anyone tried the AluBall?

[dino9832]

I tested the shatter resistance of the Aluball shaker/cup on my head while swinging it around wildly trying to use centrifugal force to bleed the ball dry.

Results:
Shaker - No damage
Me - Bruised ego

I'm just glad it was my head and not the counter top! You know what would be totally cool? Light saber shaped cups, complete with LED lights!
Let the duels begin!

 

[Edward]

I don't have an aluball yet, but I read other people who said the same thing as you. I was thinking of ordering the ball and just using a one-quart mason jar to shake in...

The aluball bottle itself is quite good because it's got the little lid you can flip off and you're sort of straining your liquid as you pour it out. I'm sure any container would work reasonably well though.

 

[Squanch72]

I cracked the base of one of my aluball shakers :-( . I think they need to be stronger. I know other people have had this problem, what are you using instead?

I like to use 1/3rd gallon Coleman jugs. They sell the little bit bigger 1/2 gallon ones at Walmart in the sporting goods/camping section for cheap too. Igloo also makes them. They really work great with the Aluball.

 

[Edward]

I like to use 1/3rd gallon Coleman jugs. They sell the little bit bigger 1/2 gallon ones at Walmart int he sporting goods/camping section for cheap too. Igloo also makes them. They really work great with the Aluball.
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Oh yes, that looks like just what I need.

 

[Edward]

Take a look at this bad boy... 2 litre capacity, sealable lid, tap opens to pour... 2 aluballs at a time and make a good batch up

 

[Edward]

Just ordered another 2 aluballs so I could make up a 4 ball batch in the above shaker

 

[dino9832]

Take a look at this bad boy... 2 litre capacity, sealable lid, tap opens to pour... 2 aluballs at a time and make a good batch up
View attachment 4895

Shake shake shake....shake shake shake....shake your booty....shake your booty!..lol. Anyone remember that song, or am I really showing my age?

 

[EQ]

Aluball works well I'm feelin it.
Starting not to not feel so pissed off I cracked my bottle in the first use. Thank you Kava.

 

[Squanch72]

Take a look at this bad boy... 2 litre capacity, sealable lid, tap opens to pour... 2 aluballs at a time and make a good batch up

View attachment 4895

Does it not leak with a good thrashing done to it?

 

[Squanch72]

Just ordered another 2 aluballs so I could make up a 4 ball batch in the above shaker

 

[The Kap'n]

Just ordered another 2 aluballs so I could make up a 4 ball batch in the above shaker

Oh man, that sounds awesome. Do let us know how well your system works.

 

[TidyMinion]

http://www.getkavafied.com/ - the only draw back i see is that you can't knead the water out of it... think this works pretty well otherwise? if you have one please chime in.

Haven't purchased an aluball (yet?) but I have taken to a similar method of extraction - put powder in strainer bag, tie it up tight, toss it in the water and beat the s*** out of it with a sturdy whisk. I hold the bag by the string against one side of a large, tall container (to avoid spillage) while hitting the whisk against it. I'm sure it's a strange sight but it actually works really well. 20-30 seconds of "heavy whisking", if you will, gets a potent extraction.

I do like the idea of the Aluball for on-the-go activities and travel just haven't pulled the trigger on one yet.

 

[Zac Imiola (Herbalist)]

Get one hahaha sounds like your doing a similar thing the Fijians in that your adding more agitation than simple kneadng.... this is the essence of the aluball in my opinion ... your increasing agitation by ALOT.
Also @Edward I bought a big 2 litter or so thing like that and you can find some made for SHAKING so that helps with @Squanch72 question. Idk if his will but you can get some made for not cracking !

 

[Squanch72]

I stopped using two balls as I noticed one of the balls was dry in the middle while the other one got the normal soaking when I use the Coleman jug. I think it would work better if the balls could get past each other instead of stuck in a line.
Since I have two of the Coleman jugs and they have handles I found I can shake one in each arm. I am sure I look like quite the clambake shaking them with my hand braced between the lid and the handles.

 

[Zac Imiola (Herbalist)]

Hahaha that makes sense... maybe @Kavafied will come up with a durable widely shaped big batcher ? Haha who knows.
Till then I've just been doing traditional for huge batches .. I must admit tho Ive made a traditional batch I think twice since getting this aluball lmao.. I still feel as though I can put my joy and intention into it which in my intuition and knowledge of tradition is the point of massaging the root and staying with it. Same with ayuasca . You don't just brew up ayuasca on the stove and do laundry.. you sit with it and really put your heart and soul into it.... alot of people trying to get "high" from kava I think are dissapointed because of this.. you need respect for the kava .

 

[Edward]

Does it not leak with a good thrashing done to it?

I honestly haven't had a chance to try it yet, not been home. The lid clips on pretty tight so I'm hoping it won't leak. Not sure if the balls will be able to pass each other in that one though but there's certainly plenty of room for them to move around.

 

[Squanch72]

Poor @Kavafied, trying to promote responsible drinking of kava and we all are trying to get him to create a soccer ball sized Aluball and a 5 gallon sized shaker bucket to shake it in.

 

[The Kap'n]

Poor @Kavafied, trying to promote responsible drinking of kava and we all are trying to get him to create a soccer ball sized Aluball and a 5 gallon sized shaker bucket to shake it in.

He could market it as the "questionable" size.

 

[Edward]

I can think of 4 sizes... the small, the medium, the questionable and the Shakas.

 

[YogaNatureLvr]

I stopped using two balls as I noticed one of the balls was dry in the middle while the other one got the normal soaking when I use the Coleman jug.

What I've noticed with the Aluball is that if you (1) overfill it (it should be slightly less than half full); (2) use too much fat, if that's your thing (I mix coconut milk and coconut water with a 1:3 ratio); or (3) don't clean it out from the last use; then the liquid won't penetrate all the way through the ball, and the kava root powder at the center of the ball will still be dry.

I also find that shaking the container with both arms for up to a minute basically gets all of the kava out, without the need for a second wash or supplemental knead through a filter bag.