MLT Dead Volume

[robkeyser]

Hi (1st post):

I bought a pair of Coleman 48qt coolers to make a HLT and MLT. Amazon.com: Coleman 48-qt. Chest Cooler - Blue: Sports & Outdoors

The problem is that there's ~0.5 gallon of dead volume (liquid left in the bottom of the cooler after draining) when the cooler is sitting flat on the ground. The cooler doesn't have a recessed drain, it's about 1/3 of an inch above the bottom. Is that going to be a problem? Do i need to worry about that last 0.5 gallon? I'm planning on batch sparging and using a screen. I could tilt it up, or build an angled platform. Or I could just ignore it. Any advice?

Thanks.

 

[Munsoned]

I have a similar Coleman cooler for my MLT. I just tilt mine by puting a book or something underneath (slowly and carefully, and just a little bit). My fear in doing this is upsetting the grain bed, compaction, and ultimatly pressing out tannins. I have not had a problem with this method to date though, and my loss is very minimal now--not even worth measuring...

 

[coax]

I made a manifold that sits flat against the bottom of mine, using tubing on the valve always you to syphon all but about 1 cup worth.

 

[TommyBoy]

Just sparge with an extra 1/2 gallon.

 

[Whiskey]

You can easily add a dip tube between the drain and the mainfold/braid, as long as you drain using a bit of tubing suction will allow you to drain well below the outlet. I end up with less then a cup in the bottom of my MLT.


It is hard to see in the below pic, but the piece of copper tubing is bent towards the bottom of the MLT.

 

[Pappers_]

Just sparge with an extra 1/2 gallon.

What he said, sort of. If you are batch sparging, just add the sparge water necessary to get the boil volume you want (6.5 gallons on my case).

 

[robkeyser]

Cool, thanks for the input. I'll try to get a bit of tubing angled down to the bottom of the cooler.

Thanks again.