I would really like to go with a brass manifold (I have read some issues about the weight of the grain compressing the steel braided lines and blocking flow) but I don't have a pipe cutter, torch, flux, OR a dremel tool.
Is there such a thing as slip on fittings for this type of project that require no soldering? I am pretty sure I could MacGyver the filter part of the manifold with a hacksaw, but to keep costs down, I don't really want to invest in the tools. Would CPVC be better in my case?
Alternatively, I would be intrigued to buy a proven mash tun from those of you who have since moved on to bigger and better things. Buying a prefab one sort of takes the fun out of it from the mad scientist standpoint, but I am trying to make good beer here, not whip something up with wrong tools/etc like a schmuck. Maybe even just the copper manifold as that would be more realistic as far as shipping goes, so long as it fits in the cooler I will be using. CT currently has
THIS cooler on sale. I have no problem with the ball valve/etc, I just don't have the tools to make a quality manifold.
Another question I had was about keeping these things clean. Is it customary to pull all fittings apart after a mash to clean them up, or is it as simple as running some hot water/iodophor/etc through it?