Cheap & Easy 10 Gallon Rubbermaid MLT Conversion

[caver95]

I would just go with a false bottom. I'm about to order one.

Same here, I made a braid and then after the first ag batch I wanted to throw the whole thing in the woods. I bought a false bottom. Life is much easier!

 

[Dan-]

Built this on Saturday then took it apart. The process is easy enough, but (and I'm sure this is common knowledge) Home Depot-branded items are cheaper knock-offs of original products, so the Home Depot-branded Rubbermaid 10 gal is about 1/16" thinner than a real Rubbermaid cooler, and the lid is much thinner. It's the same reason to never buy tools there, as you'll get some cheap, made in China garbage.

Also wish I had known about the $20 stainless bulkheads you can buy at pretty much any brewing supply.

 

[PaulTheGhost]

Would anyone recommend using or not using a cpvc manifold as opposed to a copper manifold/ss braid/false bottom.
Seems the easiest/cheapest route if I don't want to waste my time with a braid.

 

[Sheldon]

I converted a cooler about 2 years ago and use a cpcv manifold. It works great, is easy to put together and take apart to clean, and its cheap. Highly recommend.

Sheldon

 

[starrfish]

Building a cpvc manifold. in the process of cutting the slits in the bottom. slow process even with a Dremel tool and a cutting disk. Can't wait to test it out in a week or two.

1 more BIAB on deck then back to more traditional mashing & fly sparging for a few batches to compare efficiency between new CPVC manifold & BIAB (as well as some slightly bigger beers)

 

[Quaffer]

Built this on Saturday then took it apart. The process is easy enough, but (and I'm sure this is common knowledge) Home Depot-branded items are cheaper knock-offs of original products, so the Home Depot-branded Rubbermaid 10 gal is about 1/16" thinner than a real Rubbermaid cooler, and the lid is much thinner. It's the same reason to never buy tools there, as you'll get some cheap, made in China garbage.

Also wish I had known about the $20 stainless bulkheads you can buy at pretty much any brewing supply.

Damn, I wish I had known about this. Perhaps I should have known it was too good to be true when I picked up my HD 10g Rubbermaid for $39.95 IIRC. Sure enough, I have trouble fitting a false bottom in it because its inside diameter is about 3/8" less than typical.

 

[Acoma]

Holy hell, I just read 154 pgs of this thread. First of all thank you FlyGuy once again. I picked up a Rubbermaid from Depot with a gift card and only had to pay 31¢ afterwards. My brother in law is a plumber and said he'd get me all the parts so I can put it together for free.

I just had a few questions:
I cant seem to find the SS washers, anyone know where I can get them?
Should I get a 5 gallon or 10 gallon rubbermaid?
Can I do 10 gallon batches with this?
Do I need a rubber o ring?
Can I use a zinc washer?
Can I use a different cooler?
Are SS clamps safe?
Do I need a rubber tube?

Seriously, though. To everyone who contributed to this thread, thank you.

And a special thanks to everyone who didn't have time to read thru the thread and had to ask the same question even though it was asked and answered 5+ dozen times, thank you for making the thread 154 pages.

 

[BendBrewer]

I cant seem to find the SS washers, anyone know where I can get them?

I bet Fastenall has them.

5449 N 51st Ave # 104
Glendale, AZ 85301-7007
(623) 930-0184

You should get the 10 gallon one or you are going to end up doing this project twice.

Start with 5 gallon batches, get your feet wet and then step it up.

I would go with the rubber o-ring. They are cheap.

Sure you can use a different cooler but that is the suggested one. Provides a good deep grain bed.

Make sure they are ALL SS. Some people use zip ties. I use a Copper Manifold.

No on the rubber hose.

 

[PaulTheGhost]

Is it alright if I have teflon tape exposed inside the cooler (aka touching my hot wort aka touching my precious beer)?

 

[starrfish]

zinc for the outside, stainless on the inside. I use zip ties and a few inch piece of high temp hose to attach to stainless nipple & a plastic 1/2 inch to half inch plastic connector off CPVC..

 

[BendBrewer]

Is it alright if I have teflon tape exposed inside the cooler (aka touching my hot wort aka touching my precious beer)?

I wouldn't put any on the inside. Are you afraid it is going to leak back into itself?

 

[mmonacel]

I just had a few questions:
I cant seem to find the SS washers, anyone know where I can get them?
Should I get a 5 gallon or 10 gallon rubbermaid?
Can I do 10 gallon batches with this?
Do I need a rubber o ring?
Can I use a zinc washer?
Can I use a different cooler?
Are SS clamps safe?
Do I need a rubber tube?

Seriously, though. To everyone who contributed to this thread, thank you.

To the above point, it might be good to have a FAQ at the beginning of this thread or summarize on teh wiki (if not already done so)

 

[PaulTheGhost]

I wouldn't put any on the inside. Are you afraid it is going to leak back into itself?

No, I jerry rigged a 3/8 threaded brass coupling into a 1/2 copper T and used teflon tape to make sure it didn't leak at all.

