Cooler mash/lauter tun

[brewdaddy568]

So. . . I was trying to build a DIY mash tun for partial mash using an Igloo 2 gal sport cooler with spigot using this as a guide:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Making_a_Partial_Mash_mash_tun

I quickly discovered the spigot hole was WAY too big for a 3/8" nipple . . . in fact it's too big for a 1/2" and too small for a 3/4". Any ideas for threading a standard brass nipple through the spigot hole and making it water tight other than drilling the hole bigger? Or does anyone have another cooler brand they'd recommend that works better with standard sized piping?

As an aside, I also tried the 2 bucket, drill lots of holes in the bottom method of making a lauter tun. That also failed because the drill didn't make clean cuts on the plastic so all the holes were getting partially plugged by all the little plastic flaps around the edge of the holes on the false bottom. Anybody have any ideas on how to make the cuts cleaner?

Thanks -- Drew

 

[JLeuck64]

Back when I was using a 3 gallon cooler for mini mashes I just used the built in dispenser. If you are careful you can fill a measuring cup without splashing, then just transfer directly to your boulevard kettle.

 

[AnOldUR]

I quickly discovered the spigot hole was WAY too big for a 3/8" nipple . . . in fact it's too big for a 1/2" and too small for a 3/4".

My first MLT was a 3 gallon Igloo with an Italian Bottling Spigot . . .