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General Category => Equipment and Software => Topic started by: tonyp on May 06, 2011, 07:40:02 PM

Title: New Mash Tun
Post by: tonyp on May 06, 2011, 07:40:02 PM: Brought some homebrew over to a buddy's house last week and started talking about going all-grain. I mentioned that I was going to purchase a coleman cooler for the mash tun conversion and he says "I think i have an extra, you can have it!". I know it isn't blue, but it was free!

So since I saved about $40 not buying the cooler, I decided that instead of going the DiY route I bought a SS Ball Valve Kit from Northern Brewer. Can't wait to give it a go!

I took some picts:

(http://tpittari.com/imgs/mashtun/MashTun01.jpg)
(http://tpittari.com/imgs/mashtun/MashTun04.jpg)
(http://tpittari.com/imgs/mashtun/MashTun02.jpg)(http://tpittari.com/imgs/mashtun/MashTun03.jpg)
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: euge on May 06, 2011, 09:35:52 PM: Congrats on the score Tony! That'll make great beer. May not be blue, and that's all good it's a Coleman... :D
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: ibru on May 06, 2011, 09:46:24 PM: I'd keep bring 'brew that guy's place... Nice score!

Isn't it a light blue?
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: richardt on May 06, 2011, 10:02:20 PM: The handle is blue, so I think your efficiencies will be ever as good as Denny's. :D

After looking at your pics, I think I'm going to switch from the round 10 gallon cooler to the rectangular cooler soon in order to decrease my grain bed height (and eliminate compaction/lautering issues I've noticed on my high-gravity brews). Thanks for the internal shot--I have a 12 inch Bazooka, as well. It looks perfect in that cooler. Let us know how it works for you.
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: JKL on May 06, 2011, 10:10:01 PM: Nice MT! It looks really familiar (aside from the color, that is) ;) I got to mash in my new 70qt 2 weeks ago and now I wish I had switched to a rectangular cooler along time ago. Soooo much nicer than the old round Gott. Plus with a new mill my efficiency went up almost 15%, and that was on a 8% beer with an OG of 1.073. You're gonna love it! Brew on!
-J.K.L.
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: jamminbrew on May 07, 2011, 02:00:40 AM: It's the same cooler as the 70 qt extreme, just white. It's the marine version. same cooler, different color. I just ordered one from amazon yesterday! 8)
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: Malticulous on May 07, 2011, 02:32:50 AM: I have that cooler. I found it in the middle of a road. I'd convert it if I needed more than 11 gallons of 1.070 wort. My Coleman 52 works perfect for me.
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: tonyp on May 07, 2011, 03:00:10 AM: Thanks guys, its a Coleman 70-qt Extreme, its just silver. My buddy only used it at the beach for beer/ice. He said its a few years old but honestly, it looks brand new, I hardly had to clean it at all, but I still soaked it in oxyclean and scrubbed it all down.

BTW, anyone that wants to buy the same ball valve kit, I bought the regular bulkhead but it was a really tight fit and I had to leave off the brass nut so that the ball valve assembly would even catch on the threads. It leaked and the valve handle hit the sidewall of the cooler so it wouldn't open all the way. I called Northern Brewer and they sent out the XL bulkhead and now it all fits and works perfectly. So make sure you order the XL Cooler Bulkhead (http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/xl-cooler-bulkhead.html).

I'm excited to do my first all-grain batch, hopefully this weekend!

Cheers!
Tony
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: jamminbrew on May 07, 2011, 04:04:43 AM: Quote from: tonyp on May 07, 2011, 03:00:10 AM

I'm excited to do my first all-grain batch, hopefully this weekend!
That's great! Good luck, happy brewing! What is your first all grain brew?
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: denny on May 07, 2011, 03:06:16 PM: For those contemplating a similar conversion, I'll mention that I get better draining by not using a bulkhead. Using my funky mini keg bung and piece of tubing allows for a better siphon and more complete draining. YMMV.

(http://hbd.org/clubs/cascade/public_html/dennybrew/bung2.jpg)
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: tygo on May 07, 2011, 04:42:00 PM: I used to use a mini-keg bung setup in my 48 qt mash tun. When I upgraded to the 70 qt xtreme I tried to use it and the wall was too thick for it so I went with a bulkhead.
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: tonyp on May 07, 2011, 04:58:34 PM: Quote from: theantipunk on May 07, 2011, 04:04:43 AM
Quote from: tonyp on May 07, 2011, 03:00:10 AM

I'm excited to do my first all-grain batch, hopefully this weekend!
That's great! Good luck, happy brewing! What is your first all grain brew?

Doesn't look like its going to happen this weekend with mother's day and all, but I was thinking of making a Cream Stout.
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: denny on May 07, 2011, 05:41:39 PM: Quote from: tygo on May 07, 2011, 04:42:00 PM
I used to use a mini-keg bung setup in my 48 qt mash tun. When I upgraded to the 70 qt xtreme I tried to use it and the wall was too thick for it so I went with a bulkhead.

Makes sense to me.
Title: Re: New Mash Tun
Post by: maxieboy on May 07, 2011, 07:20:40 PM: Nice score! Nice setup. You're rockin' now. I've got the same cooler set up w/ a manifold. Blue coolers may give better efficiency but silver coolers make more flavorful beer... ;)