MLT w/ flex copper

Aust1227 · 01-18-2008, 05:01 PM

Hey guys,
I begged my AC repairman for some flex copper today. He set me up with 10' of 3/8" soft copper. I have a 5 gallon cooler that i am planning to convert with a cheap rubber stopper and plastic tube. I see a ton of manifolds made from SS mesh, and a lot from solid copper. But not many from soft copper.

I am thinking about doing a double circle, with a compression T, drilling holes in the bottom of the copper, and then running it straight into one side of the rubber stopper.

Thoughts? Problems I might encounter with soft vs. solid copper?

**FSR402** · 01-18-2008, 05:05 PM

I don't think there would be any problem with the soft copper other then the 3/8 soft copper is like .25 ID. That would drain like crap..

Please READ BEFORE BUILDING A MLT

Aust1227 · 01-18-2008, 10:16 PM

I see what you are saying about the small ID. So, I went to HD and purchased rigid 1/2" and associated elbows and Ts.. With the soft I will make a "pre chiller" for my immersion chiller. I have a well here in Florida. ANd the water is a constant 72. So now I have ten feet of of 3/8" going into a cold water bath, through a vinyl tube, and finally into the 25' immersion chiller. Does all that sound okay?

**FSR402** · 01-18-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aust1227

I see what you are saying about the small ID. So, I went to HD and purchased rigid 1/2" and associated elbows and Ts.. With the soft I will make a "pre chiller" for my immersion chiller. I have a well here in Florida. ANd the water is a constant 72. So now I have ten feet of of 3/8" going into a cold water bath, through a vinyl tube, and finally into the 25' immersion chiller. Does all that sound okay?

That sounds like a great idea. It should work very well. When using the pre-chiller use some water/ice and some salt to really chill it this summer.

wilserbrewer · 01-19-2008, 01:59 AM

Ten bucks and ten minutes you could be batch sparging w/ a braid...Why copper??
Just curious, Mike

Aust1227 · 01-19-2008, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wilserbrewer

Ten bucks and ten minutes you could be batch sparging w/ a braid...Why copper??
Just curious, Mike

I think it looks better!

**FSR402** · 01-20-2008, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aust1227

I think it looks better!

Yes it does. Plus I can dump 40#s of grain + water on it and not worry that it's crushed and wont drain. Plus when I'm mxing the mash I'm not moving it around so it's always in the same spot and always draining the same.

imasickboy · 01-20-2008, 10:23 PM

1/4" ID for a manifold would not really be a bad thing. Draining too fast leaves too much sugar behind. Slow is the way to go.

I use a 1/2" (rigid) copper manifold and regularly get 86-94 percent efficiencies, simply because I drain it very slowly.

Besides, while it's draining, you have plenty of time for another beer...

**FSR402** · 01-21-2008, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imasickboy

1/4" ID for a manifold would not really be a bad thing. Draining too fast leaves too much sugar behind. Slow is the way to go.

I use a 1/2" (rigid) copper manifold and regularly get 86-94 percent efficiencies, simply because I drain it very slowly.

Besides, while it's draining, you have plenty of time for another beer...

That does not make any since to me. Unless you are talking about fly-sparging. Then, yeah.

imasickboy · 01-21-2008, 10:59 PM

Yes, I am talking about fly sparging. I guess I should've said so initially.