10gal Igloo cracking and bulging

[stixobutta]

I converted my 10gal igloo beverage cooler and have mashed in it a few times. The first mash I did I heard what sounded like the inner lining was cracking. Mashed out an cleaned and there appeared to be a line that formed about 5 inches from the bottom and all around the inner circumference.

It didn't appear to completely go through the liner however after mashing a few more brews in it there is a slight bulge forming... Which must be water intrusion of some sort

Pretty sure I didn't crack anything while installing the bulkhead fitting so just wondering if anyone else has had this issue...

 

[Yooper]

I converted my 10gal igloo beverage cooler and have mashed in it a few times. The first mash I did I heard what sounded like the inner lining was cracking. Mashed out an cleaned and there appeared to be a line that formed about 5 inches from the bottom and all around the inner circumference.

It didn't appear to completely go through the liner however after mashing a few more brews in it there is a slight bulge forming... Which must be water intrusion of some sort

Pretty sure I didn't crack anything while installing the bulkhead fitting so just wondering if anyone else has had this issue...

Sure, it happens all the time. If you use water hotter than about 180 degrees, it'll warp and possibly even crack, in the cooler.

 

[stixobutta]

makes sense, I'm just surprised I hadn't read it hear first. I'm guessing it's not a big deal. Thing still mashes like a champ. In fact the next one might be your oatmeal stout.

 

[Hammy71]

Warping is fine. A crack all the way throught the plastic would scare me. My first cooler MLT I used to preheat with boiling water. Like Yooper said, it warped and eventually cracked. The second go around I was always careful not to preheat with boiling water and I still have the cooler with no ill effects.

 

[DeafSmith]

I heat my cooler very gently to avoid warping or cracking. I have my hot water kettle lower than my cooler and transfer with my March pump. When my water gets to about 100º F I pump all the water that I can without sucking air into the cooler, then turn off the pump and let it slowly drain back through the pump into the kettle, leaving the heat applied to the kettle. By the time all the water has drained back into the kettle, it is about 20º F hotter than the last time, so I pump it back to the cooler, let it drain back to the kettle, and repeat until I have reached the desired water temp. into the cooler. This gentle warming gives the outer and middle parts of the cooler time to heat up and expand so they can accommodate the expansion of the inner liner. I've done several brews this way - have heated my RubberMaid 10 gallon MLT to near 170º F and my 5 gallon Igloo HLT to 185º F each time. No warping or cracking at all so far. It does take some attentiveness, but with a toggle switch (ordinary wall switch) controlling my pump, it is super easy.

 

[ChuckO]

Here's a neat thread on putting a stainless pot inside an old cooler.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/my-new-mash-tun-268370/

I plan on doing this when mine splits.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Eventually, they WILL crack. I am in the process of replacing the plastic liner with a SS pot. It is not cheap, but it will be nice when done.

Here is the inspiration:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/my-new-mash-tun-268370/



ETA: Missed it by THIS much. Great minds think alike.