MLT Question: Ringed braid vs. bazooka screen

Hey everyone,

I'm building a MLT this weekend out of a Coleman Extreme 52 quart cooler, and trying to make some final preparations for the actual design. My question regards the lauter manifold: what benefit does a full stainless steel ring (i.e. one connected to a copper tee pipe) have over a bazooka screen type stainless steel mesh screen (i.e. a straight braid of about 8")? Is there any appreciable difference in efficiency between the two or is it largely a matter of personal preference?

I'm leaning towards the easier straight braid method (like this: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/52-qt-coleman-xtreme-mash-tun-build-194395/), because its slightly cheaper and definitely easier. Still, I want to make sure I do my due diligence and ask around first. Any personal anecdotes about / problems with this type in your experience? Anyone wish they had done it otherwise?

All help appreciated and thanks in advance...

Palmer reported on some manifold flow uniformity tests:

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixD-2.html

That may be a bit over thought though.

Fact is that both will work within a few efficiency points of each other.

I would prefer the split design.

If you are heat infusion mashing by dumping in hot water and batch sparging without using a pump to recirculate or fly sparge, you probably will not notice much difference in efficiency. Dumping a lot of hot water in your cooler is going to mix things up quite a bit.

Palmer's manifold test apply more when you have a set grain bed and are trying to keep it maintained when recirculating with a pump and genitally fly sparging.

What mash/sparge process are you using? That's going to make a big difference in what manifold design you use and how efficient it will be.

bendiy said:

genitally fly sparging.

Click to expand...

Look, if you're genitally fly sparging, remind me not to try any of your batches

Braid damages much more easily. With a ring, not a big deal, but you might have to reform it occasionally. Mash paddles can accidentally screw them up pretty good.

It's a lot harder to damage a bazooka. I've bent mine pretty good, but it won't mangle like the braid.

Having used both, I prefer the bazooka.