[dano14041]

I am planning on building a Mash tun soon and have followed the discussion of Round vs Rectangular. I am going to go rectangular since they seem to be less expensive and easier to use.

The next question is do you prefer a screen, a braid or a manifold. If you use a screen or a braid, do you use a loop or a single "pipe" down the center?

On a side note, what volume would be good? I am doing 5 gal batch and probably won't go much larger for the foreseeable future. I can get a 48 qt cooler for $19.99 or a 70 qt cooler for $36.99.

Thanks,
Dano

edited to correct cooler prices

[tubercle]

Batch sparge and none of the above, screen, braid, manifold, round, or rectangular will matter.

[euge]

I vote for the 70 qt rectangular. Use a braid running down the middle if you plan to batch-sparge.

[Matt B]

Unless you have the equipment for fly sparging, I agree on the batch sparging and that none of them really matter. My only opinion is that the stainless steel braid never worked for me, it clogged up. And it tended to float through the grain bed as I was stirring.

But what you *do* want to do is make sure that whatever is actually drawing the water out (excluding the braid, manifold, etc) is as close to the bottom as possible, or you will be losing sparging efficiency due to an inch of wort sitting there because the air level met whatever open piece of equipment you're using. Stick a couple of 90 degree copper elbows together if you have to.

[tschmidlin]

If you're sure you'll only ever do 5 gallons, I vote for the 48 qt one, that way it will take up less space when stored.  You can easily fit 30 lbs of grain in there, that's plenty for most 5 gallon batches, even when Fred is brewing.  

[denny]

Today I'm brewing my 382nd batch using a braid.  It works so well that I've never considered anything else.

[tschmidlin]

What size braid do you use Denny?  How long is it compared to the length of the cooler?

[denny]

IIRC, it's about 3/8" id.  It's just a bit shorter than the length of the cooler, but only because that was the last length I experimented with.  Shorter lengths worked just as well.

http://hbd.org/clubs/cascade/public_html/dennybrew/braid.jpg

http://hbd.org/clubs/cascade/public_html/dennybrew/bung2.jpg

[tschmidlin]

If only there was a website set up with pictures and explanations for what you do and why, and then you could put a link to it in your signature file so people could just go look . . . 

[bonjour]

try this
http://hbd.org/cascade/dennybrew/

[bluesman]

Blue coolers with a braid rule! 

[richardt]

I'm amazed at Denny's 300+ brews with a dinky little ss braid hose--it baffles me how it works so well with batch sparging (i.e., "just open the valves and drain it"). But, I'm still a believer in batch sparging

I have a SS Bazooka braid (12-inch) in an {orange} round 10 gallon cooler (and, yes, I do 10 gallon batches).  Haven't really experienced a quick lauter yet (but, to be fair, I have had the barleycrusher maltmill on an extremely fine crush--narrow mill gap).  My efficiencies have been good, but my lauters have not been quick, let's just say.

My last brew was an american wheat.... the lauter from hell.

I've since set my mill gap back to "normal." I'm still undecided about the SS Bazooka braid.  My next brew day is likely next week.

[dhacker]

Stainless braid attached to copper. Four runs of braid to drains at each end. Overkill? maybe. But never a stuck sparge, never any rice hulls, and I've used lots of wheat and rye! Oh . . and the cooler is blue! 

[theDarkSide]

If only there was a website set up with pictures and explanations for what you do and why,

This is the exact setup I have, based on Denny's method:

http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html

[theDarkSide]

Today I'm brewing my 382nd batch using a braid.  It works so well that I've never considered anything else.

Denny...in those 382 batches, how many times would you say you've changed out the braid?