Ug need new mash tun

[Charlieatthedisco]

Wanting to upgrade to ten gal batches and the only thing holding me back is the mash tun. My previous mash tun was a ten gal rubber maid cooler so my current set up does not have a burner and I don't want to go that route but what I do have is an xtra 15.5 gal keg. If I wrapped insulation around that would it hold temp for an hour? What is everyone's experience with that?
Thanks In advance


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[Puddlethumper]

I would suspect that with the thermal mass of a 10 gal. batch it should work just fine for you. I'm currently doing 5 gal. batches with a stainless 7 gal. kettle wrapped in insulation. It holds temps just fine for a 60 min. mash.

 

[Charlieatthedisco]

Nice, did you somehow get some insulation on the bottom and lid also? And what kind did you use
If you recall?


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[Puddlethumper]

This isn't the best pix but it should serve the purpose. I bought a roll of insulation at Home Depot. The same stuff you'd use to wrap a water heater but it comes in 18" wide rolls. Wrapped the sides and bottom with duct tape to hold it in place. I preheat it with a couple quarts of hot strike water prior to the mash. Once the mash is going and I'm done with pH adjustments I just throw a small blanket or towel over the lid to help hold the heat in. Typically looses maybe 1-3 degrees F over an hour mash.

 

[Charlieatthedisco]

Thanks for the pic. I think I might try it


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[Puddlethumper]

Thanks for the pic. I think I might try it

You might also want to check out the bubble-wrap insulation they sell. I was just looking at that stuff the other day and it looks a lot neater than the kind I used. Don't know if it would be any better as an insulator but would look nicer.

Cheers.

 

[wilserbrewer]

For a 10 gallon batch you should be able to hold heat reasonably well by just wrapping your mash tun in some blankets, an old winter coat, or even a sleeping bag. For your first few batches mash in a few degrees on the high side, if you lose a few degrees not a huge deal IMO. You can just learn to compensate for a small loss in your mash tun rather than fixating on making it perfect....which it will never be...