Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

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patwestlake
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Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by patwestlake » Tue Apr 25, 2017 9:56 pm

Hi all,

Just procured a nice 32l cool box for a mash tun with the aim of upgrading the insulation. Box comes apart nicely into an inner and an outer to reveal a massive 5mm of loose polystyrene sheets on all sides and base. Gap is actually 10mm all-round, so plenty of scope for upgrading. I plan to wrap the outside with foil-faced 4mm insulation (3 layers) and a 10-15mm layer of foam depending on which camping mat comes to hand.... but it is the gap I want advice on. Seems to me that there are 3 options;

1. Thicker polystyrene sheet
2. Crazy foam
3. Rockwool loft insulation

The lid is also hollow, so that will more than likely get the crazy foam treatment, filling from one end with two vents at the other.

Any other options?

Regards, Pat
FV : #99 Highway to Helles (Munich Helles)
Next up - #100 Farmhouse in Your Soul (Saison)

Drinking :
#98 Bells Light Hearted (3.9% IPA)
#97 Decadence 64 (Mosaic IPA)
#96 Wicked Weasel (Fursty Ferret Clone)
#95 Penarth Gold (Loweswater Gold Clone)
#94 Cheeseburger Cavalry (US IPA)

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Wonkydonkey
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by Wonkydonkey » Wed Apr 26, 2017 8:36 am

I guess when your talking crazy foam, you mean expanding foam in a can. I've filled a cheap cool box with this stuff.
There's two things I will say.

The box, when I did mine, I drilled holes in each bottom corner and inserted the tube all the way in. and squirted for 4 or 5sec. Then on to the next, and so on. I then went round again but only inserted the tube less than half way and squirted till it came out, :shock:
I tried to put some gaffer tape over the holes to stop the stuff comming out.but as it was already around the holes it did not want to stick. I then had to fill the cool box with water to stop the stuff pushing the sides in.

The lid, I never had a lid that was hollow, it was only a single skin. After filling the bottom I was glad that I did not do the lid

If I had to do it again, I would think about it a bit more, and probably make a few more holes a bit closer together and do it in two stages, ie go round once, let it set and then do it again.

Anyhow, let's see what other peeps say :wink:
To Busy To Add,

Frothy

Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by Frothy » Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:18 pm

Careful with crazy foam in the lid. I did my ilgoo and it expanded so much it doesnt really fit anymore

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BenB

Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by BenB » Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:23 pm

If it was one of those nice round coolers I'd suggest just sticking a vacuum in the space ;) Not sure a flat sided one would work so well but I can see a cylindrical cooler working quite nicely!

Fil
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by Fil » Wed Apr 26, 2017 6:29 pm

an alternative lid filler is garden centre perlite or vermiculite, drill a hole big enough for a funnel spout and pour in the granules. the when full tape over the hole, or employ a more sophisticated solution.
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

patwestlake
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by patwestlake » Wed Apr 26, 2017 10:28 pm

Cheers all - abandoned the foam idea and will give the vermiculite a go. As for the body (which is slab sided), I wrapped it in alternate layers of Mylar and bubble wrap, 6 layers total, then finished it with the original 3mm polystyrene. Nice snug fit in the 10mm gap - just got to do a drop test now, then put a piece of ply where the tap will go to stop it crushing.

Anyone done a bottom outlet (with bend) from a cooler before?

regards, Pat
FV : #99 Highway to Helles (Munich Helles)
Next up - #100 Farmhouse in Your Soul (Saison)

Drinking :
#98 Bells Light Hearted (3.9% IPA)
#97 Decadence 64 (Mosaic IPA)
#96 Wicked Weasel (Fursty Ferret Clone)
#95 Penarth Gold (Loweswater Gold Clone)
#94 Cheeseburger Cavalry (US IPA)

Fil
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Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by Fil » Wed Apr 26, 2017 11:28 pm

patwestlake wrote: Anyone done a bottom outlet (with bend) from a cooler before?

regards, Pat
i think a pic would help here..
am i reading double btw.youve posted the same elsewhere and i think ive answered the same twice too DOH!!
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

simon12
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by simon12 » Thu Apr 27, 2017 2:04 am

If its not enough I just put a duvet over mine.

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orlando
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by orlando » Thu Apr 27, 2017 7:15 am

simon12 wrote:If its not enough I just put a duvet over mine.
=D>

Or you can go mad :roll: buy some Kingspan and make something along these lines.

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Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,

Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer

Haydnexport
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by Haydnexport » Thu Apr 27, 2017 1:03 pm

I have a igloo(extreme?) 36qt that I done use anymore that I used to mash with, also has a manifold filter, never dropped a degree over 90 mins ( with a coat over it), I would be willing to part with it for a modest offer. I also have a 100l big igloo (marine ? ) that I didn't get around to using either ( bought the brewbuilder high end thermo instead), again available for a decent offer ?

patwestlake
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by patwestlake » Thu Apr 27, 2017 11:51 pm

photos will be forthcoming once the (Chinese) valve arrives and I can show the build in full glory. In the meantime, as it doesn't have any valvage at all, I will be BIAB-ing with batch sparge, so will test the temp drop then.

Love the Kingspan Orlando!

Yes Fil, I did post on another forum - not sure who reads where! The bottom outlet idea was basically to reduce the heal. Many thermopots & kettles have bottom outlets - just wondered if anyone had done it with a cooler? It would need a support frame to get the height, but nothing a pair of bricks or some 2x2 wouldn't solve!

Regards All,

Pat
FV : #99 Highway to Helles (Munich Helles)
Next up - #100 Farmhouse in Your Soul (Saison)

Drinking :
#98 Bells Light Hearted (3.9% IPA)
#97 Decadence 64 (Mosaic IPA)
#96 Wicked Weasel (Fursty Ferret Clone)
#95 Penarth Gold (Loweswater Gold Clone)
#94 Cheeseburger Cavalry (US IPA)

Fil
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by Fil » Fri Apr 28, 2017 1:40 am

A bottom drain in a tun works well with a false bottom, the difficulty in fitting a FB in a cold box is in making it a good fit. some commercial homebrew cold box tuns (viking brand) do appear to use perspex false bottoms, (THEY ARE NOT perspex, but more likely Polycarbonate sheet) Perspex is not a suitable material I know i tried it.. it will become brittle after a mash or 2 Very brittle.. another foodsafe FB option is to find a large plastic chopping board, probably best to avoid any with antibacterial treatments as i dont know how they might react with the mash enzymes?

A manifold could still be done, ive seen pics of thermopot tuns with manifolds but its less common than a false bottom with a bottom drain.
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

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orlando
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Re: Upgrading insulation coolbox mashtun - which method?

Post by orlando » Fri Apr 28, 2017 7:59 am

Before you try making a false bottom have a look at this. There are 10" and 12" versions too. Better than a bazooka or manifold in my view.
I am "The Little Red Brooster"

Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,

Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer

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