10 gal Igloo drink cooler difficulties

[guntadri]

Making the switch to all grain from smaller batch BIAB, and I started the process as outlined by https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

First couple runs through I experimented with different numbers of washers and such to get a watertight seal, and this last run through I think I may have overtightened the ball valve and the female barb adapter inside the cooler.

Problem is, I don't have a tight seal. I think I need to add an extra washer on the outside of the cooler before I screw the ball valve on. In the process of trying to disassemble the parts, the nut on the outside of the ball valve is getting rounded off.

Any ideas on how I can easily disassemble this? I'm okay with needing to buy new parts of any of them get damaged, but I'd like to not have to start over and buy a new cooler.

 

[Bobby_M]

The one very important part that is missing from that design is a locknut for the interior. There is nothing to stop liquid from going between the interior female fitting and the SS washer. The interior gasket doesn't seal against the nipple very well because there are threaded there.

 

[guntadri]

Ok. Think I got the basic layout figured out, but all I could find at the local Home Depot was a rubber washer meant for a garden hose. I assembled it and there aren't any leaks, but is this safe to use in a mash? I can look around for a silicone washer or just cut one from one of those baking sheets or something like that.

 

[EarlyAmateurZymurgist]

Bobby is on the money. I built my mash tun with a 5-gallon Igloo cooler. There's nothing special about the setup. It's just a ball valve, a nipple,a few washers, a lock nut with a silicone o-ring, and a 1/2" female NPT x 1/2" barb fitting.