Mash Tun from AerVoid

[TallDan]

I picked up an AerVoid that i saw both on CraigsList and here in the Market. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f16/10gal-aervoid-insulated-ss-397769/

So, it's a little beat up and missing the lid, but i'm easily swayed by the gleam of Stainless Steel, and it was a very short detour on a recent trip. I've been looking ever since on my options for a mash tun, and am looking for a little input from anyone with a little experience here. Here is my plan:

* Get some sort of styrofoam or similar material for a lid.

* get a ball valve on the output. the threading on the outside perfectly matches a "beer nut" and the inside diameter of it measures 1/2"

* get a hinged false bottom, most likely from jaybird

* make my first All-Grain batch of beer

So, now here come the questions and areas that i could use some help with:

* connecting a ball valve: my current thought is to order up a ball valve, some 1/2" OD SS tube, and a compression - NPT fitting from bargainfittings.com, use a beer nut and washer on the output connection of the aervoid to the SS tube, and see if that fits well. Any one have any better ideas?

* if i use a false bottom, should i find some way of extending the interior side of the drain to the middle of the mash tun? or does that not matter with a false bottom, and draining from the side is OK?

* would i be better off with a drain manifold of some sort instead of a false bottom?

 

[TallDan]

Another question, would it be good to slice a silicone hose down one side and slide it on the edge of the false bottom to both ensure a good fit on the inside of the mash tun and also reduce the flow down the walls of the mash tun? If so, i would want the false bottom slightly smaller than the inside of the MT.