Bucket in Bucket Mash Tun

[PieOPah]

With my kit due to arrive in the next few days, I am going to need to get everything else in order.

One very important thing is going to be the tap!! What would be the best tap to get for draining the Wort and what tubing will fit it?

Thanks as always

[PieOPah]

Thanks DaaB. Think I already have a spare tap somewhere. Will dig it out. If not then they are so cheap anyway

[jasonaustin]

I have the following arrangement on all my equipment. Probably a bit OTT, but it's incredibly useful being able to connect hoses quickly and easily and the ball valve allows you to control flow to perfection.

[PieOPah]

lol, that is a little complicated

I was hoping to just have a tap and tubing

[jasonaustin]

QUOTE (PieOPah @ Jul 31 2006, 03:45 PM)lol, that is a little complicated

You're probably right :rolleyes:

I would advise that you use some kind of mechanical fastener. Hot water/wort makes tubing a lot softer and I remember many mid-sparge floods as tubing slipped off taps!

[Immy's Dad]

Jason, where did you buy tham thar fangly bits?

They look the dogs.

[jasonaustin]

Immy's Dad: they're all standard parts. The only slightly trickier one to get hold of is the 3/4" male -> hozelock, but this is available from http://www.thewateringshop.co.uk (PN: CLKM075).
The other bits are all available from a good plumber's merchant (as DaaB suggests), garden centre (for the hose stuff, although probably 10x as expensive) or from Screwfix (PNs: 18109, 29086, 35800, 12964).

DaaB, you're obviously a lot luckier than me. Back in the days when I brewed in the kitchen I remember at least twice causing a mini-flood when pipes came off taps as they got warm and more malleable. And my buckets never seemed to be directly below the tap. A jubilee hoseclip costs about 50p - a small price to pay to be on the safe side.

Regarding 'great big brass ornaments', you've probably realised in the short time I've been a member of this forum, that if it aint over-engineered then it has no place in jasonaustin's brewery!!!

[PieOPah]

QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Jul 31 2006, 12:23 PM) Although I dont like them on a pressure barrel, I find the cheap WD lever tap works best on a mash tun (you may have to ask for a back nut too). They offer better control, where as the drum tap can be a bit sticky.
From memory, 1/2" tubing fits onto the tap spigot.
DaaB, do you think that http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/item1090.htm would be any good for the mashtun? It is a standard fermenting bin tap and looks like it would be capable of taking tubing. Even looks as though there is a space for a jubillee clip....

[PieOPah]

Thanks again DaaB. Gonna be all set up sooner than I thought

[tribs]

QUOTE (PieOPah @ Aug 2 2006, 09:57 AM)QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Jul 31 2006, 12:23 PM) Although I dont like them on a pressure barrel, I find the cheap WD lever tap works best on a mash tun (you may have to ask for a back nut too). They offer better control, where as the drum tap can be a bit sticky.
From memory, 1/2" tubing fits onto the tap spigot.
DaaB, do you think that http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/item1090.htm would be any good for the mashtun? It is a standard fermenting bin tap and looks like it would be capable of taking tubing. Even looks as though there is a space for a jubillee clip....
Thats exactly the same tap I use for my mash tun and all my fermenters/bottling bucket. Its great for fitting syphon tubing of various OD. I use 3/8" IIRC

[PieOPah]

Seems that this will be the tap I get then In fact, I just might get a couple of them

[hairytoes]

DaaB, am i right in thinking that you've made up a batch with only a saucepan on the hob - no spinny sparging arms, boilers & thermostatically controlled fanned polystyrene ice boxes.
Looks like you made up 5L of good ale, without too much hassel involved.
I also seen a pic of Reg's brew in a bottle (when he tried to hijack yeast from a bottle of shop bought beer) so maybe we can knockk up a brew in almost anything - think Reg had a thermos B)
Anyway just thought it looked as cool a set up as i've seen & made me think in a different way - I was planning on filling my garage with allsorts...mmmmm <_<

[hairytoes]

seems like a good way to learn the theory of brewing whilst practicing the principles & getting an end product from it!! .
Also seems a good way to try out recipes & the hobby in general without going the whole hog of investing time & money into some of the more extensive set ups some of you guys have.
I'm pretty sure I want to move into the full blown rig ups as seen in these pages, but this seems a good starter for me - mini batches very cool B) .
Once I learn the basics & generally get more confident & able I can make the move up the bigger & better things. Love it!!
I've seen the future & the future is good.

Happy hairytoes!!

[PieOPah]

QUOTE (jasonaustin @ Jul 14 2006, 08:40 AM) My tun has 2mm holes about 15-20mm apart. I haven't counted how many there are. Have a go!!!

When drilling, did you turn the bucket upside down and drill from there (the easier way I would expect) or did you go from the inside?

The wife seems to think that having the bucket upside down would put excess force on the bucket and risk spliting.

I thikn that the bins should be tough enough to handle it but I thought I would ask the experts

Thanks.

[jasonaustin]

I drilled from the inside. This is, as you suggest, slightly more difficult, but it allows you to more easily file/cut off any burrs of plastic created by the drill bit on exit. Suggest a good sharp drill bit and don't drill too slowly (if you have a variable speed drill) as you want as clean a hole as possible. You will inevitably get some burrs, which must be removed as otherwise they effectively close the hole you just made.
HTH