[majorvices]

I just don't find dough balls a problem if you add the grain to the hot liquor. I do find that it is necessary to pull grain up from the bottom of the tun to get an even heat distribution, unless you have an automated paddle.

I'm sure the whisk works fine, I just think that if you can find a stainless paddle you will notice you have to stir a lot less for a lot less time. That's my experience anyway. Of course, I admit I have never used a whisk in a MT.

[mchrispen]

I use a whisk, a 24 inch commercial one. Love it, and it can easily pull grain up from the false bottom. That said, I grain in the strike water as well. The whisk is probably overkill, but I getting very thorough incorporation much more quickly than with my spoon.

[TMX]

I also add the grain to heated strike water, and dough balls were never an issue until this last brew with a re-built Barley Crusher set to 0.37/38 (I opened up after the 1st bucket of grain).

My spoon was not ideal for busting up the dough balls, but I got it to work.

Tim

[gmwren]

Grout stirrer and drill for dough in. After that a paddle.

[Wort-H.O.G.]

like many things in brewing, more than one way to get there.

[HoosierBrew]

like many things in brewing, more than one way to get there.

+1.  I've never had dough ball issues whatsoever since I started slowly stirring grain into the strike water.  Like many aspects of brewing, lots of ways to get there, though.

[mabrungard]

Grout stirrer and drill for dough in. After that a paddle.

That's interesting. It should work well. I'm just a little concerned with metal contact though, since my grout stirrer is galvanized. I'd rather not have that in contact with wort.  Are there plastic or stainless versions???

[Wort-H.O.G.]

Grout stirrer and drill for dough in. After that a paddle.

That's interesting. It should work well. I'm just a little concerned with metal contact though, since my grout stirrer is galvanized. I'd rather not have that in contact with wort.  Are there plastic or stainless versions???

mine is epoxy coated-have not used it for my mash however...just the DIY stuff.

[hopfenundmalz]

Wooden mash fork for the 1/2 barrel with false bottom.

Plastic paddle or SS long spoon for cooler mash tun.

[gmwren]

Grout stirrer and drill for dough in. After that a paddle.

That's interesting. It should work well. I'm just a little concerned with metal contact though, since my grout stirrer is galvanized. I'd rather not have that in contact with wort.  Are there plastic or stainless versions???

mine is epoxy coated-have not used it for my mash however...just the DIY stuff.

Mine is epoxy coated as well. Really works well busting up tough Maris Otter dough balls.

[BrewBama]

I have a kitchen wire dough whip thing that I jammed into a piece of PVC tubing. Does a great job of busting balls.....in my mash tun.

That gave me an idea. I chucked one of SWMBO's hand held beater attachments (the whisk) into my 18v Dewalt. LOL. If I have an dough balls today they deserve to win.