DIY Mash Tun with Manifold

So after building my fermentation chamber I decided to make me a Mash Tun so I can go all grain.

The parts:

I got this cooler from Walmart for $29



1/2" Ball valve from HD $7.32



9 copper 1/2 Tee's .99c each



1/2" copper elbow $1.29



4 copper caps .67c each



5 feet of 1/2 copper pipe $8



1/2" X 1.5" brass pipe nipple. $3.68



1/2" copper adapter $2.99



3/4" zinc washer



1/2" O-Ring



1/2" flat rubber washer

 

is the zinc washer on the outside of the MT? i.e., does not come in contact with mash

 

The first thing I did was measure the bottom area of the cooler so I could design my manifold. Next I cut all the pieces and laid them out on the floor.



Then I test fitted it all together



I removed the drain valve from the cooler but left in the white rubber seal. Installed the nipple in the drain hole and put the flat rubber washer on the nipple then attached the copper adapter on the inside.

I put the 1/2" o-ring and zinc washer over the nipple on the outside and then put on the ball valve.

Because of the location of the drain hole I had to reverse the manifold and use a 45 degree 1/2" copper fitting to get the manifold to attach to the copper adapter.





I soldered the 45 degree to the adapter and the copper pipe to the 45 so It wont suck air when the liquid gets below its level.

The manifold is not soldered together so I can take it apart for cleaning.

Here is how it looks all put together.

 

The drain for this cooler is on the back side. I put the round 1/2 rubber washer over the nipple, then the zinc washer, then the ball valve.

Sorry I dont have a pic of the ball valve. Ill take one tonight and post it.

Dan

 

This looks good! I have a similar cooler that has the exit a good inch above the bottom of the cooler. Using a SS Braid I have about 1.2g of deadspace. I'm needing to come up with an idea to get a siphon to run to have less dead space, or make a manifold similar to this one.

Thanks for the great documentation!

 

With the angel of the drain hole in my cooler the lowest point of the ball valve is about the same level as the bottom of the cooler. If I attach a hose barb with a hose I should be able to get almost everything out of the tun. The slots I cut on the bottom of the manifold go up about 1/3. It should keep draining until it starts sucking in air.

Dan