Built a mash tun, but...

[Randomnoob]

I used this recipe for building the mash tun: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

I just did a leak test and fixed the leak. But every time I dump water in it, I get more little shards from the end of stainless steal braid. My dad's hack saw was a real piece of junk. Anyways, ideas for fixing this?

 

[dozer5454]

I have built a few of these. Both for myself and club members. If your still pulling shards of metal you may want to pull the braid, rinse it really well then reinstall. On a side note, while you have it out, you can wrap some 16ga wire around a dowel to create a spring. This keeps the line from going flat and potentially prevents a stuck sparge. (Haven't had one yet. Even with a fine crush). Hope this helps.

 

[lakedawgs]

I used a pair of heavy duty scissors to cut the braided line once the liner house was out of it. Gave me a nice clean cut.

 

[pannell77]

Try to roll the end onto itself a couple turns and crimp it down with some pliars. The spring idea is cool, I ditched my braided line because it became crushed and ended up with stuck sparges, built a CPVC manifold for cheap and it works great.

 

[rklinck]

I have built a few of these. Both for myself and club members. If your still pulling shards of metal you may want to pull the braid, rinse it really well then reinstall. On a side note, while you have it out, you can wrap some 16ga wire around a dowel to create a spring. This keeps the line from going flat and potentially prevents a stuck sparge. (Haven't had one yet. Even with a fine crush). Hope this helps.

Be careful about the "spring." I bought what I believed to be SS 16ga wire but it ended up rusting. I have seen multiple people post about similar results here. I pulled the spring out of my mesh after the second use and have not had a problem with a stuck sparge.

 

[Randomnoob]

Thanks LakeDawg, that's what worked for me too. I actually just used some regular scissors and they worked well. I think I have everything ready for my first all grain brew tomorrow. The leak is fixed, the filter is fixed and clean. I hope I don't screw it up like I do everything else in my life.

 

[lakedawgs]

Hope the day went well. Remember, you are not going to brew the greatest beer in the world on your first all grain run. You are really just learning the system and getting it dialed in. As a bonus you will hopefully get some drinkable, decent beer out of these first couple of learning experiences.