MplsUgly
Well-Known Member
I know this has probably been beat to hell but I need to get a little input on experiences so I can pick a direction for a new mash tun. I had been using a red 52 qt igloo cooler with a stainless braid for batch sparging and everything has been working OK. I just put a 9/16 OD thru the hole in the cooler and it was a tight fit for what I needed at the time. I made the decision to go to 10 gallon fly sparging (HERMS is the end game) and so I was going to put a bulkhead in this cooler and make a manifold. When doing this I cracked the area around the hole so now I cant get anything to seal. I could maybe weld it and fix it but I wasnt too connected to this thing anyway as it didnt hold heat too well.
So I could get a new cooler, round square, manifold or false bottom but I dont want to deal with breaking another one and junking it especially if I buy something rather than this red one that I just found in my garage. Do people have leaking and cracking issues often or was that just me? The concept of a compression seal on two flexible plastic walls is really asking for trouble.
The alternative is to get a third keg as a mash tun. Silver solder a fitting and buy or build a false bottom. I made my HLT and boil kettle this way and think it worked out really slick. I like the idea of a third keg but holding heat isnt going to be as good and kegs and false bottoms arent exactly cheap.
I figure the keg is going to cost around $100 all said and done and I could get a 52 qt xtreme with a manifold for about $70. If this cooler is going to last and hold heat im all over it but if this thing is going to crack break and be a PITA ill just chunk up the cash and make a third keg.
How long do coolers last you guys?
So I could get a new cooler, round square, manifold or false bottom but I dont want to deal with breaking another one and junking it especially if I buy something rather than this red one that I just found in my garage. Do people have leaking and cracking issues often or was that just me? The concept of a compression seal on two flexible plastic walls is really asking for trouble.
The alternative is to get a third keg as a mash tun. Silver solder a fitting and buy or build a false bottom. I made my HLT and boil kettle this way and think it worked out really slick. I like the idea of a third keg but holding heat isnt going to be as good and kegs and false bottoms arent exactly cheap.
I figure the keg is going to cost around $100 all said and done and I could get a 52 qt xtreme with a manifold for about $70. If this cooler is going to last and hold heat im all over it but if this thing is going to crack break and be a PITA ill just chunk up the cash and make a third keg.
How long do coolers last you guys?