msa8967

Recipes 

__________________
Mick Arnett
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
"Beer will change the world. I don't know how, but it will."

shadowmage36

Recipes 

Well, there's a funny story about that, actually...

I wound up having to go out and find a stainless steel 5/8" washer anyways. Upon adding hot water to the mash tun to preheat it, the rubber washer deformed and the whole thing began leaking like a sieve. So no, rubber washers are not safe for mashing. Rigid nylon would be, but not rubber. I wound up finding a build-a-bolt kit in stainless that I used the washers from.

On top of that, though, I found out that the whole thing cracked around the inside. The whole way around. I think my pre-heat water was too hot, and caused the plastic to buckle and crack. So now I need to silicone it before using it again...Either that or buy a new cooler...Not sure I want to spend that kind of money right now, but we'll see. I'll probably buy the silicone later this week and seal it, then wash it out a few times with soap and water before next brewday in two weeks or so.

__________________
Primary: EdWort's Apfelwein #4 & #5, Irish Car Bomb Stout, Honey Irish Red, Abbey Wit
Secondary: SWMBO Kölsch (She asked, I brewed), Sweet Mead 2009
Bottled: Apfelwein #3 (champagne bottles)
Kegged: High-Test Pumpkin Ale, Apfelwein #2

"Quaintest thoughts - queerest fancies
Come to life and fade away;
What care I how time advances?
I am drinking ale today."
-E.A. Poe, "Lines on Ale"

Follow me on Twitter: @tworavensbrew

Montanaandy

Recipes 

"On top of that, though, I found out that the whole thing cracked around the inside."

Return it and get a refund or a replacement. It should not crack with hot water 200' >. Montanaandy

msa8967

Recipes 

Thanks for advising me about not using the rubber washers. I may just have to get a new cooler to try to use instead of this one I bought at a garage sale for $3.00. Anyone have an opinion on using a cylindrical cooler (like Rubbermaid) versus a rectangular cooler?

__________________
Mick Arnett
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
"Beer will change the world. I don't know how, but it will."

bgough

Recipes 

Both coolers will work fine. I prefer the cylindrical b/c I could just buy a SS false bottom and not have to build a manifold to get good drainage. Some folks just use a SS braid, but I can't imagine it would be nearly as efficient as a false bottom or a properly built manifold

Oh yeah, and IMHO cylindrical=better for fly sparge
rectangular=easier to batch sparge

ruinationpress

Recipes 

Is this an option for a rectangular cooler as well? Versus a harder to put together copper manifold?

baron

Recipes 

I finally made it out to Fastenal and bought the SS Washer (pack of 10).

I've got to get these built soon (MLT and HLT) so I can brew my American Cream Ale from Northern Brewer.

Really looking forward to brewing my first batch of AG.

illinoisbuck

Recipes 

hey guys just picked up a 10 gallon rubbermaid water jug. is this the same as the orange beverage cooler. it is red. has anyone used one of these for the mlt? dont know if it is insulated the same??
thanks
Buck

Jawbox0

Recipes 

Yep, same thing. It'll work great.

Sneed

Recipes 

illinoisbuck,

I have the same one. Converted it last weekend and used it for the first time today. Worked great.

[edit] Added photo. There's the MT sitting on top of my new freezer! Today was my first all grain and first batch to go into the freezer.