Here is my homemade hop filter in action. In case someone wants to build their own hop filter, the parts list is as follows:
* 12" x 24" sheet of type 304 stainless steel cloth, 26 x 26 mesh. McMaster Carr part #85385T719
* Type 302/304 stainless steel safety lock wire, 0.015" diameter, 1/4# spool. McMaster Carr part #8860K11
* 3/8" soft copper tubing, approx 8" with 90 degree bend and flared on one end
* 1 brass 3/8" flare nut
To construct the filter, I cut the stainless mesh into two equally sized 10"x10" squares with a small rectangular protrusion in the middle of one of the sides to accommodate the copper pickup tube and a hose clamp to seal off the filter. I folded the edges of each sheet over about 1 cm so that when sewed it would prevent the edges from fraying. I laid the mesh sheets on top one another and sewed them together using the stainless lock wire. The copper tubing was inserted through the opening and secured in place using the hose clamp. This option also allows easy removal of the pickup tube and easy cleaning of the inside of the filter. Total price for the filter was ~$30 in materials.
