Rubbermaid MLT Conversion but cant find cooler/stainless steel fender

britishbloke · 04-18-2007, 08:30 PM

Bought parts for Rubbermaid MLT Conversion but cant find a cooler. Looked at a few hardware stores and sports stores and Walmarts.

My questions are: Can these parts only be used to convert Rubbermaid coolers?

I could'nt find the 5/8” stainless steel fender washer. I bought a rubber fender for now. Will that work? Me and my roommate were arguing about that today. I don't think rubber will work.

And finally I live in Madison Wisconsin. I know its out of season and I really am buying the cooler at the worst time of the year. But this summer I want to finally goto AG. Anyone know any other locations where they might sell these coolers?

Thanks.

ill.literate · 04-18-2007, 10:10 PM

I used the parts listed, with a few alterations here and there, to convert our Coleman 36 quart Xtreme rectangular cooler. You might have to alter the fittings (the alteration I do remember is using a longer nipple ~giggle~ because of the width of the cooler wall) but in general it should work just fine.

That cooler is sweet BTW... we maxed it out last weekend with a 20 pound grain bill for a 5 gallon batch

As for the stainless steel fender washers, I find ours at Ace Hardware. I had to ask, but I was pointed in the right direction.

I don't think rubber will work as well as stainless in this.

Check a local Ace, if you have one, if not, give me a shout. I might be able to snag a couple and mail them to you.

britishbloke · 04-18-2007, 10:24 PM

Very nice. OK Ill check with Ace Hardware. Actually thats the only one I havent visited yet.

So, your mush tun sounds like its the rectangular one. I heard that those ones arent as good because of the grain bed not getting deep enough?

Daamn, I can buy those rectangular coolers anywhere.

ill.literate · 04-18-2007, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by britishbloke

So, your mush tun sounds like its the rectangular one. I heard that those ones arent as good because of the grain bed not getting deep enough?

I might be wrong, but I thought grain bed depth was only an issue if you're fly sparging. We batch sparge, so it's not an issue for us.

We got ours at Dick's Sporting Goods. Try Gander Mountain?

Zymurgrafi · 04-18-2007, 10:30 PM

rectangular coolers are just fine... depending on who you ask.

everyone has different opinions. That said, from what I understand (I am getting my setup together also) Rectangular ones are just fine if you are batch sparging as opposed to fly sparging. Folks with more experience will fill in the details. Don't give up on rectangles yet...

britishbloke · 04-18-2007, 10:43 PM

Ah ok. My main reason for doing this fly sparge is because of a DVD I got from Midwest showing the step by step way to do the all grain method.

Is'nt batch sparging done because you dont have the bigger equipment?

ill.literate · 04-18-2007, 10:55 PM

Batch sparge = easier

britishbloke · 04-18-2007, 11:06 PM

Batch sparge doesnt require the method of water being slowly poured into the MLT is it?

I better go back to my home brew book.

ill.literate · 04-18-2007, 11:13 PM

well, no, not exactly.

After you've mashed, you vorlauf the runoff to clear it of any husks, etc. When you're doing that, you want to gently pour the runnings into the tun so as not to disturb the grain bed and stir up the husks you're trying to strain out.

After that, you pour in your sparge water. Agitation is a good thing in this case, because you're trying to rinse any residual sugars out of the grains. In fact, it's good to stir the mash after you've dumped in the sparge water.

Vorlauf again until the runnings are clear, and then drain into your brewpot.

I think you're thinking of fly sparging, where you're trying to add the same amount of sparge water as you're running off at the same time.

**BierMuncher** · 04-18-2007, 11:15 PM

I found the 10 gallon rubbermaid at Home Depot. It was tricky cuz they had it over in the contractor services area. Lowe's didn't carry 10 gallon rubbermaids.