DIY Mashtun, how big do you need?

[Paradigm]

I've been considering trying my hand at all grain brewing, and I would need a mashtun. I found a promising guide here:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/hom...build-your-own-home-brewing-mash-tun-16159584

I don't know how large of a tun I would need, however. Is 10 gallons enough for a 5 gallon batch? Would I need a larger tun to do higher gravity brews? My goal for the year is to make a barley wine or baltic porter, which are close to 1.1 OG.

 

[jflongo]

A 10 gallon igloo should work fine for you. Do you know how many pounds of grain you will be using max? Scroll down to "Can I mash it"

http://www.rackers.org/calcs.shtml

 

[broadbill]

For the odd high-gravity brew, you can bump up the OG with DME, if you can't fit all of the grain in. 10 gallon is plenty for most beers.

 

[NTXBrauer]

Go with the 10 gallon..Here is information for a DIY mash tun from the HBT archives, that many of us have used in making one. Cheers!

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

 

[RM-MN]

I've been considering trying my hand at all grain brewing, and I would need a mashtun. I found a promising guide here:

http://www.popularmechanics.com/hom...build-your-own-home-brewing-mash-tun-16159584

I don't know how large of a tun I would need, however. Is 10 gallons enough for a 5 gallon batch? Would I need a larger tun to do higher gravity brews? My goal for the year is to make a barley wine or baltic porter, which are close to 1.1 OG.

You're starting with the wrong premise. You don't need a mash tun, but you might want one. You can brew right in the boiling pot using a technique called BIAB (brew in a bag) using nothing more than a paint strainer bag of a bag made of "Swisse voille" or curtain material. This is a newer technique that home brewers developed and are trying. Many of us, once we try this method, never buy a mash tun. That can be your choice. Once you have a few all grain brews done, you will be better informed on what choice to make.