Corretto Bread Bin/ Roast Chamber Insulation

[IrisGanache]

I'm sure Monsieur Gaultier would be suitably impressed :P.

[scottbase]

Lol! Yes, that's how I remove the odour from the smoke

[IrisGanache]

Sorry, you've lost me?

The tin there is a tin from the packaging of a bottle of Jean Paul Gaultiers Le Male (perfume) .

[scottbase]

I'm sure JPG would be thrilled .

Sorry, you've lost me?

[IrisGanache]

I'm sure JPG would be thrilled .

[scottbase]

Apologies for the delay -- a busy few days, including taking the family to the Double Shot Coffee Fiesta this weekend. Fantastic coffee event in Adelaide - now i have to get a Cold Drip, doh! Anyway, offtopic.

I recently switched to the Bosch PHG 630 DCE. Much better control and accuracy than the variable dial Oritzo, that dial was VERY variable.
My lid on the big loaf is fairly high and I tried the gun in various positions from the top, side, added splitter/diffuser, nothing worked I really wanted to use this machine as i ripped out the wiring and put in a switch so it would be easier to do back to back roasts - plus no heat cut out on our 40C plus days.

I think my problem is the slow agitation of the beans, the big loaf is noticeably slower compared to the vigorous and fast agitation of the BB280. When i get some time i'll modify the paddles and try again.

My setup attached - i'm loving my latest chimney design that attaches to the bean cooler. just enough suction to collect the chaff but not enough to drag too much heat out. Big Loaf on the left, BB280 on the right.

[Yelta]

Just flat across the top, made out of 6mm cement board...

What matt suggests is a good point though. If your Heatgun is penetrating too far into the bread-pan, then you do run the risk of scorching and/or tipping. With mine for example, it would penetrate below the lid by about 25-30mm or so, and is a nice neat fit.

These days I rarely roast batches more than 650g but occasionally do batches of 900g with great outcomes. With the 650g batches, the maximum heat setting I use is about 65% (on a Makita tradie heatgun); the 900g batches require a max of 75% on the dial. Typically, roast batches are completed just within or just over 20 minutes from go to whoa. Lots of this sort of info to be found here... http://coffeesnobs.com.au/home-roast...er-week-8.html

Mal.

Your setup sounds very similar to mine Mal, like you I use a a flat piece of fibro for the lid leaving approx 1/3rd uncovered to allow chaff and hot air to vent.

Hole cut for heat gun nozzle, usual batch size 750 grams green and my roasts usually finish just a whisker under 20 mins.

[DesigningByCoffee]

My lid, like Mal's, is flat across the top but I have a gun entry 'chimney' on top made from a small tin can - so the tip of the gun doesn't protrude into the pan at all… has all the heat flow benefit but little direct radiant heat from the element…

[Dimal]

Is your lid flat across the top of the basket or raised?

Just flat across the top, made out of 6mm cement board...

What matt suggests is a good point though. If your Heatgun is penetrating too far into the bread-pan, then you do run the risk of scorching and/or tipping. With mine for example, it would penetrate below the lid by about 25-30mm or so, and is a nice neat fit.

These days I rarely roast batches more than 650g but occasionally do batches of 900g with great outcomes. With the 650g batches, the maximum heat setting I use is about 65% (on a Makita tradie heatgun); the 900g batches require a max of 75% on the dial. Typically, roast batches are completed just within or just over 20 minutes from go to whoa. Lots of this sort of info to be found here... http://coffeesnobs.com.au/home-roast...er-week-8.html

Mal.

[DesigningByCoffee]

What sort of gun are you using and how far into the pan does it go?

When I went to larger batch sizes (350g up to 750g in a BBM100) I had to increase paddle height to get good agitation, especially later in the roast (as the beans expand and end up close to the top of the pan - maybe this is when yours are scorching?).

But I also have a 'splitter' which I believe helps to get a lot more heat and airflow to the bottom of the bean mass, allowing lower input temps as well - but no-one I know of has ever supported the theory enough to give it a go and back up the hypothesis! So maybe it's all just snake oil

But I've never even seen scorching - so something must be working!

Cheers Matt

[scottbase]

Yes, I was pretty disappointed as I wanted to do larger batch sizes. Is your lid flat across the top of the basket or raised?

[Dimal]

That's a bit strange Scott...

Have been using a Breville Big Loaf with complete success for many years, including an insulated pan and cover. Never had any issues with agitation either, even with batch sizes approaching 1.2Kg. Sorry to hear it hasn't worked out for you but glad your alternative BM is doing the job...

Mal.

[scottbase]

Hi all,

Just to let you know that no amount of insulation, directly around the basket and in the walls of my Big Loaf machine solved my issues - still loads of scorching of the beans. This was the first time i actually threw out beans due to failed roasts So i've given up on the Big Loaf and gone back to my trusty BB280. Which works perfectly without any insulation at all!

I noticed the Big Loaf did not agitate the beans as quickly as the BB280 and I also had a high lid, so more heat was required to get the temp up for larger batch size = scorchio!

When i get some time i'll make a new lid for the big loaf and try again

[Dimal]

The fire blankets don't need to be cut to shed strands, you only have to rub it on something to see that they quite easily shed lots of strands which I found quite irritating on the skin and who knows how much I inhaled over time using it.

Not the fire-blankets (for welding workshops, etc) that I have used. They do NOT shed anything so not aware of the fire-blankets being referred to....

Mal.

[Steve82]

Yes indeed...

Ceramic fibres/dusts of any kind can be very nasty if ingested or inhaled, including the various types that go under the generic description of a "Mineral Wool"....

Mal.

As can the fire blankets already being recommended and used. Even though they are non toxic, the material itself still carries the same warnings for repeated exposure and use, respiratory, eye and skin irritation.

The fire blankets don't need to be cut to shed strands, you only have to rub it on something to see that they quite easily shed lots of strands which I found quite irritating on the skin and who knows how much I inhaled over time using it.

If one was to use the ceramic wool insulation, as suggested it would be to fill the space around the bread pan (like an oven)
Ideally as suggested by scottbase you may want to cover it in foil, or better yet purchase the hi temp stuff already covered with foil.

Leaving enough of a gap between the pan and insulation for easy removal of bread pan, so as not to disturb the insulation would result in a lot less chance of fibres becoming air borne than having the blanket, fibreglass or ceramic wrapped around the pan pulled in and out ect.