Bobby_M said:
Sounds a little low rent to me. Tin?
First of all, it's called a "tin" that is not a reference to it's elemental makeup, it's just what folks around here call them. I'm sure it's actually thin-walled steel. Secondly...
Low Rent? You think it's low rent??!!! If you think it's low rent, then buy yourself a tin of
gourmet caramel popcorn, Mr. hoity-toity!
Seriously, I agree, but I just threw a lid from an old tin of popcorn into the bottom of a bucket and it fit almost too perfectly! Who cares what it looks like if it works? I mean, a lot of folks think copper manifolds are ugly... that is, until they see how beautifully they work!!!
Something sitting at the bottom of an MLT strikes me as one of those items where function is more important than form. I mean, really, do you use expensive faucet handles to let wort out of your MLT? Who cares? It's an easy false bottom that you can make for free and you can make a ton of them to optimize them and find the best design. I'm sure anybody who spent $20-30 to buy one from their local LHBS is perfectly happy with their purchase, but as I see it, not everybody has $20 burning a hole in their pocket.
Personally, I have a copper manifold setup and I'm pretty happy with it so far, but that doesn't mean I'm unwilling to experiment with other methods. And if I'm experimenting with other methods, I don't really see a reason to waste $20. And why should I, when this method is free?