Round False Bottom in a Rectangle Cooler?

[HowlingHog]

Looking to build two 60 quart mashtuns, and planned on using a cube. Want to brew simultaneous 10 gallon batches.

The dimensions said 15 inches, inside width, so I ordered two - 13.5 inch false bottoms thinking more surface area was better - but realized the cooler bottom isn't flush and they won't fit.

Can I use these in larger, rectangle coolers?

Could I use one in a 120 quart cooler, or use both and "T" them to the valve?

Not looking to use a heater, or another Keggle.

Alternately - anyone know of a 15 gallon insulated vessel that would work with these false bottoms?

Thanks!

 

[day_trippr]

I don't think there's up-side potential in using domed FBs in anything but the round cooler they were designed to fit. Any "seal" to the bottom of a rectangular cooler would be tentative at best - an errant whack with a mash paddle or liner warpage (which will happen eventually) is going to end up letting grains loose.

A copper or PVC manifold or a loop of SS water heater hose braid would be the traditional solutions...

Cheers!

 

[WitShadow]

Don't try to fit a square peg in a round hole - maybe your best bet is a couple of bazookas?

 

[HowlingHog]

So here's the story...

I had been using an Igloo 60 quart cooler with an 8 inch false bottom. That cooler was an old model and the inside/bottom was completely flush Flow was sometimes limited, and I would use my air compressor and clear it if it got stuck. I liked the volume of grain the cooler could hold.

Wanting to address flow issues, purchased two 13.25 inch false bottoms from Concord Cookware. They are more "domed" and bigger than what I used before. However, the new Igloo Ice Cube coolers aren't flush, and the false bottom I bought will not fit. So I'm $70 into it, and going down the road trying to make them work.

Coleman makes a Max5 75 quart rolling cooler with a smooth bottom that is 13.5 inches square. I ordered two of them from Wal-Mart.

I think I will get good coverage/saturation and good flow. We will see!

 

[HowlingHog]

OK...I bailed on the false bottoms. They just wouldn't cover most of the bottom and I was skeptical.

I made two manifolds out of CPVC. Cut lots of slits in them. Drilled the coolers and put in valves I bought from Bargain Fittings.

These things rock! They hold temp, I can sparge at full speed, and they are easy to roll and clean.