I just purchased a second Rubbermaid 10 gallon cooler to convert to my HLT but couldn't find any locking washers to fit inside the cooler... Home depot people looked at me like I was crazy. I haven't been able to find these anywhere and it's driving me crazy! Is it possible to use the default plastic spout for a HLT or would the temperature of the sparge water be too much?
Cooler question
- Thread starter dudebrews
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Pie_Man
Well-Known Member
What are the locking washers for? Many of us have successfully built a mash tun following these guidelines: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/ which call for SS fender washers. I'd imagine you would need a slight modification to this design to convert from MLT to HLT. The correct ss washers can be difficult to find, I had to go to a specialty tool shop in my town to get the correct ones. Home depot, lowe's, and ace hardware didn't have what I needed although some people have used the home depot build a bolt kits and others have had good luck with the ace hardware washers.
I totally spaced on that barb adapter, that'll do just fine. Still curious though, anyone know if the standard rubbermade cooler spouts without any modifications can stand the heat of boiling sparge water? Or is that ball valve upgrade necessary for an HLT too?
jclucca
Well-Known Member
The spigot can probably take the heat (I've done it before) but pressing the valve for the amount of time it requires to drain the tun is not fun. I found that I ended up dumping the water out rather than use the spigot. Spend a couple bucks for a bulkhead and valve from Bobby_M or build your own. It's worth it.
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