New mashtun

[morticaixavier]

Woo Hoo! just tested my new 70 quart Coleman Extreme mash tun. I ended up going super cheap and easy as the money never lasts as long as I would hope. So I took a 3 foot length of 5/8 OD plastic tubing and, after heating it up a little in hot water, forced it through the existing drain. Fits like it's made for it! Hose clamp the 1 inch hot water heater SS braid to the inside bit and we are good to go. I just stick the outside end of the tube in the handle to hold it above the liquid level and viola. maybe someday I will get a valve or something. Just in time to mash 25 lbs of 2 row for my maple barley wine!

[hokerer]

I just stick the outside end of the tube in the handle to hold it above the liquid level and viola. maybe someday I will get a valve or something.

May not ever happen.  I've been using the handle trick with mine for several years now.

[euge]

I also did the "drain thang" but I fashioned a valve that just pops off the hose when done mashing. This way I can control the flow-rate if needed.

Additionally I also got the hot water heater braid, it works well but had to insert a coil of stiff copper wire down into it. This helps counteract the tendency of the braid to collapse under the weight of the mash- especially big thick ones. Not sure if it will be an issue for you or others with the smaller diameter braids.

[denny]

I haven't found anything to be gained by a larger diameter braid.  Have you compared it to a smaller one?

[morticaixavier]

well we will see. if it is collapsed should I expect a stuck runoff?

[tubercle]

 I agree that length or diameter has no bearing with a batch sparge.

My cooler/mash tun has a short length of plastic pipe where the valve was and braid clamped to it and it works fine. I wonder if you just clamped a SS scrubbie to the pipe it would work as well? Or maybe even stuff the pie with a piece of the scrubbie. After all, were just trying to keep the grain in the tun.

[euge]

well we will see. if it is collapsed should I expect a stuck runoff?

Maybe. Hard to say but it was something that was recommended to me during some runoff woes. Compacting the grain-bed is more of an issue IMO than a squished braid.

I agree that length or diameter has no bearing with a batch sparge.

My cooler/mash tun has a short length of plastic pipe where the valve was and braid clamped to it and it works fine. I wonder if you just clamped a SS scrubbie to the pipe it would work as well? Or maybe even stuff the pie with a piece of the scrubbie. After all, were just trying to keep the grain in the tun.

Bet it would get clogged. But then again I want to use one in the BK so who knows...?