cool-box mashtun size

[crow_flies]

One of the guys commented that my cool-box mashtun was large and I have to agree - it is actually an ice box i bought in Malaysia (colemans) - came with built in drain hole which was ideal!! I reckon though I probably only get a 4inch bed when i mash, which is probably contributing to my problems with trub / turbid runnings (sounds nasty eh?)

I've seen a 32ltr picnic box from thermos - does this sound a better size for a typical 5gl batch?

/crowflies

[crow_flies]

its this one I have - colemans 45l combo...

http://www.sportswarehouse.co.uk/acatal ... ooler.html

[steve_flack]

I just ordered two 70L Igloo maxcold coolboxes for the new 10 Gallon brewery I'm building/planning.

[crow_flies]

Hey maybe i should think laterally and just brew double eh?

[Pete]

I have a 10" rotating sparging arm and usually use it with my DIY-insulated Brupacks steel boiler (I enjoyed using the word usually - I have made grain based beer once so far, and am not sure it tastes very nice).

If I were to use a rectangular shaped mashed tun, how do I sparge? My sparging arm obviously sprays in a circle and I assume that wouldn't be suited to a rectangle?

Cheers

Pete

[steve_flack]

I'm planning on batch sparging which doesn't need a sparge arm.

[Frothy]

CrowFlies - just saw your post in Hefeweizen if you'r having trouble with your connections you know you can get adapters from 22mm to 3/4" which fit on the back of the taps? They come in speedfit too.
http://www.willmottw.fsnet.co.uk/brew/equipment/
(Yes I have cleaned it since )

Pete- you can fit the spinny sparge arm in a rectangular tun but usually a smaller one. I made a simple copper arm fixed in the lid out of 15mm pipe with cuts at ~ 1" intervals a technique most americans use I think.
http://www.willmottw.fsnet.co.uk/brew/equipment/


So how big a batch can you make in a regular 30L thermos tun?
Matt

[Andy]

So how big a batch can you make in a regular 30L thermos tun?
Matt

10 gallon batches are do-able but not super-strength and don't go more liquid than a 2.5L/kg mash consistency.

It would be a close squeeze though

[crow_flies]

While I was brewing today - looking for something to do I came across an old 24litre coolbox I picked up for a fiver on a day trip to France. I've banged a hole in it and fitted a tap, will put a manifold together next week - do you think its going to big enough to take a 3kg+ adjuncts mash???? 15litres water plus 4kg of grain might be a bit tight - how much headroom is there in the 28l ones you guys use??

/CF

[Andy]

According to Beersmith 4kg of grain + 15L of liquor will take up 17.61L in the mash tun.

[crow_flies]

perfect i'll post pics when i get it built and running!!

/cf

[Seveneer]

If you make the assumption 1kg of grain = 1 L in volume (we're not building watches here after all)

I thought your 2l jug held 1kg of grain

I've found my 2L jug filled to the brim holds 1kg of grain which is handy.

Just thinking the extra 4l of grain might push the limits of CF's 24l mash tun as it takes the total up to about 20l.

/Phil.

[crow_flies]

well the manifold is nearly done, just the slits to cut... I'll brew up in a couple of weeks time (being dragged away for a weekend next weekend - though will be a pub break )

I'll make up a 4kg brew when i get back and will take pics for all to see the success or otherwise!

/CF

[Andy]

dry grain will take up much more volume than when immersed in a liquid.

Must be the air in the grist.

As I mentioned above, Promash, Beersmith etc will tell you how much mash tun volume you need for a given grist weight and liquor ratio.

[Seveneer]

Aah, yes, I didn't think about the air-space in the grain

DaaB, if you've done 10 gallon batches in a 28 l mash tun then, as you say, it must be possible to do a 5 gallon batch of considerable gravity in a 24l tun.

I have done a few big (1.070+) 10 gallon brews recently with 12-13 kg of grain and 30 litres of water. I like the luxury of having a 100l mash tun

/Phil.