Need to make a custom false bottom. What size holes?
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2012 9:05 am
by mthhurley
I have an odd sized pot that I want to start doing RIMS with and I need to get a false bottom in it. Problem is, none of the standard ones out there will fit.
I can get stainless screen from McMaster Carr locally but I have no idea what hole size to get. Ideas?
Also any suggestions on thickness of it to prevent any downward bowing along the edges with the heavy mash sitting on it?
Thanks!
Re: Need to make a custom false bottom. What size holes?
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:19 am
by brewindruid
Somewhere in the interweb of brewland I heard 3/32 holes on 5/32 centers!
Hearsay mind you, why not spec a premade and see what it comes out at.
Cheers
Scott
Re: Need to make a custom false bottom. What size holes?
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:19 am
by EL TIZZO
brewindruid wrote:Somewhere in the interweb of brewland I heard 3/32 holes on 5/32 centers!
Hearsay mind you, why not spec a premade and see what it comes out at.
Cheers
Scott
You are correct according to More Beer's website...that is what theirs spec out to...they also do custom false bottoms which I bet would save you a huge headache and it would probably be pretty nice
cheers!

Re: Need to make a custom false bottom. What size holes?
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:54 am
by Kbar
Have been running customer false bottoms on my cooler with 3/32" holes spaced 5/32" away. See onlinemetals.com. Great site for sheets of this material if you can DIY.
They also cut to length within tolerances. I am working on a 12"x24" custom false bottom in this style sheet. $51.41. Ground shipping gets it to me in 2-3 days.
Main link for all sizes
http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cf ... &top_cat=13/32" at 5/32" spacing, 0.060" thick sheet - my preferred.
http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant.cf ... &top_cat=0
Re: Need to make a custom false bottom. What size holes?
Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 2:00 pm
by brewindruid
That is a good source Kbar...thnx for that.
I actually built a mash manifold from 3/4 SS sheath, man was that ever a pain literally and figuratively. I have been using variations of that in my kettles. For that price I may just have to a false bottom made up to compare efficiency. The last qoute i got on a false bottom for a 15g kettle was over 150.!!!!