Cheap & Easy 10 Gallon Rubbermaid MLT Conversion

[dwpumo]

I made a mash tun, but also a HLT using the same basic method. Unfortunately my HLT is bulging on the inside, I assume from the heat of the water. I only get that water up to around 175 degrees. My concern is that it will eventually get alot worse...anyone else having this issue? These are 10 gallon Rubbermaid coolers.

 

[klyph]

I have a 10 gallon igloo, the inside liner is distorted, but intact. If it develops any cracks, I'll junk it and make a SS mash tun.

 

[starrfish]

I've used my rubbermaid once no bulges... yet, however I did pre-heat mine with hot tap water before using. I read this somewhere else, seems to work. My strike temp was 167° for a 152° mash temp. I was planning on building a sparge tank, but I really think I'm just going to continue with the 5gallon bottling bucket I currently use just because of this very reason.

 

[Frenchy]

Not sure if anyone has addressed it in this thread already, but I'll ask anyhow. I just bought a 5/8 nipple, and some 5/8 washers...My washers will only fit over the nipple a very little bit. Anyone have any suggestions here.

 

[DrawTap88]

Not sure if anyone has addressed it in this thread already, but I'll ask anyhow. I just bought a 5/8 nipple, and some 5/8 washers...My washers will only fit over the nipple a very little bit. Anyone have any suggestions here.

Is it the washer on the inside or outside that you're having trouble making fit?

 

[camus]

Not sure if anyone has addressed it in this thread already, but I'll ask anyhow. I just bought a 5/8 nipple, and some 5/8 washers...My washers will only fit over the nipple a very little bit. Anyone have any suggestions here.

5/8" ID washer won't fit a 5/8" nipple.

You should be using 3/8" or 1/2" hardware or larger washers.

 

[Frenchy]

Correction...I AM using a 3/8 nipple, and a 5/8 washer, and it won't fit. It starts to fit, but then locks up on the threads of the nipple. Could this just be a poorly made washer? They came 2 to a pack, and both washers in that pack did it. I haven't opened the other packs to see if they do the same yet.

Update here. I must have bought some washers that were poorly made. I went back to Menards, and in a different area of hardware they had thick fender washers, and SS washers that fit perfectly on the 3/8 nipple.

 

[dwpumo]

Can I fit a 10 Gallon batch in these things? I think my issue is my sparge tank will be too small, but wanted to know what other people do

 

[BendBrewer]

Can I fit a 10 Gallon batch in these things? I think my issue is my sparge tank will be too small, but wanted to know what other people do

Yeah, you can mash 22-26 pounds of grain depending on your water ratio. I do have to do a double batch sparge though. No biggie.

 

[jtkratzer]

Got everything at Lowe's except the fender washers. Got a place in mind for those.

Will the nut from the original faucet work?

Definitely saving a decent amount over the $130 10 gal MLT at the LHBS.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

yeah, you can mash 22-26 pounds of grain depending on your water ratio. I do have to do a double batch sparge though. No biggie.

+1

 

[EzMak24]

Great Post!

Made mine and tested it last thursday. Everything worked great!

 

[reinbrew]

What kind of efficiency does everyone get with this set up?

 

[dwpumo]

Yeah, you can mash 22-26 pounds of grain depending on your water ratio. I do have to do a double batch sparge though. No biggie.

Double batch sparge? do you just heat 2 things of water and shut it down, add more too the HLT, then start it back up?

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Double batch sparge? do you just heat 2 things of water and shut it down, add more too the HLT, then start it back up?

Nope... there's no HLT involved when doing a batch sparge.

I just heat two pots of sparge water during the mash, drain out the first runnings, dump one of the pots in, let sit for 15 minutes, drain, lather, rinse, repeat.

 

[starrfish]

Nope... there's no HLT involved when doing a batch sparge.

I just heat two pots of sparge water during the mash, drain out the first runnings, dump one of the pots in, let sit for 15 minutes, drain, lather, rinse, repeat.

+1 and a if you have a 7-10 gallon pot 1 big batch sparge. easy peasy! 10 gallon is a batch sparge.... unlike steeping specialty grains squeeze that bag.

 

[BendBrewer]

Double batch sparge? do you just heat 2 things of water and shut it down, add more too the HLT, then start it back up?

I use 9-10 gallons of sparge water. I put this amount in my HLT and fire it as soon as I begin the mash and bring it up to 180 ish. Drain my first runnings and sparge with half of the water in my HLT which is now OFF flame. I stir well and let the grain bed settle for 8-10 minutes and then recirculate and drain. Now the water in my HLT is cooled to 170 ish and I do my second sparge as my wort comes up to temp in the Kettle.

Sounds like a lot but for most of the time I am sitting in a chair drinking a beer and watching my pump run.

 

[BendBrewer]

Nope... there's no HLT involved when doing a batch sparge.

I just heat two pots of sparge water during the mash.....

Technically, you are using 2 HLTs.

 

[Reno_eNVy]

Technically, you are using 2 HLTs.

