18 replies to this topic

[johnpreuss]

I've been using a 5 gallon rubbermaid cooler as my mashtun since I started AG about a year ago. I batch sparge so you can just imagine the problems - Please don't critisize but I was rinsing my grain about anywhere from 3 to 4 times to get my boil volume. It worked for me. I had several beers score in the high 30s at competitions but I have had enough! So I bought one of these:Now I know there are some inherent problems with this cooler. Namely the slanted drain hole. So I came up with this:And here is how it looks all done:It took about a half hour to put together because I soldered some of it but no leaks first try!!!! Cost me just under $40 to put it together. I can't wait to brew with this thing!!!

[Big Nake]

John, I think that looks awesome. What does the spigot look like on the outside? Also, I can't tell from the pic, but will there be a good volume of liquid lower than the copper manifold and will it be hard to get that volume out? Sounds like a test-drive is in order! Cheers & congrats.

[strangebrewer]

Upgrades are goooooood.That is the exact cooler and setup a friend of mine uses for his mash tun and it works great. Welcome to single sparge batch sparging

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

John, I think that looks awesome. What does the spigot look like on the outside? Also, I can't tell from the pic, but will there be a good volume of liquid lower than the copper manifold and will it be hard to get that volume out? Sounds like a test-drive is in order! Cheers & congrats.

yeah - that's what I was thinking. If we are talking about batch sparging I don't quite get how the copper pipe is going to help.

[BlKtRe]

yeah - that's what I was thinking. If we are talking about batch sparging I don't quite get how the copper pipe is going to help.

Copper pipe is to get the braid below the wheel hump.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Copper pipe is to get the braid below the wheel hump.

right but by the end of the run off I don't think things are flowing enough to create a siphon so that liquid below the level of original drain isn't going to make it out anyway.

[MakeMeHoppy]

I have that same cooler with a bazooka T as the screen. I use it for higher gravity 5 gallon batches and it works great. I get the same efficiency as from a 5 gallon Gott Cooler with the toilet braid. I don't notice any more liquid left when I dump as the grains to displace a lot of the fluid and there does appear to be pretty good siphon action as the grain bed is not overly wet when I finish. Good luck and enjoy

[davelew]

right but by the end of the run off I don't think things are flowing enough to create a siphon so that liquid below the level of original drain isn't going to make it out anyway.

A siphon doesn't require much flow unless there are leaks or air bubbles. My guess is that with the soldered connections, it will siphon just fine.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I have that same cooler with a bazooka T as the screen. I use it for higher gravity 5 gallon batches and it works great. I get the same efficiency as from a 5 gallon Gott Cooler with the toilet braid. I don't notice any more liquid left when I dump as the grains to displace a lot of the fluid and there does appear to be pretty good siphon action as the grain bed is not overly wet when I finish. Good luck and enjoy

it's not the end of the world but I'd certainly pay attention to factor in the dead space for future batches.

[Big Nake]

I could see the soldered joints creating enough suction to get out a good percentage of the remaining liquid and if others are using the same cooler and have "dry" grains at the end of the sparge, I would assume all is good. I have the 10-gallon Rubbermaid/Gott cylinder cooler and the bottom is flat. After I allow the remaining ounces of liquid out, my spent grains are completely free of liquid. Have fun with it, John! I hope it makes you some kickass beer! Cheers.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

A siphon doesn't require much flow unless there are leaks or air bubbles. My guess is that with the soldered connections, it will siphon just fine.

on my setup there is air in the hose pretty soon after I start draining simply b/c my hose flows much much faster than the liquid through the grain bed.

[Deerslyr]

it's not the end of the world but I'd certainly pay attention to factor in the dead space for future batches.

After the first few batches, he'll be able to dial into the efficiency of the tun, taking into account the dead space and then adjust his recipes accordingly.

[johnpreuss]

John, I think that looks awesome. What does the spigot look like on the outside? Also, I can't tell from the pic, but will there be a good volume of liquid lower than the copper manifold and will it be hard to get that volume out? Sounds like a test-drive is in order! Cheers & congrats.

I'll try to get a pic of the outside. It looks just like it did on my 5 gallon rubbermaid cooler but at a 45 degree angle. There is just enough room under the copper pipe to fit the braid if you squish it a little. I wanted to beable to take that manifold off so I didn't solder that part of the tee that runs to the valve. I'd say I might lose a quart tops when there is grain in it. I'll keep you all posted.

[johnpreuss]

John, I think that looks awesome. What does the spigot look like on the outside? Also, I can't tell from the pic, but will there be a good volume of liquid lower than the copper manifold and will it be hard to get that volume out? Sounds like a test-drive is in order! Cheers & congrats.

Here's the spigot on the back Ken:The valve handle is a bit tight but it closes w/o a leak so I'm happy with it.

[BlKtRe]

I know plenty of guys with this setup doing great beers!

[johnpreuss]

That's why I went with it. I needed a bigger mash tun and for the money this cooler was a winner. Actually, I can move up to 10 gal batches with this and not have to upgrade my system. So I'm very happy.

[BrewerGeorge]

I know plenty of guys with this setup doing great beers!

This!I have the 48qt, not the 60, but it works fine. You'll have no trouble maintaining a good siphon to drain it.

[MyaCullen]

This!I have the 48qt, not the 60, but it works fine. You'll have no trouble maintaining a good siphon to drain it.

yep, it'll do just finebrew on

[Big Nake]

Yeah, that looks awesome. You know, I'm a complete MT newbie because I picked up my cylinder-style Rubbermaid cooler about 6 years ago, attached a Worthog to it and never even thought about all of the different assemblies out there. I know there are a million ways to do this, but since my system just keep chugging, I rarely think about it. John, that bad boy is going to make you some rocking beer. Cheers.