Stir plate for 6000mL flask

[stillbrew]

Hi all,
I recently inherited a 6L flask and want to make a stir plate for it. I had already collected a PC fan, magnets, and an AC/DC converter thinking I would build a stir plate for a 2000mL flask set up but now that I have the 6L flask I was wondering if I need to redesign? I have heard reference to a stir plate that Doc uses for ~3 gal. starters that he makes but couldn't find reference to it anywhere. I'm thinking that as long as I have a base large enough to support the flask I may just need to get a longer stir bar and it will work fine.

Thanks for any help,

Stillbrew

[EL TIZZO]

I have been planning a big stir plate myself...I was planning on hacking the motor from a 12" desk fan, carefully cutting the blades off of the hub to mount the magnets and mounting it all in a box i plan on making out of particle board or something similar...you can buy the rare earth magnets at radioshack or the internets if you dont have a hard drive to hack...for speed control I was just planning on using a standard light dimmer switch...for a flask a standard stir bar will work...if you want to use a carboy you will need to get a barbell style stir bar (check out stirbar.com)...they unfortunately have a min 50 dollar order so maybe your LHBS can make an order or homebrew club to split up an order?

Hope this helps

Cheers!

[Bugeater]

Just make sure you have a big enough motor and strong enough magnets. When I moved up to a 4 liter flask, my old stir plate could not get the liquid moving before tossing the stir bar. Ebay is a good source for the bigger stir bars you need without having to buy a couple dozen at a time. You will want at least 2 stir bars because you will accidentally dump one into your fermenter now and then. With a spare you won't need to worry about fishing it out.

[stillbrew]

Thanks for the advice guys!!

@El Tizzo that sounds like it'll be a beefy stir plate I look forward to seeing pics of the build and final product. I'll post some pics of mine if it ever gets built.

@Bugeater What kind of stir plate did you have to upgrade to for the 4L flask?

Cheers!!!

[Bugeater]

I upgraded to a Corning PC-420 (like this one http://compare.ebay.com/like/2611089314 ... s&var=sbar ) I got one used in a trade with a guy in Texas. I traded a Blichman Beer Gun that I won in a brewing competition. I'm a cheap SOB. I wouldn't pay that much cash for a stirplate.