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Author Topic: My Mash Tun Project  (Read 24961 times)

Offline andrew

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My Mash Tun Project
« on: November 01, 2010, 08:16:42 pm »
I mash in a 10G Blichman Pot that my wife bought me for last Christmas. While it is pretty cool and nifty to mash in this, the temperature is very wavey compared to a ice chest. I decided to wrap it in insolation and duck tape, and it worked fine, but it looked like crap. I was thinking of a few nanos and micros and what they use around there mash tuns and lots use wood to stop or slow the lose of heat, so I decided to go this route and strap it to my tun. For the record I have NO ban saw, miter box, circular saw, or any good wood working tools to mention. I used a hack saw, drill, sand paper, tompsons water seal, and some oil base paint. Been working on it for the past couple weeks between work and chasing my 2 yr old son who was always wanting to "help".


before sanding and sealing...



with the fleur de lis...


around sight glass...


haven't finished, will put a few wood screws into the the metal straps which is just what plumbers use to hold up pipes. and fix a few other details.

...And YES is I will be puting fire to it, but with water flowing in at 160ish or so I never thottle the gas on the tun to keep from scalding the bottom.
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Andrew Tingler

In bottles or on tap: porter, quad, and wit
Secondary: empty
Primary: empty
On Deck: Blackberry Stout and Irish Red

Offline gordonstrong

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #1 on: November 02, 2010, 05:21:09 am »
Interesting project; never seen someone do that before.  How much weight did it add?  Can you still lift it?

I'm not a fan of the steel band clamps, though.  Doesn't really look as nice as the rest of the project.
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Gordon Strong • Beavercreek, Ohio • AHA Member since 1997 • Twitter: GordonStrong

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #2 on: November 02, 2010, 06:14:40 am »
That looks good.  Someone in the club bought a pico-system that had belonged to one of the guys who got out of the hobby.  It had wood around the mash tun.  The wood is held on with some long hose clamps.  Maybe some copper bands would be more pleasing to the eye, but more of a challenge to find at the big box store.
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Jeff Rankert
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Offline ryang

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #3 on: November 02, 2010, 07:22:34 am »
For a project that nice, ditch the metal strapping and pony up for something nicer.  Nice work on the planks w/o power tools!  :)
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Offline bluesman

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #4 on: November 02, 2010, 07:35:16 am »
Very nice looking mash tun!

Very creative.  8)
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Ron Price

Offline andrew

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #5 on: November 02, 2010, 12:05:16 pm »
I didn't think about a copper band, that would be nice. I was just wondering around home depot trying to figure out what to do and how to attach the planks. Anyone know were to find some copper bands?

The wood is fairly light cedar so not too much weight was added... its probably about the weight of a keggle.

Thanks for the compliments!
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Andrew Tingler

In bottles or on tap: porter, quad, and wit
Secondary: empty
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On Deck: Blackberry Stout and Irish Red

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #6 on: November 02, 2010, 12:39:48 pm »
I don't have any idea where you could get a copper band. 

You might try and find a coppersmith in your area.  There are still some around here.  One guy I used to work with had some very pretty copper brewing thing built by his coppersmith Father in Law.
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Jeff Rankert
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Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline glitterbug

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #7 on: November 02, 2010, 02:07:52 pm »
Looks great. Have you had a chance to try it and test its efficiency?
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Offline andrew

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2010, 02:50:42 pm »
Quote from: glitterbug on November 02, 2010, 02:07:52 pm
Looks great. Have you had a chance to try it and test its efficiency?

Yeah I have been using that pot for about a year and I normally get 75-76%.
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Andrew Tingler

In bottles or on tap: porter, quad, and wit
Secondary: empty
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On Deck: Blackberry Stout and Irish Red

Offline beerocracy

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #9 on: November 11, 2010, 02:09:47 pm »
Quote from: andrew on November 02, 2010, 02:50:42 pm
Quote from: glitterbug on November 02, 2010, 02:07:52 pm
Looks great. Have you had a chance to try it and test its efficiency?

Yeah I have been using that pot for about a year and I normally get 75-76%.

I think glitterbug was referring to the increased efficiency in maintaining your mash temp. I'd be interested in knowing that as I have a 20G Blichmann MT. I will lose about 3-4 degrees during a mash depending on the size of the mash.
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Offline andrew

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2010, 11:09:52 am »
Quote from: beerocracy on November 11, 2010, 02:09:47 pm
Quote from: andrew on November 02, 2010, 02:50:42 pm
Quote from: glitterbug on November 02, 2010, 02:07:52 pm
Looks great. Have you had a chance to try it and test its efficiency?

Yeah I have been using that pot for about a year and I normally get 75-76%.

I think glitterbug was referring to the increased efficiency in maintaining your mash temp. I'd be interested in knowing that as I have a 20G Blichmann MT. I will lose about 3-4 degrees during a mash depending on the size of the mash.

O sorry. Went over my head a bit, but no I still haven't tried it out yet. I do plan to over the next few weeks. I did order a copper band /strap for it and I will likely working on that next week. When I do, I'll repost.

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Andrew Tingler

In bottles or on tap: porter, quad, and wit
Secondary: empty
Primary: empty
On Deck: Blackberry Stout and Irish Red

Offline Hydro

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #11 on: December 02, 2010, 03:35:20 pm »
Oh, that looks to nice to mash in.   It should go into a museum. 
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For the Love of Beer,
Hydro

On Tap Now:
1. Irish Red Ale
2. American Amber Ale
3. Kolsch
4. Scotch Ale
5. Strong Scotch Ale
6. Key Lime Pie (11%) Chilled to 29 deg. F. you can not even taste the alcohol.

It is time to start brewing again.

Offline andrew

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #12 on: December 11, 2010, 08:37:37 am »
I received my copper strap a couple of weeks ago and attached it to the tun. This it what it looks like now...



I brewed an amber ale this past Tuesday...





It did insulate better than just the plain SS pot, but not as good as having the duct insulation. Of course I was mashing with the air temp at 55 degrees as opposed to the typical FL weather in the 80s, and that may have skewed my perception of the insulating a bit.
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Andrew Tingler

In bottles or on tap: porter, quad, and wit
Secondary: empty
Primary: empty
On Deck: Blackberry Stout and Irish Red

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #13 on: December 11, 2010, 10:47:03 am »
The copper gives it a premium look.   Very nice. 
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Jeff Rankert
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Home-brewing, not just a hobby, it is a lifestyle!

Offline andrew

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Re: My Mash Tun Project
« Reply #14 on: December 11, 2010, 03:40:54 pm »
Quote from: hopfenundmalz on December 11, 2010, 10:47:03 am
The copper gives it a premium look.   Very nice. 

thanks
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Andrew Tingler

In bottles or on tap: porter, quad, and wit
Secondary: empty
Primary: empty
On Deck: Blackberry Stout and Irish Red
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