Harden Cooler Foam

[ajw85]

I cut a hole in my cooler to put in a thermowell. The interior foam crumbles whenever I touch it. Do you guys have any recommended way to harden the foam that surrounds the thermowell fitting?

 

[IslandLizard]

Insert a short piece of plastic pipe to reinforce the area which will also give you all the body needed to tighten the bulkhead nut down on. And/or pack it with "Great Stuff" or so. You could use some silicone to make it all liquid tight, so wort doesn't get inside the wall space.

 

[Stealthcruiser]

Any luck yet?

I would paint it, with some waterproof wood glue, several coats.

 

[ancientmariner52]

I had a similar problem when I replaced a ball valve with a three way valve on my rectangular mash tun. I filled the space between the pipe nipple and insulation with some pourable epoxy cement. I can carry the whole assembly by the valve, with no flex at all. Of course the bulkhead and pipe nipple are permanent parts of the cooler now.