I really didn't want to go back to the store to get a brass T that will fit my manifold arms and have one threaded output.

Oh well...

 

[PaulTheGhost]

Is there anything I need to do to my cooler/cpvc/copper before I mash in it? (besides preheating)

 

[klyph]

You should probably drink a homebrew and christen it.

 

[jtkratzer]

I picked up a 50-pack of 5/8" stainless washers as I was at the store for a few myself as well as another HBT member. If you can't find the washers locally, shoot me a PM. They go over the 3/8" nipple and fit in the depression on the outside of the cooler where the faucet sits.

 

[Lazarous]

im having trouble finding a stainless fender, will a galvanized one work also?

thanks everyone and i hope this isnt a dumb question...

 

[Dan-]

The instructions are incorrect. It's really a 5/8" flat washer, not a 5/8" fender washer.

 

[PaulTheGhost]

The instructions are incorrect. It's really a 5/8" flat washer, not a 5/8" fender washer.

+1 That's what they are at fastenal.

 

[MattMan]

I just built my water cooler mash tun today. Here's what it cost me to buy nearly all of the equipment at Home Depot in $US:
- Rubbermaid 10 gallon round beverage cooler - $39.96
- all stainless steel ¼” hose clamps x 2 - $.85 each=$1.70
- brass square head plug (Watts A-737) - $1.93
- ½” x 12” (or larger) braided stainless steel supply hose - $4.27
- 3/8” female barb adapter (Watts A-298) - $2.98
- 5/8” stainless steel fender washer - purchased at another store - $.40
- 3/8” MIP x 1-1/2” brass nipple (Watts A-786) - $2.89
- seal from plastic spigot of cooler (shown below)
- Teflon tape (note: everything to the left of the tape in the picture above goes inside the cooler, and everything to the right goes outside) - $.98
- 5/8” O-ring (preferably heat resistant, if you can find one) -pack of 12 - $2.97
- 3 x 5/8” fender washers - $.33 each=$.99
- 3/8” threaded ball valve - $8.21
- 3/8” male barb adapter (Watts A-294) - $2.68
Subtotal = $76.60
Tax = $7.12
Total = $83.32

 

[Sheldon]

I was at my local HD Friday and asked for SS washers and heat resistant O ring and struck out on both. I know our Lowes doesn't carry SS washers either, nor does the local True Value. I found a fellow HBT'er who is sending me a few washers (reimbursement to follow of course).

Sheldon

 

[Dan-]

Try the largest Ace Hardware you can find. The key is to find the place not completely taken over by a corporate chain with standard inventory.

 

[jtkratzer]

Try the largest Ace Hardware you can find. The key is to find the place not completely taken over by a corporate chain with standard inventory.

I tried there as well along with a local True Value. I had to go to a construction supplier. They do home improvement as well as commercial. If they don't carry it, it probably doesn't exist.

That's where I got the washers and the o-rings.

I bought a bunch of washers if you need them. I'm selling them for what they cost me, $0.41/each plus actual shipping.

 

[jtkratzer]

I rearranged the washers on my cooler and now have 2 on the inside between the barb and the original rubber seal, 2 o-rings on the outside of the bulkhead (one filled the opening around the nipple and the red outside wall of the cooler but was recessed a bit so I put a second one on so the washers would be up against that to create a seal when tightened down by the valve), 6 washers, the ball valve, and the barb.

The handle of the ball valve now has a free full range of motion. It didn't leak before, when it didn't "close" all the way, but I like that I don't have to have it resting against the cooler wall and with the extra washers, it really tightened up and doesn't flex.

 

[weerdo]

I am trying to find the parts I would need for a 10 gallon IGLOO cooler that I have to convert it into a mash tun. I am a pretty stupid when it comes to this kind of stuff and don't want to waste a bunch of time and money buying the wrong stuff. Has anybody converted an igloo cooler and know exactly what they purchased for conversion?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[klyph]

I converted an igloo cooler, but I cheated and bought a bargainfittings bulkhead.

 

[Quazado]

Thanks FlyGuy. I built mine today and it works marvelously! Had to visit my local Fastenal to get the stainless washer. Can't wait to get started brewing AG!

 

[PaulTheGhost]

I built my 5 gallon MLT (bought the cooler online and could have sworn it said 10 gallon, but decided to keep the 5 gallon cuz it would be too much of a hassle to return it) the other day. No leaks and total cost right around $60 (I may have gotten the five finger discount on a few things at my local Home Gestapo).

Built a CPVC/copper manifold instead of a braid. Will be doing my first AG batch tomorrow and will update with pictures when I get home.

Thanks, FlyGuy! Without you I never would have been able to make the jump into AG as soon as I did. <3

 

[jtkratzer]

(I may have gotten the five finger discount on a few things at my local Home Gestapo).

Seriously?

 

[PaulTheGhost]

Seriously?

No, I was being sarcastic. :/
I don't think they'll miss a couple of nipples.