Help with Mash tun build!

I was going to follow this video



One comment was that the bass has lead in it and could one day give lead poisoning? Do you guys use brass to make your mash tun?

Also when I went to the hardware store they had PVC ball vales would those work?

Any tips on making one of these please let me know!

Thanks!

I am also making my first tun. I have done a lot of research and found many people use brass. You can easily treat it to remove any lead that may come in contact with your wort. Here is a section copied out of Palmer's book on how to do this:

"Cleaning Brass
Some brewers use brass fittings in conjunction with their wort chillers or other brewing equipment and are concerned about the lead that is present in brass alloys. A solution of two parts white vinegar to one part hydrogen peroxide (common 3% solution) will remove tarnish and surface lead from brass parts when they are soaked for 5 minutes or less at room temperature. The brass will turn a buttery yellow color as it is cleaned. If the solution starts to turn green and the brass darkens, then the parts have been soaking too long and the copper in the brass is beginning to dissolve, exposing more lead. The solution has become contaminated and the part should be re-cleaned in a fresh solution."

Here is a link to that section:

http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixB.html

I would hesitate to use PVC with some of the temps you will be dealing with.

Good luck!

CPVC is a better choice than PVC...

Pickling the brass (ie: Marsdude's post) is a good idea...

If you are really, REALLY concerned, and have the disposable income, you can always go full stainless...

well I got mine done today



Made it for under 50$

if you're making it yourself, you should use cpvc. i did. it's more resistant to breakdown, so it lasts way longer

Jcmccoy said:

well I got mine done today

Made it for under 50$

Click to expand...

I made a manifold like that out of some extra 1/2" copper pipe i had in the garage, and grooved slots on the bottom of the pipe lengths. it flows fantastically .

I've used a bras. Ball valve the pass two years without treating. I'll let you know how I'm doing in a few years It is my last peice to upgrade to stainless.

lumpher said:

if you're making it yourself, you should use cpvc. i did. it's more resistant to breakdown, so it lasts way longer

Click to expand...

that is cpvc

I washed the brass in white vinegar

Also I cut slots in the bottom with a jigsaw. I could move them so they are facing up if i wish. I hear you can get better efficiency with them facing up.

I used brass. I died.

I think the problem with brass is the acidity of the wort. Not sure if it's low enough to be a concern until the yeast create alcohol and you add CO2 though. And you need to factor in contact time. It may take a WHILE before any lead is leeched from the brass, especially after pickling.