|
fungusmuncher
rabbit chaser



Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 1,068
|
Re: First run with bags. [Re: Forrester]
#26803316 - 07/04/20 10:34 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Forrester said: I think it's because you are sealing them before you PC them. How's the increasingly hot air gonna escape? Blow a hole.
After reading this entire thread about 5 times I thought I'd be ok https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/26282176/fpart/1/vc/1. ; I'll try another 12 bags tonight unsealed.
Edit: The 4 sealed bags in my presto came out great. Was that just luck of the draw? The 4 bags sterilized in the presto the night before didn't burst either. Sorry for all the posts, just trying to figure this out.
Edited by fungusmuncher (07/04/20 11:12 AM)
|
Forrester
aspiring sociopath


Registered: 02/05/13
Posts: 9,351
Loc: Northeast USA
Last seen: 24 days, 15 hours
|
|
Quote:
fungusmuncher said: Edit: The 4 sealed bags in my presto came out great. Was that just luck of the draw? The 4 bags sterilized in the presto the night before didn't burst either. Sorry for all the posts, just trying to figure this out.
I'm not an expert on PC-ing bags as I found it to be a pain in the ass so I never did it much, but here's my thoughts based on physics:
You're getting lucky on the ones that survive. You mentioned the blowouts happened between where the other bags weren't sitting on top of them - so in other words, if they have a place to blow out, they're probably going to. When you heat up your PC, the air inside the bags as well as outside of them gets hot very quickly. If they are sealed and it can't get out the filter patch quick enough, it's gonna blow if it has room. So if you just rolled 'em over instead of sealing, I think you wouldn't have problems.
Of course you could always cram enough shit in there they wouldn't have a place to blow out, but I wouldn't rely on luck if it were me, I'd just not seal em. Up to you though, just my thoughts.
-------------------- Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here. ------------------- Have some medicinal mushrooms and want to get the most out of them? Try this double extraction method.
|
fungusmuncher
rabbit chaser



Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 1,068
|
Re: First run with bags. [Re: Forrester]
#26803998 - 07/04/20 05:31 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Quote:
Forrester said:
Quote:
fungusmuncher said: Edit: The 4 sealed bags in my presto came out great. Was that just luck of the draw? The 4 bags sterilized in the presto the night before didn't burst either. Sorry for all the posts, just trying to figure this out.
I'm not an expert on PC-ing bags as I found it to be a pain in the ass so I never did it much, but here's my thoughts based on physics:
You're getting lucky on the ones that survive. You mentioned the blowouts happened between where the other bags weren't sitting on top of them - so in other words, if they have a place to blow out, they're probably going to. When you heat up your PC, the air inside the bags as well as outside of them gets hot very quickly. If they are sealed and it can't get out the filter patch quick enough, it's gonna blow if it has room. So if you just rolled 'em over instead of sealing, I think you wouldn't have problems.
Of course you could always cram enough shit in there they wouldn't have a place to blow out, but I wouldn't rely on luck if it were me, I'd just not seal em. Up to you though, just my thoughts.
Right on, I'm going to try another run tomorrow unsealed. When I fold the top of the bag over should the filter patch be on the inside or outside of the fold? Or does it matter?
So far I've been folding them so the filter patch is between the fold and the bag. Should I fold over in the other direction so the filter patch is exposed?
|
SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 16 hours
|
|
I agree with both of the above statements. A pillowcase would not have helped because the bags did not melt because they were against the PC's sides. A hole was blown in the top of the bag from overpressure. You can either buy pre-sealable bags or just fold your bags. I think we know which one I say to do but the choice is yours.
|
MMG
Artesano



Registered: 07/29/15
Posts: 547
Last seen: 2 years, 3 months
|
|
You'd be shooting to have the filter patch directly on your substrate and not on top of one or two layers of plastic. That way the bag will be able to breath and not pop like it did. I've been having issues with melted bags as well. Will try the pillow case method and this idea of making sure the filter is allowing the bag to breath while pced.
|
Bsdgaou

Registered: 02/20/19
Posts: 340
|
Re: First run with bags. [Re: MMG]
#26804591 - 07/05/20 04:03 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Do you guys compress bags prior to sterilising? And after you add spawn, seal, and mix it?
|
fungusmuncher
rabbit chaser



Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 1,068
|
Re: First run with bags. [Re: Bsdgaou]
#26804633 - 07/05/20 05:36 AM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
It seems bags are a hard thing to figure out in pressure cookers. Some people go years with no issues and others have constant problems. The bags I'm using have a .5 micron filter.
Going to try some unsealed. If I can't get at least %90 success rate in the next week I'll be building a barrel sterilizer asap.
I've seen people mention they can only fit 20-25 bags in a 55 gallon but I think they might be referring to 10lb bags. If I can fit around 50 bags in a 55 gallon it will be worth it.
Edited by fungusmuncher (07/05/20 07:08 AM)
|
SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 16 hours
|
|
Well, you might as well start buying the parts for your steamer. Once you start folding your bags you will have 100% success.
The people who are having constant problems. Are the people who don't listen to more experienced growers. I have been there and you have been there obviously. No big deal. I am sure we have all been there at one point.
Understand we are here spending our time to save you time and money and we do it for free. Because we want to see you become a successful grower in the least amount of time possible.
Forget about the impulse sealer. Buy the cable ties they are like $7 and the time and effort they save is awesome.
Something else that will save you time is not mixing the sub before it goes in the bag. Put your dry ingredients in the bag mix it dry and add the proper amount of water. When you spawn you have to mix the spawn with the sub so all the ingredients get mixed when you spawn. No need to mix the sub twice.
You do not have to continue to do anything that someone suggests. But to not try it and just decide against it is not smart.
|
fungusmuncher
rabbit chaser



Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 1,068
|
|
I have to bite the bullet and start building a barrel sterilizer. Shopping around for parts now. Found some 55 gallon barrels around here but they have a "poly ceramic direct food contact inner lining" so I don't know if they are going to be suitable. Going to reach out a little further tomorrow and see what I can find.
|
fungusmuncher
rabbit chaser



Registered: 03/07/09
Posts: 1,068
|
|
You were right, keeping the bags unsealed is much easier. They create a great vacuum on themselves and actually stayed cleaner near the top of the bag. Most important, they don't pop.
|
SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 16 hours
|
|
I am glad folding the bags worked out for you. Next year you will just have to buy fireworks for the fourth of July. Instead of sitting back and listening to your bags pop in the steamer.
When you go to build your steamer drum give me a yell and I will help you as much as I can.
|
humaninspiredlife
Stranger
Registered: 05/03/20
Posts: 10
Last seen: 16 days, 4 hours
|
|
Do you have consistent success with your steamer for grains? I'm using oats, for reference. I built a 4 barrel steamer with 2 boilers to feed them, and only ran it once, and I think about %60-%75 of the bags worked out.
But there was a lot of factors involved in cooling the system (It sucking back in dirty air upon cooldown), having to remove the bags and transporting to another location, etc.
|
SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 16 hours
|
|
I do my grain in my PC I am only doing about 40 5 lb bags a week. So I only use a 5 lb bag of grain spawn a week (Get a spoodle and save on time and grain spawn). I do 2 bags every 2 weeks in my PC. When I was using more spawn than I needed I used to do my grain in my steamer and never had a problem. I build a hot plate from an old stove and hooked my presto 23 quart PC up to a PID. So I basically press a button and walk away my PC does all the work. I don't check it or monitor it. It is nice and well worth $75 I spent to build it. It saves me a ton of time and heats up quickly. I run it for 4 hours and it barely uses any water.



|
humaninspiredlife
Stranger
Registered: 05/03/20
Posts: 10
Last seen: 16 days, 4 hours
|
|
Very cool! Thanks for the info. I've been lurking the forum for 10 years and have really enjoyed your teks and advice to others. You're very helpful, and intelligent =)
I'm going to fit my boilers with a PID and element according to your steamer tek, running propane on my burners really sucked to constantly adjust. Currently I just use my gaggle of AA's but.. it's time for an upgrade.
Is your unit cooled/unloaded in front of your flowhood? Also, did you pack your grain spawn bags in on top of eachother, or use a rack system?
|
SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 16 hours
|
|
Thank you for your kind words.
My steamer is not unloaded in front of my flow hood. But it does sit for a couple of days until it is totally cooled.
I never did that many bags of grain. The most were four 5 lb bags. No need for a rack system. I just placed them on top of my sub bags. I only use a 1/2 cup of spawn for each 5 lb bag. It does not take much to do the bags. I seal my grain bags with monoprice reclosable cable ties they are great, I also use them to seal my sub bags after I spawn. They are better and faster than an impulse sealer and way cheaper.
|
Bsdgaou

Registered: 02/20/19
Posts: 340
|
|
From one 5lb bag you do 40 5lb fruiting blocks?
|
SHROOMSISAY01
Mr. Shrooms



Registered: 01/22/17
Posts: 3,849
Loc: Virginia, USA
Last seen: 2 days, 16 hours
|
Re: First run with bags. [Re: Bsdgaou]
#26826872 - 07/16/20 12:06 PM (3 years, 6 months ago) |
|
|
Yes, I use a 4 oz spoodle to spawn with. I place the spoodle in an empty spawn bag and seal the spawn bag and either PC at 15 psi for 20 minutes or place it in with my sub bags when I steam them.
The long handle on the spoodle helps keep from getting contamination in your bags...
https://www.amazon.com/Value-PPG-4-S-Food-Portioner-Handle/dp/B077RPCFRK/ref=sr_1_25?dchild=1&keywords=4+oz+spoodle&qid=1594922584&s=industrial&sr=1-25
|
|