homemade mash tun

So, I decided to build a mash tun, from a 52 quart igloo cooler. My only question, now, is this- as water collects in the stainless steel braid that I constructed from a garden hose, the spigot is still about 1/2 inch above the bottom of the cooler. In order to completely remove all water from the tun, do you guys tilt the cooler near the end to ge the remaining liquid out?? Just wondering how phsyics is supposed to remove that little bit of liquid that must reamain in the tun, since it doesn't drain at the complete bottom.

Also, no matter how hard I try, it still looks as if my tun leaks one drop every 8 seconds or so. Does anyone feel this may be a problem? Should I collect the leaked wort and recycle it onto my grain bed during my mash and/or sparge?

Your leak problem is likely going to saturate the insulation between the walls with wort and get pretty nasty over time.

That leak might be fixed with a little teflon tape or an o ring somewhere...

I would fix the leak asap. As far as tilting, I do. I get every last drop out that I can. I tilt and let the tun drain while coming up to a boil. When the boil is close, I add whatever additional wort I have collected.

i made one from rubbermaid cooler check your seal on the inside mine got crimped ,from cranking it down to tight ,loosen it up a touch and re seal it with your finger tips worked on mine..

Leak is fixed! I must have one too many homebrews when I assembled it. Had the seal on the wrong side. Thanks.