Cheap & Easy 10 Gallon Rubbermaid MLT Conversion

The Pol · Mar 24, 2007

My shelving system... here it is. http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u189/PolTavern/ I used a hole saw to cut perfect holes through each of the shelves in order to accomodate the tubing (hole saw set at Harbor Freight Tools 1.99!!). Also, the TOP shelf is cut in half so that I can remove that half when I am brewing, so that I can mix my mash easier.
The wheels I purchased at Harbor Freight Tools... they were on clearance for like $3 each, simply bought some long bolts and washers in order to affix them to the shelving system. Each shelf is rated at 1,000 lbs, it cost me $55 and it took all of 60 minutes to assemble. It was one of my best purchases yet. I have my thru the wall thermometers installed at $11 each and it is looking pretty sweet! My neighbors will be in AWE when I wheel this baby out into the driveway in April! :ban:

Pol

FlyGuy · Mar 27, 2007

UPDATE:

I took my MLT out today to clean it up for a brew session, and noticed that the hose clamps on the stainless steel braid didn't look so good:

Despite that the packaging said they were all stainless steel, they are corroding. Not good.

So, I did a quick modification to my original design using a piece of 7/16" x 5/16" vinyl tubing (food grade, high temp). I cut a length to fit inside the SS braid, and then notched it along the entire length to allow liquid to flow through.

I capped it at the end with my brass nut, and slipped the tubing inside the braid. Then I slipped the other end of the tubing on to the barb inside the cooler. The SS braid fits nice and snug over it, so there is no need for hose clamps anymore.

EDIT: If you use the tubing insert idea instead of hose clamps to secure your braid, you MUST use stiff, high temp, food grade tubing. This works exceptionally for myself and many other people. However, if you use rubber tubing, or soft tubing, or tubing that is not rated for high temperatures, it will collapse under its own weight inside the SS braid and cause a stuck sparge. Further, you do not need the tubing to reinforce the SS braid -- it should not collapse under the weight of the mash (if it does you either have a deceivingly similar-looking plastic braid, or the quality of your SS braid is too poor to use in an MLT).

DraconianHand · Mar 27, 2007

Zip straps or wire ties might work as a replacement for "all stainless" steel hose clamps...that is if you can tighten them down enough to prevent the braid/hose from coming loose.

Ryanh1801 · Mar 29, 2007

I like the vinyl tube. Where did you find that at? Seems like that would work out pretty well and be very easy.

FlyGuy · Mar 29, 2007

Ryanh1801 said:
I like the vinyl tube. Where did you find that at? Seems like that would work out pretty well and be very easy.

I got it at Home Depot.

uuurang · Mar 31, 2007

unclesamskid said:
Zip straps or wire ties might work as a replacement for "all stainless" steel hose clamps...that is if you can tighten them down enough to prevent the braid/hose from coming loose.

Anybody try zip ties in MLT? Would the plastic hold up to the heat? That seems to be the simplest solution...If soft vinyl tubing can stand hot temps than I would think hard plastic zip-ties would too. Jeez, I just gotta do it and see what happens.

hb024 · Apr 7, 2007

Hey FlyGuy, thanks for the post. I used your list to get all the parts I need, and am gonna put together one of these this weekend! Woo hoo!

Ryanh1801 · Apr 8, 2007

Just went and bought the stuff to make this, except the washers went to two different places and no luck.

Lochboy · Apr 8, 2007

I agree the washers are the hardest to find.

I bought my 2 Ten Gallonn coolers 2 weeks ago and have already brewed 5 times it is awesome. My first crack at all grain

I use one for MLT then the other as my liquor tank.

I also use the Zappa false bottom which I just love, it is easy to clean afterwards.

I went one step further. I used epoxy on the seal and actually put in 3 quarter inch fittings which allows me more flexability in th flow.

Great way to start All Grain.

Later

Lochboy

Wizza · Apr 11, 2007

Well i got all the parts for making my MLT, this worked out very good !! I'm only doing a 5gal atm so had to change the size's a bit . Like the vinyl tube idea as for the washers i was able to use Hole Grommets 3/4" they work great and tighten down to make a great seal just use then on the out side, worked great and have 5gal of hot water in it now testing :mug:

Ryanh1801 · Apr 15, 2007

Well got mine built today, thanks to skifast1 . I didn't buy an O ring, what is the point in this part? Just filed mine with hot water and it does not leak at all. Is their any kind of special treatment or cleaning that i need to do before I use it.

uuurang · Apr 15, 2007

Finally did it yesterday. brewed up a irish red. Held the temp rock solid and the lautering/sparge went w/o a hitch.
Initial gravity ended up 10 pts higher than target, 1.050, shoulda been 1.040. Ended up w/ ~5gal.
I did add a smaller washer to take up dead space between exterior spacing washers and the cooler wall where theres an indent, and replaced hose clamps w/ small plasic zip ties.

OOT, i had to replace what i thought was a SS braid becaue it was plastic look alike! Thanks to posters I thankfully avoided that mess.

britishbloke · Apr 17, 2007

Wow, nice.

uuurang · Apr 18, 2007

Yes, I agree.

palms · Apr 20, 2007

does your guy's valve turn when you open and shut it, or are you getting it tight enough that everything stays in place?

skifast1 · Apr 21, 2007

palms said:
does your guy's valve turn when you open and shut it, or are you getting it tight enough that everything stays in place?

