Help with mash tun please.

[eon]

So, I found a cooler at a store near my house for $23.00. It is a 5 gallon round rubbermaid cooler.

I am going to use the parts used here (on the bottom):

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

I've decided to make a cpvc manifold instead of going with the braid. Does anyone know where I can find out how to put one together and what parts I need? I'm not the handy type so step by step instructions would be a plus!

Also, is 48 quarts too big to do 5 gallon batches? The only size coolers they have are a 5 gallon round, 48 quart rectangle, and 52 quart coleman extreme.

What does everyone think I should do?

***EDIT*** I just thought I should mention that currently I can only do 3 gallon boils.

I would like to get a 10 gallon square or round. Only thing, is I cannot find one in stores!

 

[JonK331]

I actually prefer a false bottom but that is just me. Five gallons is a bit on the small side if you want to make high gravity batches. 48/52 quarts is not too big. The 10 gallon RubberMaid is what I would go with for a cooler. Zapap is also a great option and is cheap, I've been using one for years (let me know if you want more info on this). The plastic is also rated to 180f, there is no high temp rating on the coolers and the manufacturers actually recommend they not be used for hot liquids. People have obviously been using them for years though.

 

[eon]

Well, reading through this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/rubbermaid-says-no-203227/

Has scared me into using only stainless steel!

I don't know now...

 

[schwinn]

I have a 48 qt square cooler and love it.
I used 1/2" pvc instead of copper and created a simple manifold.
You just buy some elbows and and some t's and cut some slots in the straight pieces.
I didn't even glue them just pressure fit so I can put in dishwasher to clean and then reassemble.
Used almost the same valve set up as on your link but on the inside I found what is called a shark attachment in the plumbing aisle of home depot.
You screw one side onto the threaded port on the inside of the cooler and the pvc pipe locks into the other side so it doesn't come loose while stirring the mash.
Also added a hot water heater heating element (120v) to it and can heat up the mash before sparging.

 

[schwinn]

PS - I thought 48 qts was too big at first but when I did my first stout that called for over 12 pounds of grains for a 6.5 gallon boil / 5 - 5.5 gallon batch I was glad I didn't go smaller

 

[snowveil]

I'll also recommend the 48qt. That's what I'm using now and it's a great size for most beers. The only trouble I ran into with it so far was with a single-infusion RIS with 24lbs of grain, I was only able to finish out with 4gals in the secondary.

I was worried at first about losing temperature during the mash but it stays pretty well throughout the entire hour as long as I pre-heat the tun with hot tap water and strike with about 12-15 degrees over my desired mash temp.

 

[schwinn]

Tip to hold heat on the 48qy.
I realized that the tops on most coolers are hollow.
I drilled a hole in mine and bought a can of spray foam insulation (window and door kind as it expands slowly).
Filled up my lid (shaking and moving around) and I swear it has increased effeciency on heat retention 5-10%

 

[hopdawg]

My $0.02 worth is that its far better to use a tall cooler than a wide cooler. Better efficiency no question about it. Your 5g cooler is likely just fine. Like others have said, once you get doing big beers you may find 5g comes up a touch short. If you're price conscious the tall 5g coolers are great. Once you start getting fussy the 10g Rubbermaid will be required.
Then again once you start getting fussy nothing is satisfactory short of a 7 barrel copper kettle system.

 

[wilserbrewer]

I've decided to make a cpvc manifold instead of going with the braid. Does anyone know where I can find out how to put one together and what parts I need? I'm not the handy type so step by step instructions would be a plus!

!

If you are not that handy...the braid is simpler to build, and works great for me...YMMV

 

[the_bird]

Well, reading through this thread:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/rubbermaid-says-no-203227/

Has scared me into using only stainless steel!

I don't know now...

Before you panic, read Brewtus' responses (both in that thread and in the separate thread he started). Personal opinion here - a couple people are a more than a little on the paranoid side.

 

[eon]

Well, It says right here on this Rubbermaid website that the coolers are perfectly safe storing hot beverages such as coffee and hot chocolate:

http://www.rubbermaidforless.com/foodservice-insulated-cold-beverage-containers-category-13_265.html

Also, I still can't decide If I want a 5 or 10 gallon. I'm thinking 10. If 1.059 is the limit for a 5 gallon, that's not enough for me.

This sucks because now I'll have to order one online and pay more!

 

[Synovia]

I own a 5g and a 48qt.


The 5g gets used about 10 times as often as the 48qt. Its tough to get a 48qt cooler to hold heat with 10lbs of grain and 15qts of water in it.

 

[eon]

Ok, well I think I will go grab that 5 gallon cooler. For one, I'm just impatient! I don't want to wait for a cooler to come in the mail. For two, it's only $23.99! I don't think I should pass up a deal like that. I'm sure I'll get some use out of it.

Thanks for all the info!

 

[the_bird]

Before you buy anything, I'm going to throw props at the Coleman Xtreme. For batch sparging, rectangular coolers are fine. My nine-gallon cooler was only $20 or $25 (Dick's Sporting Goods). It holds heat crazy-good. The drain is in a channel in the bottom of the cooler, which means that there is virtually no dead space. And, it has a drain already in place that just unscrews, no drilling or futzing around required.

I'm pretty sure, in fact, it was designed by a homebrewer.

 

[bob1852]

Before you buy anything, I'm going to throw props at the Coleman Xtreme. For batch sparging, rectangular coolers are fine. My nine-gallon cooler was only $20 or $25 (Dick's Sporting Goods). It holds heat crazy-good. The drain is in a channel in the bottom of the cooler, which means that there is virtually no dead space. And, it has a drain already in place that just unscrews, no drilling or futzing around required.

I'm pretty sure, in fact, it was designed by a homebrewer.

I agree with this completely!

 

[eon]

So, I told the guy at my LHBS that I was going to buy a round 5 gallon cooler. He told me not to buy it because right now I can only do 3 gallons boils. What do you guys think?