Yes, another diy cooler conversion
 

I have had two identical Coleman 10g beverage coolers for about 15 yrs. I only used one at a daughter's soccer games. Tonight, I converted the second to a MLT and can also convert the other one if I ever need to. I also have a Teel pump that I bought at least 15yrs ago to build a RIMS system I saw in BYO. I May use it to recirculate the wort. The finished product is pretty much the same as any other but here it is:

Front view
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...s/DSC_1279.jpg
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...s/DSC_1271.jpg

drilled copper pipe and the graduated marks in liters and gallons:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...s/DSC_1274.jpg

I will use a bag inside a 20qt steamer stockpot. I will place the bag on this to drain the wort:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...s/DSC_1272.jpg

The hot water test reveals no leaks
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...s/DSC_1278.jpg

I built the sparge section 15yrs ago and never used it. EDIT 11/13 I won't use it as a sparge manifold. I may use it with a pump to simply recirculate wort for clarifying:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...s/DSC_1276.jpg

My heated stirrer can also be used to help the 100,000 BTU burner with boil:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...KET-HEATER.jpg

My 40qt kettle:
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y26...s/DSC_1243.jpg

People homebrewed 15 years ago?

Yep, it's true. I even had a computer, but Al Gore had not invented the internet yet.

If you're going to mash in a stock pot and then let it drip into this lauter tun, I'm confused what the cooler is actually for.

I probably used some incorrect terminology somewhere. I've been away for a while. The cooler is the mash tun. It will be an Aussie BIAB-type system with the capability to recirc. The sparge manifold at the top is really just where the recirculated water returns and not really for sparging. The 40qt pot is for boiling and heating the mash water.

So NO Sparge?

I'm still confused, why do you have a manifold if you're gonna BIAB. ???

I like how the inside has volume markings. I actually made up a second "measuring stick" for my mash tun (like the ones people use in their boil kettles) so I could better approximate the number of gallons I was using for my dough-in/strike water...

DogHouseBrew:
I've read a lot about BIAB...probably not enought, but here is what I have gleaned:
The Aussie BIAB method is no sparge. The way I built my MT, I could sparge if I wanted to. I also have a second identical cooler that could be used as a HLT. Here are some threads on BIAB:

http://www.thebrewingnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4650&postdays=0&postorder=asc&star t=0/fa

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/maximum-brew-bag-effeciency-137804/

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/photo-album-australian-method-brew-bag-133667/

http://brewing.lustreking.com/articles/stovetopallgrain.html

I could also do this:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f36/i-love-no-sparge-brewing-140972/

Haha, well, he had already created the internet, just not a web browser yet. That wasn't until 95 when that hit the public...