Converting a cooler to mash tun

[seabrew8]

After reading and watching a good many demos on converting a cooler to a mash tun. This one seem the most straight forward.

What do you guys think? What are the pros and cons of using a SS mesh tube instead of a brass manifold?

 

[Reelale]

IIRC, a manifold is pretty much required for fly sparging. If you batch sparge, a braid will work fine. I no-sparge and I use a braid, with no problems. It is starting to get a little dinged up from stirring, but still works fine.

 

[seabrew8]

IIRC, a manifold is pretty much required for fly sparging. If you batch sparge, a braid will work fine. I no-sparge and I use a braid, with no problems. It is starting to get a little dinged up from stirring, but still works fine.

I've been looking at batch sparging.

The vid i posted used telefon tape on the fittings, is this necessary? There's no pressure..

 

[Reelale]

I've been looking at batch sparing.

The vid i posted used telefon tape on the fittings, is this necessary? There's no pressure..

It makes for good, tight seals on the threads. I use it on all my fittings whether pressure or not.

 

[seabrew8]

It makes for good, tight seals on the threads. I use it on all my fittings whether pressure or not.

Sanitation is all i'm thinking about for the telefon.

 

[Reelale]

Sanitation is not important in the mash tun. You'll be boiling the wort. If you carefully wrap the threads, you'll be fine.

 

[wilserbrewer]

Teflon tape on the internal connections is IMHO silly. If those connections leak a little, it will just contribute to the sparge. No point in taping a connection adjacent to a ss braid??? If I were to try this method w/ a nipple and conduit washers, I would seal the nipple at the cooler wall w/ teflon tape, or better yet some silicone sealant. The way it is done in the video, there is nothing sealing the threads and it may leak at that point IMO.