My Last EVER Mash Tun Build 50ltr Pot EDIT 80ltr

[barneey]

Nearly finished the Mash Tun, just need to fit the FB with a few legs and its all systems go

All fairly standard stuff, using all 1/2 stainless fittings...




And the important flush fitting underneath.....

[jaff]

Top notch Barney

[Andy]

Lovely work

[darkonnis]

What have you used to attach the steel plate on to the bottom? I was going to drill some holes and fit some bolts but I'd prefer an adhesive given the choice.
Cooky

[barneey]

What have you used to attach the steel plate on to the bottom? I was going to drill some holes and fit some bolts but I'd prefer an adhesive given the choice.
Cooky

When I did my HLT I used normal silicone sealant to stick it on with, after a year its still in place so will do the same with this one + its always removable if required.

On another subject, this still leaves the question is the thickness of thermo pots different from pot to pot, or am I just lucky with getting thick pots?

Cheers

[darkonnis]

I think its just you being lucky. Both my 50 and 60L ones are so thin I can't get the fittings inside the cavity and am gonna have to make some kind of hood to go over it.
The 80L i bought from yer is twice as thick as the others which annoys me! But what can ye do.
Cooky

[barneey]

Yep its a pity, even with this 80litre pot the insulation around the perimeter is thin-ish & I`ve only just about managed to get the pipework in.

Not thats its ever going to be seen but it just looks neating IMHO.

What annoys me more is that most pots always seem to have a small ding in them somewhere.

To end up with a pot like this there are quite a few variables to consider:-

Firstly any pot dings, secondly the thickness of the insulation both in the center and edge and finally getting the right thru deck fitting thats threaded ALL the way to the top again this is just luck - out of the last 4 deck fittings I bought only 1 fitting could be used in this way, the rest werent suitable.

If the pot isnt suitable a quick fix is to get a purpose made large washer ring made up as a spacer for the pipework assuming that no slots are required for the pipework?

Cheers

[chastuck]

Very neat and nice job, but I still think adding a bottom skirt inside the existing short skirt is the best way to go for a centre drain mash tun. You don't have to grind down the elbow fittings and can use a much bigger ball valve tap and exit pipework - I use 1 inch fittings. I know my method adds extra costs, but I think gives a better mash tun.

[barneey]

Cheers, but I think we will have to agree to disagree about 1/2 and 1" fittings on the MT, IMHO I believe that 1/2 full bore "system" is enough for an 80 ltr pot, bearing in mind I dont use reduced bore fittings, pipework or connections.

[darkonnis]

I'd agree with barneey about that.

1" is probably better for clearing stray grain but it seems overly large and when I think that all the pumps I've seen are 1/2" I can't help but think that there isn't anything to be gained outside of a gravity system.

Side skirts.... I haven't had to grind down any fittings(elbows) to make them fit (except some stupidly long threads on the skin fittings), the lip which holds the pot up from the floor is sufficient to get normal fittings in, its more a case of needing to cut out sections of steel from the outer pot skin to make it fit the underside or is that what you are getting at? In which I'd rather cut out and attach a hud with some expanding foam than use an extra skirt... makes them look a bit more... pleasant when in place. Each to their own though.

Must say I am looking forward to being "done" with the build so i can focus on the brewing and the likes.

I say this... but as soon as this is done I have a HERMS system to rig up *sigh*

[chastuck]

As you say, each to his own and your work is very neat. A one inch full bore ball valve doesn't have to be fully open in use of course, so you do have considerable control over the outflow. It just gives you that extra flexibility around flow control and fully open is great for the final run-off when the sparge is finished and the grain bed has settled. Also one inch bore and fittings are much easier to clean out if there ever is a blockage. I have no problems connecting to 1/2 inch pumps as I simply use SS reducers where and when needed. My earlier builds did use 1/2 inch, but I much prefer the one inch size I now use. I even use 1.25 inch on my HLT (a converted 32l Baby Burco) - this is great for very quickly running the hot water into the mash tun prior to mixing in the grain. A final plus for me when using an additional skirt is that the extra height means you can situate the ball valve a lot higher off the bottom - much easier for connections.

[barneey]

Well if your ever in the market for some 3 way 1.5" bore triclover valves let me know.

Would agree with the height of the fittings, its very tight to get a triclover fitting on my pot, normal disconnects however arent a problem.

As for my new boiler I`m thinking about going for a larger size tap for that but am still un-decided.

Cheers

[barneey]

Just finished the pot and there is a few mm clearance under the triclover fitting

[far9410]

Christ! , do you guys never stop upgrading???

[Kev888]

Looking very smart indeed

Nice to see it on the bamboo flooring too - wonder how that would work as cladding...

Cheers
Kev