mash tun build question

[kbuzz]

Just finished off my mash tun made out of a coleman rectangle cooler. I have a cpvc slotted manifold that sits firmly on the bottom of the cooler. The valve is probably a good inch above the base of the cooler. I accounted for this by using a 45 degree elbow connecting the inside of the valve to a "T" that sits at the bottom. I thought this would create a siphon to get the remaining inch or so of wort from the bottom of the tun. But during test runs, I had an inch of water sitting in the bottom of the cooler.

Any thoughts? I know I can account for this extra water in my sparge, but I'd rather be able to drain everything from the mash tun. How do you guys do it?

 

[bschot]

The only way to drain the cooler completely (or nearly so) is to have a tube attached to the valve on the outside so that fluid is being drawn below the level in the cooler. My mash tun ends up with about 2 cups of water left.

 

[PurpleJeepXJ]

Are the slits in your manifold on the bottom or the top? If they are on the bottom it should pull a slight siphon. If they are on the bottom and it still doesn't work I would say not to worry because sparging should help get those last sugars that are left in the bottom out.

 

[kbuzz]

I do have a length of tube attached to the outside of the valve that hangs below the bottom of the cooler. And the slits are on the underside of the manifold.

 

[lpdjshaw]

I had a similar situation when I was designing my MT - suction and/or gravity wouldn't drain the last 1/2 gal of liquid. I think a pump is about the only way to get that liquid out, once I hooked mine up it was fine.

 

[kcweazle]

Make sure you have an air tight seal at every connection point. If everything isn't air tight you will lose the siphon at the point where the leak is.