The mesh will work.... but as others have indicated... it is likely to deform over time and reduce the space between the kettle and the bottom of the grain bed... essentially collapsing over time. (time might be minutes into a batch, or 50 batches...)
I use some stainless screen in my 1 gallon setup (igloo jug.... probably about 2.3 gallons in size if I recall correctly) and that works ok, but due to the design, I have a two inch long, half inch nipple on the inside of the cooler, and that helps keep the mesh from collapsing by the spigot. (I only brew on it once or twice a year... it is kind of my pilot system for making starter wort or for experiments with yeast/hops)
For a five gallon batch, I would spring for the stiffer perforated stainless, or put in a copper ring with slits cut into it with a hacksaw. (if you are in a shop with stainless mesh, you might have stainless, copper, or aluminum tubing that would work for this)
Good luck!
Topic: 2 brew kettle questions (Read 1450 times)
