Mash tun material

[beavers]

Has anyone used something like this for a mash tun?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005KDAK8O/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I'm curious to know if the material (LLDPE) is suitable for the purpose. I've found a number of sources that say it's "food-safe", but am not sure if it could withstand temps up to ~170F.

 

[Newsman]

I wouldn't use it myself. I say that not because I don't think it's "food-safe" (I have no idea one way or the other); rather I say that because a trash can isn't insulated so you'll lose a ton of heat very quickly, which you do NOT want for a mash tun.

 

[Dr. Francois]

Agreed. Too much heat loss. By the time you insulated it, you'd be better off with a cooler

 

[Newsman]

Think about it this way... how are you going to keep it at 150* or so for 60+ minutes? That trash can isn't going to do that on it's own. You'd have to wrap it in so much insulation it would be cheaper to buy a 10-Gallon Igloo cooler and convert it yourself or buy it already converted.

 

[beavers]

Thanks for the quick responses so far! Although I'll probably reconsider this particular vessel for the reasons you've both mentioned, I'm still curious at this point whether LLDPE will remain safe at mashing temps.

(I currently have two SS kegs, and will eventually add a third. The Brute would just be for the meantime, and I'd probably just wrap a sleeping bag around it like I will for the keg.)

 

[iijakii]

I've seen some nano breweries that use those big Brutes and a RIMS to maintain temps.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, Wikipedia says the max "working" temperature of LLDPE is 50°C - or 122°F.
I`d think that would be dicey for mashing...

Cheers!

 

[iijakii]

I'm pretty sure Brutus makes some HDPE trash cans too. They're probably way more money though.

 

[stevehaun]

I use a HDPE blue barrel. They are quite thick which makes it easy to add a bulkhead fitting. Holds heat well but I do use a HERMS.

 

[beavers]

fwiw, Wikipedia says the max "working" temperature of LLDPE is 50°C - or 122°F.
I`d think that would be dicey for mashing...

Cheers!

I'm seeing that too, but I must claim ignorance as to what any of those numbers mean...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LLDPE#Physical_properties

Max. operating temp. 50 °C
HDT @ 0.45 MPa 45 °C
HDT @ 1.80 MPa 37 °C
Melting Temp. Range 120 to 160 °C
Mould temp. range 20 to 60 °C

So at least it wouldn't melt!

I'm pretty sure Brutus makes some HDPE trash cans too. They're probably way more money though.

Yeah, that'd be the way to go but for the price. The 10-gallon LLDPE cans are $11.49 plus free shipping right now. Can hardly beat that, except if it starts leaching funny things into the wort.

 

[fearwig]

I bet the heat loss wouldn't be that bad if it were mostly full, but you definitely want HDPE. LDPE probably will not kill you, but I think you'd be looking at off flavors even if you don't worry about things like phthalates. That stuff gets kind of floppy when it's warm, it's not durable.

 

[Newsman]

For about $50 you can get a 10 gallon Igloo water cooler and build yourself a mash tun. That is something that is KNOWN to be good for a mash tun.

 

[dyqik]

If you really want to keep it cheap for 5 gallon batches (and maybe a bit larger, depending on gravity), a 6.5 gallon Ale Pail bottling bucket will survive the temperatures (HDPE), is food safe, provides a handy spigot at the bottom, and is reusable as a fermenter/bottling bucket. Not sure how you'd link a manifold/screen up to the spigot though. You'll need to insulate it in the same way as you would a stainless pot.

 

[beavers]

[...]a 6.5 gallon Ale Pail bottling bucket will survive the temperatures (HDPE), is food safe, provides a handy spigot at the bottom, and is reusable as a fermenter/bottling bucket.

Excellent suggestion, and would be free since I have a friend willing to give me an old one she no longer uses.

Thanks to everyone!

Cheers

 

[Gonefishin]

I am liking that Brute for catching my milled grains. I started doing 10-gallon batches w/25-30# grain bills. My current 5-gal. pails wont hold them and I have to use multiple pails. Thanks for the link, Happy Brew Year!

 

[dyqik]

If you can find polypropylene food grade buckets, then those are even better - several manufacturers in the UK make electric boil kettles from those. There's also 7.9 gallon Ale Pails out there, btw, for about $20.