236 replies to this topic

[Genesee Ted]

Dan that is looking sexy bro! Those slits should not be wide enough to let any grain husks through.

[djinkc]

Dan that is looking sexy bro! Those slits should not be wide enough to let any grain husks through.

Yeah, did my first version with the fiber reinforced dremel wheels - too wide and I had a slight problem with grain getting in the manifold. Redid it a month or so ago with the thinnest dremel disks and it works much better now. Yeah, went through a few but I better have good fine motor skills. Get just a bit off line and they shatter.Wear some googles Dan.

[Genesee Ted]

Even if they are a bit too big, as long as you recirculate properly and don't crush too finely you will be able to set up a nice filter bed. One time I was teaching someone to brew AG and they stirred the mash and disconnected my whole manifold with a couple of stirs. It took me a bit but I ran it off just through the ball valve with no manifold. Just tipped up the backside and recirculated until it was clear.

[HVB]

Yeah, did my first version with the fiber reinforced dremel wheels - too wide and I had a slight problem with grain getting in the manifold. Redid it a month or so ago with the thinnest dremel disks and it works much better now. Yeah, went through a few but I better have good fine motor skills. Get just a bit off line and they shatter.Wear some googles Dan.

Dumb question because I have never used or made a manifold but if you cut them too big could you put some SS mesh ontop of the manifold to help stop the husks?

[MtnBrewer]

Dumb question because I have never used or made a manifold but if you cut them too big could you put some SS mesh ontop of the manifold to help stop the husks?

Probably, if by "too big" you mean "too wide". I don't think that's a real problem though because the slots will only be as wide as the hacksaw, cut off wheel, bandsaw or whatever. If you cut them too deep then I think you're pretty much stuck with it.

[HVB]

Probably, if by "too big" you mean "too wide". I don't think that's a real problem though because the slots will only be as wide as the hacksaw, cut off wheel, bandsaw or whatever. If you cut them too deep then I think you're pretty much stuck with it.

Yes I mean wide.

[Jdtirado]

Is there an optimal size of cooler for a TUN? I have a 70 quart cooler that I would like to use as my mash tun. Just wondering if this is too big?

[Genesee Ted]

It all depends on how big of a batch you want to make really. The 70 qt one will be able to handle whatever 10 gallon batch you can throw at it.

[Mya]

It all depends on how big of a batch you want to make really. The 70 qt one will be able to handle whatever 10 gallon batch you can throw at it.

I think Denny uses 70, and he's a 5 gallon guy

[MtnBrewer]

That's one of the advantages of batch sparging. Almost any size or geometry will do.

[Mya]

That's one of the advantages of batch sparging. Almost any size or geometry will do.

which is why I like my Ice Cube, it's square geometry is nicely suited to either method, with proper manifold of course

[MtnBrewer]

which is why I like my Ice Cube, it's square geometry is nicely suited to either method, with proper manifold of course

Agreed. I wish it had better insulation.

[denny]

I think Denny uses 70, and he's a 5 gallon guy

Actually I use a 48 qt. I can do 10 gal. up to 1.050 or 5 gal. up to 1.100 at 1 qt./lb. If I ever build a new one, though, it'll be a 70 qt.

[Jdtirado]

I want to do batch sparging at some point. Will I have to Jerry Rig something for a rectangular cooler or shall I just stick to batch?

[Jdtirado]

I meant fly sparging

[MtnBrewer]

If you want to fly sparge, you'll need a manifold similar to what Dan built the other day (although you can make it out of CPVC if you prefer). You'll also need some sort of contraption to sprinkle water onto the grain bed (a sparge arm or something that does the same thing). And you'll need something to hold the hot water that's draining into the sparge arm (a hot liquor tank). And you'll need something to put it on that's higher than the mash tun. And maybe a ladder to climb up there. If this sounds like I'm trying to talk you out of it, I'm not. I'm just saying that there's a little more to it than batch sparging. So if I were you, I'd build the manifold but batch sparge at first. If later on you decide that you need to fly sparge, you'll at least have a better feel for the process.

[Jdtirado]

Sounds reasonable MTN

[Hines]

I can't believe I just sat here and read all 11 pages of this. Please wrap this thread up soon.

[Deerslyr]

I can't believe I just sat here and read all 11 pages of this. Please wrap this thread up soon.

bored?

[Hines]

more like delaying working....lots of good info in this thread though. Glad I read it. Ok, i might have skimmed a few posts. But I read most of it.