Mash tun type

[lockwood1956]

I am about to begin a foray into all grain, and am putting together the kit required, I have a 60 litre double element boiler with thermostat, so sorted (I think) on that front.
But I have a question regarding mash tuns, I read in Dave Lines book that he likes the idea of a three gallon bucket suspended in the boiler as a mash tun, as it is easy to control the temp, I can achieve this and fit a strainer and tap, but most people seem to be using the insulated picnic box, with tap and strainer,.....my question is regarding the effectiveness of both methods, any ideas/opinions on which type is better

cheers me dears (in advance)
Bob

[Chiltern Brewer]

I wouldn't fancy the idea of lifting the full weight of grain in and out of the boiler, water dripping everywhere too.

Even a basic plastic bucket in bucket MT with a old duvet wrapped around it will hold temperature well enough.

[delboy]

Welcome to the world of all grain lockwood, i guess the bucket in the boiler would work, however logistically i think you'll find that you could do with that boiler to heat sparge water and to runoff into to get a head start for the boil. Its a lengthy enough process without having a boiler having to double as a mash tun.
Im not sure the picnic cooler design was about in DLs day, but i and many on here use them and they seem to work well at keeping the temperature for the duration of the mash.

[Chiltern Brewer]

I wonder whether DL was looking for a less messy alternative to using a grain bag in the boiler? Not that there is anything wrong with using a grain bag...

[lockwood1956]

Im not sure the picnic cooler design was about in DLs day, but i and many on here use them and they seem to work well at keeping the temperature for the duration of the mash.

I thought that may be the case, I have seen many different types of cooler box, the thermos ones seem to be a little more substantial, but have seen 25 litre ones in Wilkinson's really cheap, are these viable? or is the extra spend worthwhile?

I also saw the shiny ones on eBay that were round and 30 litre.....are they any better/durable/usable

basically I dont want to spend money on kit, to find i could have had something preferable for a little more money

cheers (in advance) again dudes
regards
Bob

[MightyMouth]

I think the only difference between 25 litre and 30 litre coolboxes is the lid so they will hold bigger bottles etc. but wouldn't hold more free liquid.

[Gurgeh]

nice one LW! So is Daab claiming a win on this, or have you got him making wines

My Mash tun is a £7.50 wilkinsons fermenting bin, with a tap fitted in the side and lagged with a camping mat and a couple of old grain bags.

My mashes drop from 66C to 64.5C over an hour.

[Jim]

Aleman has tried the floating mashtun and was particularly unimpressed. See here. (about the 7th post down)

[Dennis King]

My Mash tun is a £7.50 wilkinsons fermenting bin, with a tap fitted in the side and lagged with a camping mat and a couple of old grain bags.[/quote]
For years I used simular but used cold water tank lagging.

[Aleman]

Aleman has tried the floating mashtun and was particularly unimpressed. See here. (about the 7th post down)

I was going to say that The main issue is that the plastic and grain is so good an insulator, that the heat transfer through the mash in the floating tun is really bad so you end up overheating it during the duration of the mash. A 3 Gallon Bucket isn't big enough as a mash tun either . . . . I was using a 25L one in a 60L boiler.

I've used a picnic box mash tun and they work well, especially with extra insulation, a little too flexible for me (but I'm heavy handed anyway), and my current Mash Tun is a SS 50L keg well insulated, I also have an 80L thermobox to convert . . . . For my 20L pilot brewery I will be using a 24.5L Thermobox from Nordic Optical off eBay. For the money they are difficult to beat, and will last a lifetime of brewing (As will Grain Bags, Plastic buckets, Picnic coolers etc)

[lockwood1956]

Aleman has tried the floating mashtun and was particularly unimpressed.

cheers Jim

much appreciated, I did search, but couldn't narrow my search enough

regards
Bob

[lockwood1956]

Many thanks guys......

so it would seem the cheapo picnic box mash tun would fit the bill nicely then?

they are around £7 I think

[russt1969]

Many thanks guys......

so it would seem the cheapo picnic box mash tun would fit the bill necely then?

they are around £7 I think

I use one of these. Just added bubble wrap and lots of duct tape around it all. Especially the lid.
It drops from 67 - 65 in 1.5 hours.
Go for it mate

[Martin the fish]

I've seen your MT before DaaB. Why i didn't go that route is beyond me-it's a great idea.
How big a mash can you get in there?
Whats that little control box on the outside for?

I think i'll be knocking one of these up in the next few days. My coolbox MT is ok but getting a sparge thingy to work well in a square/rectangular box is a bit of a pain.

[Martin the fish]

I reckon i could squeeze 8kg mash in that. I found a nice SS round tray that fits perfectly in the bottom of my FV. As i have to go into town today i may 'accidently' find myself getting another FV.