Did you build or buy your lauter tun?

[In_Vino_Veritas]

Simple poll, although I think those online may not be representative of population. I would have posted in the DIY section, but didn’t think that would yield an accurate answer.

 

[Terek]

Built mine. Old cooler from my shop, and pvc fittings and valve from work. cost me $0

 

[In_Vino_Veritas]

Built mine. Old cooler from my shop, and pvc fittings and valve from work. cost me $0

That rocks. Wish mine cost me $0. Think with copper manifold, buying both cooler and valve, I'm $100 or so.

 

[Terek]

That rocks. Wish mine cost me $0. Think with copper manifold, buying both cooler and valve, I'm $100 or so.

Not the prettiest, but now that I fly, I'm getting consistent 82% out of it

 

[WesleyS]

Not the prettiest, but now that I fly, I'm getting consistent 82% out of it

I built mine out of a cube too. Made a cpvc manifold with 3/32 inch holes drilled in the bottom. That slips into a bulkhead with a 1/2 inch ball valve on the outside. It has worked so good for the past eight years that I'm hesitant to even go through with building a new MLT out of the keg I purchased just for that purpose.


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[brew2enjoy]

Built my first tun, a 10 gallon cooler and just finished my new keggle mlt

 

[IronLion409]

Does assembly count ?

 

[govner1]

Used a 7 gal Rubbermaid & added a SS ball valve. + copper manifold given to me by a buddy. Holds temp extremely well. Easy to drain & sparge, too.


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[MattGuk]

Here's mine..... A 170ltr copper how water tank that i got free as im a plumber and got it as scrap from a job lol work great and get 74% with no sparge

 

[alemonster]

Built mine....cheap and easy! hardest part was finding stainless steel washers that day. Now I see them all the time!


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[Temptd2]

Assembled with 10 gallon Igloo cooler, false bottom, SS ball valve. Works like a charm.

Also built a 5 gallon hot liquor tank with SS ball valve and sparge arm.

 

[djfriesen]

Built mine. Old cooler from my shop, and pvc fittings and valve from work. cost me $0

how has the PVC manifold worked? I have heard multiple times that PVC is not food safe at mash temps and that it will leach chemicals. Cpvc is usually the suggested alternative. Have you noticed any off-flavors?

 

[Hello]

I voted bought because I did. I bought it from a guy here who made it and it is great.

 

[feedbag]

Built mine from 10 gal beverage cooler, ball valve kit, and bazooka screen. Spent around 70 bucks.

 

[Terek]

how has the PVC manifold worked? I have heard multiple times that PVC is not food safe at mash temps and that it will leach chemicals. Cpvc is usually the suggested alternative. Have you noticed any off-flavors?

works fine. I have never had a problem, it has never gotten soft, and I have never gotten off flavors from it. I like it better than the copper one I have. Copper is more likely to give off flavors, due to its reactive nature with water, especially water with high ph levels. Tends to turn green with the water in my area. Im sure everyone will argue these points, but I have been working with pvc and copper piping for 10 years. I know how they react with diff things and what stresses they can handle. The only problem i would guess you would get from pvc is if you were running boiling water threw it for long periods of time, say 10+ hours. But since i mash for 30 min to an hour, i have seen no problems. The only reason I havent used cpvc is that its not readilly available to me (aka free) so if you are going to pay for it, i suggest cpvc. the pipe and fittings are cheeper that pvc

 

[bazowie]

Bought!!

Oh its the middle one.

Just had this heat and flame resistant insulation blanket made by a friend.

 

[MattGuk]

Bought!!

Oh its the middle one.

Just had this heat and flame resistant insulation blanket made by a friend.

No need to go over the top lol
Seriously, that is a cracking bit of kit dude

 

[brewbama]

Built with a cooler, ball valve, and bazooka tube.


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[cease]

I built mine with a HD 10G water cooler and SS fittings. Pretty easy DIY and I'm in like $75. Thinking about adding a thermometer in there but not necessary IMO.


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[dryboroughbrewing]

I built my first Igloo cooler MLT with a braid (and later a copper manifold). Then I bought a Blichmann kettle and false bottom (which I love), but I did add a return line in the lid... does that count as building?

 

[Black Island Brewer]

My first one, back in 1998, was a Gott cooler with a Phil's Phalse Bottom and a Phil's Sparge Arm. Melted one side of it on my 3- tier stand - too close to the HLT burner. Now I have a direct fire MLT with a false bottom from Bobby M at brewhardware.com, with a Velvet Shield welding blanket for insulation. Love it!

 

[bettyford]

It's a good thing

 

[IronLion409]

I put her together this weekend and my first mash....