Mine wiggles a bit, but I just hold the valve body with my other hand to minimize any lateral movement. I'd be curious to know if those who've purchased the purpose-built bulkheads from NB have seen a stiffer connection to the cooler body

FlyGuy · Apr 22, 2007

Mine doesn't budge at all. It is rock solid. That's why I added three washers on the outside -- to really tighten it up good and snug.

DeathBrewer · Apr 22, 2007

Hey, skifast1, great avi. i came across that pic during a search one time, lol. my kind of women.

skifast1 · Apr 22, 2007

DeathBrewer said:
Hey, skifast1, great avi. i came across that pic during a search one time, lol. my kind of women.

Thanks - I know it's a popular one, but I think it's worth repeating....and repeating...and repeating

Kayos · Apr 22, 2007

Looking at going ag. Thanks for the great post! Couple of questions...
1. Why does the cooler have to be 10 gallons if I am doing 5 gallon batches?
2. Why is everyone buying 2 of these (do I need a seperate mt and lt?)? Is it for rests? Why do you need rests?
3. What is a"hot liquor tank"? DO I need one? Why can't I just use my brew kettle?
4. How do I figure out the efficiency after brewing?
5. How do I figure out how much water to use with the grain, then how much with the batch sparge?
6. Do you still steep specialty grains or put then in with the base grain?
I saw an earlier post where a guy was using a 5g cooler and a similar homemade setup, put in 160 degree water held for an hour, then let it run into the brewpot. Then soak (sparge) the grain with 170, recycle that water a few times, then into the brewpot. What does the second cooler do? Thanks!!!

I think this calls for a new thread....nevermind

uuurang · Apr 22, 2007

Luscious, That's all I can say.

My bulkhead valve is rock solid. doesn't move. cranked it down good.

I'm using a pyrex professional digital probe thermometer (with built in timer). I've found it registers temps 5° lower when in the 140°-180°. It seems to get more accurate at higher temps.

lgtg · Apr 24, 2007

That is what I'm working towards! I didn't read through the whole thread so pardon my asking, but has anyone mentioned that there are 3/4 to 1" diameter hose braids in the hot water heater area of Lowes or Home Depot?

skifast1 · Apr 24, 2007

lgtg said:
That is what I'm working towards! I didn't read through the whole thread so pardon my asking, but has anyone mentioned that there are 3/4 to 1" diameter hose braids in the hot water heater area of Lowes or Home Depot?

None in my local Home Depot, but there's a True Value hardware store around the corner that has 1" stainless braid. Shouldn't be too hard to locate (but definitely will be harder to cut!)

uuurang · Apr 24, 2007

lgtg said:
That is what I'm working towards! I didn't read through the whole thread so pardon my asking, but has anyone mentioned that there are 3/4 to 1" diameter hose braids in the hot water heater area of Lowes or Home Depot?

Found my braid in the plumbing area of Home Depot for ~$6. Careful though, make sure it's a stainless, not a plastic look alike. forgot the name of manufacturer of SS braid. The plastic braid was more abundant and much easier to find, in my personal treasure find. Good luck! Have fun. :rockin:

lgtg · Apr 26, 2007

Thanks uurang, what I was asking though (I allready have a Mini-MLT with 1/2" braid) is has anyone seen or used those jumbo braids found in some Lowes or HD stores by the water heater parts and re-placement plumbing? It's much bigger and therefore may have a greater draw on the wort? Just thinking...

uuurang · Apr 29, 2007

interesting, I'll have to put that in the hopper for another time.

skifast1 · Apr 30, 2007

FWIW, the 1" braid I put in my 10-gal MLT has a much tighter weave than the 1/2" I put in my 2-gal, and it seems to restrict the flow a tiny bit, compared to the output with no braid installed at all. Even so, it looks like it'll work fine and there's no way I'll have any husk material in the wort.

Beerrific · May 14, 2007

I converted a 10 gallon Rubermaid cooler (rectangular not round) into a MLT today and I though I would share a couple things that came up:

1. Do your shopping at Lowe's if possible. Their 'standard' supply lines are SS. At Home Depot the standard is 'polymer weave.' I ended up getting a 'Flood Prevention' line because it was the only SS one available.
2. I am not sure if it was the Canadian conversion or things are more expensive here or if the price of brass has gone up but the components cost me a lot more than I was expecting ($20+ w/o cooler).

Leak test. Everything looks good.

I went with the 20 in. line. I am using the nylon cable ties.

Now I have a couple weeks wait to clear out a carboy to do my first all grain!

BTW, thanks FlyGuy for posting this thread. There is no way in hell I would have ventured to do this if it had not been for your pioneering work. :mug:

sheikyerbouti · May 15, 2007

If I wanted to use 1/2" fittings, is it possible without drilling the bucket?

skifast1 · May 15, 2007

sheikyerbouti said:
If I wanted to use 1/2" fittings, is it possible without drilling the bucket?

Yep, but you won't be able to use the rubber fitting that comes with the cooler; you'll need to put together your own combination of o-rings/washers to get a good seal

Cheap & Easy 10 Gallon Rubbermaid MLT Conversion

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