learner

Registered: 01/15/13 
Posts: 142
Last seen: 6 years, 1 month
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: Sillyputty67]
#18447931 - 06/20/13 04:07 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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A wet bale of straw weighs a ton. Lifting one is a two man job unless you're very strong.
I suggest a bigger hole, something in the 1" - 2" range.
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RogerRabbit
Bans for Pleasure



Registered: 03/26/03
Posts: 42,214
Loc: Seattle
Last seen: 1 year, 10 months
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: humorme]
#18448783 - 06/20/13 07:08 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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Build a basket from hardware cloth big enough to hold the straw and submerge into your pasteurization tank. RR
-------------------- Download Let's Grow Mushrooms
semper in excretia sumus solim profundum variat
"I've never had a failed experiment. I've only discovered 10,000 methods which do not work."
Thomas Edison
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BloodKil
Mangler av era mödrar slida


Registered: 03/16/13
Posts: 920
Last seen: 6 months, 12 days
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: RogerRabbit]
#18448936 - 06/20/13 07:41 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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As for right now I just use a big rectangular laundry basket with a couple holes drilled in the bottom...
It just barely fits in my tub length and width wise and is about a foot shorter on height. I just put on some dish washing gloves to reach in the hot water and grab the handles and pull it out, I then toss it into another empty, same sized tote with a couple bricks in its bottom, and toss the lid on.
It gives me excellent drainage, and allows my straw to drain/cool in a relatively clean enviroment. Plus it only cost a few bucks and less than a minute to drill the holes.
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Sillyputty67

Registered: 10/06/12
Posts: 2,239
Loc: Netherlands
Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: BloodKil]
#18449152 - 06/20/13 08:22 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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All of my attempts at pasteurization so far have been a ride on the . I do however keep pushing at it. Ill get the hang of it one of these times.
I have however had great success with sterilization in mycobags, and making football sized cakes out of many various substrates.
My next adventure will be all straw cakes also done in this way.
My plan is to soak the straw in gypsum infused water overnight. lay the straw out on towels, and monitor until field capacity. Pack it into the mycobags and pressure cook it for 2 hours.
Once cool, i use one jar of spawn per bag.
This technique has worked very well with various mixtures coir/manure/coffee/verm/brf/straw cakes.

My buddy next door just got a mulcher, and tomorrow hes going to mulch the whole bale of straw for me. Damn cutting that shit by hand has produced numerous blisters.
-------------------- 1) Everything I ever posted or say is a lie.
Edited by Sillyputty67 (06/20/13 08:27 PM)
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Psilicon
Really Nice Guy


Registered: 08/26/12
Posts: 7,057
Last seen: 4 years, 1 month
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Re: Methods for draining excess water from bulk straw [Re: humorme]
#18449235 - 06/20/13 08:38 PM (11 years, 6 months ago) |
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Many brewers buy those big chest coolers and fix fine hardware cloth over the intake for the spigot to catch all the grains.
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