AluBall Problems
- Thread starter Chris1052
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verticity
I'm interested in things
That happens to me sometimes if I use the ball a few times in a row without cleaning it. The holes in the mesh are very small and can get gunked up by kavalactones and other stuff that is not water soluble so can be hard to clean out. That prevents water from getting into the ball, so the kava never really gets completely wet, and the resulting drink is very weak. What you can do is soak it in some warm soapy water and clean it with something like a toothbrush, gently so you don't tear the mesh. If that doesn't work, try soaking in alcohol and then rinse thoroughly to de-gunk it.
Kojo Douglas
The Kavasseur
No, I use two balls at once.
I bought about 7 or 8 and that's before I started selling them.
verticity
I'm interested in things
So your travels around the world have not taken you to Chernobyl...
Zaphod
Kava Lover
Yes! This happened to me a few times and I determined that the inside of the ball was still wet when I put my kava in. The kava then stuck to the inside of the ball (just like your second picture) and prevented the water from getting through. Now I make sure I dry the inside of the ball with a papertowel before putting the kava in - have not had the problem since.
Señor Chuggs
Friend of Kava
Is that a REAL mousepad!!??? What a great artifact from a simpler time.I've been noticing some issues using stronger kavas, specifically Squanch Waka, in the AluBall. Pictured is what happens. I use exactly two tablespoons and 400ml of water and it just gums up like this. Any suggestions?
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Oh, and I use a single aluball. I only fill the big half (the left half in your picture) 3/4 of the way up, then screw on the empty 2nd half. I know its not much kava, but I get a good shake out of it.
I'll drink that grog, then go for another shake, and get a weak second wash. At this point, I do take out the ball, wash it out and refill it, and shake that into my second wash.
Of course, 80% of the time Im using traditional prep, which uses zero balls, and just transfer that grog into the Aluball shaker bottle for serving. I think that gets a better extraction.
But the point I'm getting at is you can definitely beef up your grog by washing and changing the same ball. double/triple balling saves time though.
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PapaMoi
Kava Enthusiast
I know that situation all too well! Just from your picture I can deduce that you didn't wipe out and/or dry the Aluball before putting fresh kava in. Whenever I do the Aluball method, I make sure to rinse it out and dry completely (very important) before adding new kava. Sometimes I'll have a second Aluball ready if need be. You can salvage that kava in your picture and add it to traditionally prepped kava. I have had to do it more than once.
Chris1052
Kava Curious
Papa I think you and Zaphod are right. I did not dry my ball before I put the root in. I was also getting to the bottom of my bag where it is more powdery so that probably worsened the situation. I was able to just scrape it off the sides and put the ball back together and shake it. The first time I just put it in a strainer and went with trad prep.
Lesson learned: Wet balls and kava do not mix well. Dry your balls before you shake them
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Rick.Sanchez
Kava Enthusiast
I also use freshly washed, wet balls (no puns intended), and I've only ever had a problem when I've used too much kava. I think @verticity is on to something. I've also noticed that if I don't thoroughly clean the mesh, water doesn't pass through it well. It's a very fine mesh.
Crunked
Proselytizer
I use two balls, one for each wash. I then immediately give each ball a good rinse under tepid water and leave them to dry out. If gunk builds up, I have had some success with the sonic water cleaners used for jewellery. But as the other posters have said, don't add root to a wet ball and don't overstuff the ball.
Chris1052
Kava Curious
It is great! So much easier and quicker than trad prep, I feel like it saves root too.
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Odourman
Skål from Sweden!
I read that it's dishwasher safe also.
My first thought is that to clean I whould put a small amount of hand dishcleaning soap, what do you call it in english? The word escapes me.
Anyway, I would put a small amount in the ball and shake it in water a couple of times before putting it in the dishwasher.
My first thought is that to clean I whould put a small amount of hand dishcleaning soap, what do you call it in english? The word escapes me.
Anyway, I would put a small amount in the ball and shake it in water a couple of times before putting it in the dishwasher.
Chris1052
Kava Curious
I wouldn't put it in the dishwasher. I just use hot water to rinse it off usually, sometimes I will hand wash it with dish soap. Even after leaving residue in it overnight it is still very easy to rinse off.
As to multiple washes it depends on the kava. With Squanch I can get two sometimes three washes out of a ball. Many times I will do the first wash, then refill it and shake again and then empty the ball and refill it with more root to get an even stronger 2nd batch.
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