Well then technically my faucet is a cold liquor tun

Nah, I wouldn't call it a HLT if I'm using them to heat up the water and then just dump directly into the MLT (no draining or anything.) Then I use them for the boil as well.

 

[jtkratzer]

I found the washers and bought 6 of them, 3 on each side of the bulkhead to get everything tight. Also used two o-rings to fill the opening where the faucet was and the second was to stick out enough for the washer to contact. Only thing I noticed is the ball valve is a hair too close to the cooler. The handle contacts, but it shuts off the flow, so no biggie. I guess I'm ready to give all grain a shot after I brew these two extract recipes I have.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

I use 9-10 gallons of sparge water. I put this amount in my HLT and fire it as soon as I begin the mash and bring it up to 180 ish. Drain my first runnings and sparge with half of the water in my HLT which is now OFF flame. I stir well and let the grain bed settle for 8-10 minutes and then recirculate and drain. Now the water in my HLT is cooled to 170 ish and I do my second sparge as my wort comes up to temp in the Kettle.

Sounds like a lot but for most of the time I am sitting in a chair drinking a beer and watching my pump run.

I do something similar although no pump. I heat up about 15 gallons of strike water in HLT, use how much i need for mashing, add more water to HLT and heat it back up to sparge temp while the mash does its thing. I do 10 gallon batches. Do as you do for sparge.

 

[razorbrewer]

If someone could ship me a stainless steel fender washer, I would greatly appreciate it. I've been to Lowe's, Home Depot, Fastenal, Ace Hardware, and all the local fastener dealers (I work in the construction industry so I'm aware of and have honestly exhausted all local options) and NOT A SINGLE ONE of them carry 5/8" ss fender washers. 1/2" is the largest they have. If anyone can help out, I would greatly appreciate it and reciprocate the favor any way I can.

 

[jtkratzer]

If someone could ship me a stainless steel fender washer, I would greatly appreciate it. I've been to Lowe's, Home Depot, Fastenal, Ace Hardware, and all the local fastener dealers (I work in the construction industry so I'm aware of and have honestly exhausted all local options) and NOT A SINGLE ONE of them carry 5/8" ss fender washers. 1/2" is the largest they have. If anyone can help out, I would greatly appreciate it and reciprocate the favor any way I can.

I can hook you up. How many do you need? I'll have to run to the hardware store to get them. I used 6, 3 on each side of the bulkhead to get everything snug so opening and closing the ball valve didn't twist the whole thing all over. I also used two o-rings to fill the "gap" from the faucet.

 

[razorbrewer]

I can hook you up. How many do you need? I'll have to run to the hardware store to get them. I used 6, 3 on each side of the bulkhead to get everything snug so opening and closing the ball valve didn't twist the whole thing all over. I also used two o-rings to fill the "gap" from the faucet.

PM sent.

 

[SirMoik]

I went to Home Depot yesterday and found 5/8" stainless steel washers. It came in a kit called "Create-A-Bolt" which contains the stainless steel washers along with nuts and lock washers (4 each). They are packaged in a clear plastic box with an orange label. I tossed the receipt but the website's price is $3.92, seems pretty good. Here is a link to the product on the Home Depot website: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202249572/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

 

[razorbrewer]

Out of curiosity, what is the OD of the 5/8" Fender Washers you are using? How about the thickness? I just realized I had some things I needed to order from McMaster-Carr and they've got a huge selection of washers and the only dimension I'm certain on is the ID of the washer. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[jtkratzer]

Out of curiosity, what is the OD of the 5/8" Fender Washers you are using? How about the thickness? I just realized I had some things I needed to order from McMaster-Carr and they've got a huge selection of washers and the only dimension I'm certain on is the ID of the washer. Any help would be appreciated.

I can measure for you when I get home from work. The washers I used fit perfectly in that depression where the cooler faucet sat.

I put two o-rings in, one to fill the opening around the brass nipple, and the second to stick out a bit for the washers to compress and make a seal. I left the rubber seal that came with the cooler on the inside.

 

[SirMoik]

Like jtkratzer said, my washers also fit perfectly into the depression. The washers have an OD of 1.5" and are about 1/16" thick. I don't think the thickness matters too much other than getting the valve clear of the cooler (so thicker the better). I used three of the stainless 1.5" OD washers and three 2" OD zinc coated washers (cheaper and a bit thicker) on the outside of the cooler.

 

[kingmatt]

If someone could ship me a stainless steel fender washer, I would greatly appreciate it. I've been to Lowe's, Home Depot, Fastenal, Ace Hardware, and all the local fastener dealers (I work in the construction industry so I'm aware of and have honestly exhausted all local options) and NOT A SINGLE ONE of them carry 5/8" ss fender washers. 1/2" is the largest they have. If anyone can help out, I would greatly appreciate it and reciprocate the favor any way I can.

I picked up a 16mm SS washer from Lowes that worked fine. They didn't have any 5/8 SS washers so I checked out the metric section and realized the 16mm would work.

 

[ranchonodinero]

I have a false bottom in mine and love it. Never a stuck sparge and 85% efficiency on average using the batch method. I like that I have the option to fly sparge too.

Which false bottom are you using?