1. Home
  2. Winemaking Craft Forum
  3. DIY agitator rod

DIY agitator rod

Whilst perusing a popular on-line beer and wine making site I got a yen for buying a plastic agitator rod -- retail $14.95US plus shipping. Being somewhat of a cheapskate, I looked around for alternatives. I found a plastic rod used for opening/closing window blinds for sale at a local home building supply store -- $1.98. I ended up buying a second one because when I was bending the rod to look like the agitator rod in the catalog, I got it just a wee bit too close to the flame from the propane torch. After I bent the end to suit me, I cut the length to leave about an inch space between the drill chuck and the neck of the carboy when the other end touchs the bottom. Works great -- whips the heck out of the liquids and costs less than the shipping charges on the thingy in the catalog, even including the second rod. By the way, if you make one for yourself, pull out the spacers and stiffners from inside the rod.

Reply to
Casey Wilson
Loading thread data ...

Hi Casey-

That rod you purchased might not be food safe- ie, it may have plasticizers and chemicals in it that will leach out during use into your wine. While the amounts might be small, they will be present.

You might want to consider making one out of Aluminum or Stainless rod, instead. Won't need a blowtorch and won't have much to mess up your wines.

Jason

Reply to
purduephotog

Hmmmm, I didn't think of that when I put on my cheapskate's mask. Thanks....

Casey

Reply to
Casey Wilson

Heh you aren't the only one...

Ethanol is a GREAT solvent. Leave some in contact with plastic and watch it leach colour out after only a day or so.

Jason

Reply to
purduephotog

Take a trip to your local Home Depot or Wal Mart and I'm sure you can find everything you'll need to make a food save degasser. Seeing that I just broke ANOTHER plastic wine whip, I will follow my own advice and report back.

Reply to
RobD

I have a long plastic spoon I just flip over to go in the carboy. That's cheap and pretty hard to break. (Yes, I broke my stirrer too...) If you want to go really cheap just take one of those solid racking canes and flip it over and spin that. Alton Brown would call it a multitasker... :0)

Joe

Reply to
Joe Sallustio

DrinksForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.