Best way to drill holes in manifold

[JayMac]

Hey everybody,

I completed my manifold for my mash tun yesterday. I used an angle grinder for all of the cutting and trimming, and used cpvc tubing. It took me a total of 4 feet of cpvc, 7 Tee fittings, 1 female to tube adapter, 1 90 degree fittings, 10 45 degree fittings.

It actually fits PERFECTLY. Due to the size of the fittings, when made as compact as possible, it didn't fit in the cooler. You can see that I grinded down the three Tee's in the center, each about .7 cm's on the connecting ends. Other than that, it was a pretty easy build.

I haven't seen many people make manifolds for circular mash tuns, and I wanted to have the ability to batch sparge and fly sparge for when I get around to designing a sparge arm. This fits so tightly against the outlet hole that it holds everything together (no worries about it falling apart mid mash). I love that everything can be dissasembled, and I'm pretty sure it would fit perfectly in a 10 gallon cooler.

Anyways... my real question is about cutting the holes in the bottom. With your experience, what tool have you used? I'm thinking of drilling holes into it, but I'm not sure what size would be best (1/8"? 3/16"? 1/4"?) Also, I read in John Palmers how to brew that there were some areas which shouldn't be drilled. In a rectangular build, I believe he mentions something about only drilling the long lengths, and not the perpindicular ones which connect these lengths. Take a look at the pics below, and let me know where you think I should drill the holes (everywhere? not in the fittings, etc..).

Thanks!
Jay

 

[TimpanogosSlim]

You want small holes, use a drill or dremel w/ 1/16" bit.

I can't think of a reason not to drill the joint pieces, except that if you disassemble for cleaning and you depended on drilling through the joint and the tube, that might not work.

 

[JayMac]

You want small holes, use a drill or dremel w/ 1/16" bit.

I can't think of a reason not to drill the joint pieces, except that if you disassemble for cleaning and you depended on drilling through the joint and the tube, that might not work.

Yeah, I would need to take it apart and lay them down in a sort of exploded view so that I could keep track of where each piece goes.

This is the quote that I read, he is referring to rectangular manifolds:

"The transverse tubes in the rectangular tun should not be slotted to prevent channeling. The longitudinal slotted tubes adequately cover the floor area without the transverse tubes help. The slots can face up, down or to the side; hydraulically, it makes no difference. In a circular tun, the same guidelines apply but the transverse tubes can be slotted where they are away from the wall."

 

[pabloj13]

I just used a hacksaw and cut slots. Works great.

 

[JayMac]

I just used a hacksaw and cut slots. Works great.

That's what I was originally planning on doing, but since mine uses so many fittings, I'll probably have to put holes in the elbows, which would be much harder with a hack saw

 

[pabloj13]

That's what I was originally planning on doing, but since mine uses so many fittings, I'll probably have to put holes in the elbows, which would be much harder with a hack saw

Maybe just slot the pipe and drill holes in the fittings?

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

That's what I was originally planning on doing, but since mine uses so many fittings, I'll probably have to put holes in the elbows, which would be much harder with a hack saw

I tried holes with a manifold, and it was draining considerably slower than slots. I ended up "slotting the holes".

MC

 

[JayMac]

Maybe just slot the pipe and drill holes in the fittings?

Seeing what misplaced canuck just posted, I think this is what I'll have to do.

To misplaced canuck: what diameter holes did you drill?

Also, did you guys only drill on the underside? or on the top as well?

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Seeing what misplaced canuck just posted, I think this is what I'll have to do.

To misplaced canuck: what diameter holes did you drill?

Also, did you guys only drill on the underside? or on the top as well?

I don't remember exactly what size holes I used. I'm gonna guess 1/32".

Only drill the underside. Drilling on the top side would leave you with more liquid in the mash tun - i.e., it would drain less.

MC