30 Pounds of grain at 1.25 qt per pound will fit with about 2 quarts to spareBrew Dude said:Is 50 qt big enough for a 5 gallon batch of AG?
30 Pounds of grain at 1.25 qt per pound will fit with about 2 quarts to spareBrew Dude said:Is 50 qt big enough for a 5 gallon batch of AG?
It does matter because it can leach chemicals.IrregularPulse said:Question about the braided Stainless. Mostly about the hosing that comes inside it. Is that capable of the temperatures seen in a Mashtun or does it need to be replaced. Also is it food safe? Not that I would think it would matter since it's pre-boil. It's just a standard Plumbing steel braided hose.
The housing inside the braid is not used for a MLT. You cut the ends off the hose, pull the rubber part out and use a hose clamp to attach the braid to a nipple on your bulkhead.IrregularPulse said:Question about the braided Stainless. Mostly about the hosing that comes inside it. Is that capable of the temperatures seen in a Mashtun or does it need to be replaced. Also is it food safe? Not that I would think it would matter since it's pre-boil. It's just a standard Plumbing steel braided hose.
Brew Dude said:How does the Igloo Ice Cube brand coolers compare with the Rubbermaid and Coleman coolers? I was set to buy a Coleman Xtreme cooler at one point because I hear that it retains the heat EXTREMELY well.
McKBrew said:I saw EvilTOJ's coleman extreme in action last weekend, and honestly if you have the money, I'd recommend it. The insulation on these things is very thick, and it keeps heat like you wouldn't believe. Great option if you brew outdoors on cool day.
Did you do that 'test' indoors or outdoors. I hope this thing doesn't loose 10 degrees INSIDE at room temp...If so I may take it back before I start drilling it.McKBrew said:The insulation on this cooler is fairly thin. I did a test a few nights ago with it and my 180 degree sparge water lost about 10 degrees in just over an about an hour (to be honest I really didn't pay attention to the time, and it may have been up to 1.5 hours). I didn't pre-heat either, so I think that this cooler will do OK for use as an indoor MLT at room temperature, but that it might need some additional insulation wrapped around it for outside cooler days.
bigben said:Did you do that 'test' indoors or outdoors. I hope this thing doesn't loose 10 degrees INSIDE at room temp...If so I may take it back before I start drilling it.
McKBrew said:I've seen this stuff used quite a bit around the forum, you can pick it up at HD or Lowes.
Yea, but why use a cooler that needs extra insulation, when you can probably just get a better cooler??NoClueBrewMaster said:That insulation is GREAT... We use a ton of it at work and I have been able to scrap together some Carboy "Coozies" with it. They have been keeping the fermenting beer at its pitching temperature (70* F) in a 60*F room. It should work well for your MLT insulation....
yea, I hear that. I thought it was more for that insulation. But yea, if it's about $10 per cooler, that ain't bad.IrregularPulse said:Because cooler +insulation = >$30 Better cooler =$50-$70. We don't all have money trees
bigben said:yea, I hear that. I thought it was more for that insulation. But yea, if it's about $10 per cooler, that ain't bad.
After going back and forth several times, I think I will keep these 2 igloos. I plan on brewing in my garage(with the door open of course) so wind won't be a factor and if I need to I will get some insulation.
Huh? Where are you located. Is this some sort of first post joke??mlinny said:Just picked up 2 48 qt. Ice Cube coolers at Walmart for $4.50 each and they have holes drilled in them already.
bigben said:Well, after all this I think I am going to take these coolers back. Good thing I didnt drill anything.
I am going to pick up a 70QT Coleman Xtreme. They are supposed to hold the heat really well, and they already have the hole for a bulkhead fitting.
I did the deed. I picked up the 70QT Xtreme from walmart for $38.McKBrew said:Not a bad choice. You can find the 70qt extreme at the ever evil Walmart for under 40 bones, or order it somewhere else and pay about double. EvilTOJ used an extreme at the Milwaukee Oregon Brew-out a few weeks back, and it held temperature perfectly for over an hour in 40 degree weather.
I think I'm going to conver the el-cheapo cooler back into a drink container.
bigben said:Huh? Where are you located. Is this some sort of first post joke??
mlinny said:Just picked up 2 48 qt. Ice Cube coolers at Walmart for $4.50 each and they have holes drilled in them already.
carnevoodoo said:The 60 quart ones are the ones that people have built foam lids onto.
That's the cooler I was using for 10g batches before I bought this 50qt ice cube. IMO, that 60qt model really sucks.learningmore said:These 60quart Ice Cubes are only $26 at my local Wal Mart I think. Great deal for a cooler with a spigot. See:
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5663765
Because the higher the gravity of the beer the more grain you need to use, and thus the more space you need in the MLT. Even a 40qt cooler could handle 10g batches up to a moderate gravity in the 1050's or 1060's, depending on efficiency, but if you're trying to do a BIG beer you definitely need more space. 50qt should handle 10g batches up into the 1080's or maybe higher, depending on efficiency, and of course pretty much any 5g batch you can throw at it.learningmore said:Then again, why would such a large cooler be helpful. If I can fit enough grain in the 50-quart cooler for a 10-gallon batch, why would the 60 be better? Perhaps if I needed a massive amount of grain/ if the system was inefficient?
learningmore said:Could you share the Part Number / SKU / UPC / name of those coolers?
I'll also pass along that Kmart has the 52qt. Coleman Xtreme for $30.
As someone who is new to all-grain setups, this Coleman is the one I settled on as it seems to fit in my car trunk without too many headaches, has that nifty sunken drain channel, usable handles, that excellent insulation and adequate capacity.
Now if I can just settle on a manifold design...
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