Bucket in Bucket Mash Tun

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 7:45 am

I was all ready to spend about Ã‚Â£50 on a new Mash Tun when my wife told me that a work friend was getting rid of all his brewing equipment. Now I never expected him to have a Mash Tun, but I have been told that he has fermenting buckets and kegs.

Originally I thought that I would just be happy with the kegs and throw away the fermenting buckets. Then it struck me - I have seen some people's setup and they use 2 fermenting buckets one inside the other. So, I thought that I would save myself some money and give this method a try.

So, I know that I will need to drill holes in the inner bucket. I will need to ensure that there is a tap on the outside bucket. Both of these are easily done. BUT, how many holes will I need - I guessed small holes about 1cm apart.

The other issue that I am curious about, is insulation. I have an old sleeping bag that I can use. This will probably be big enough to double over and sit the bin in - hole cut out for the tap. Would this be enough? Would it be better to use something else?

Basically I need some help in knowing the best way to insulate my Bucket in Bucket Mash Tun. The cheaper the method the better.

Much appreciated

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:27 am

Thanks for that.

If I do find that using Bucket in Bucket isn't as efficient as I'd like then I'll buy the cooler box Mash Tun (not going to make one - too lazy for that!!) I'd just like to give this method a try as it will save me money. If it works I'm quids in. If it doesn't work then I'll be spending the money I originally expected to

Win Win

I just hope that he hurries up with the kit so that I can make a quick start!!!!

Post by **Andy** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:40 am

PoP - the cooler mash tun is *very* easy to make and you'll save >Ã‚Â£20 over a shop bought one!

jasonaustin · Post by **jasonaustin** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:40 am

My tun has 2mm holes about 15-20mm apart. I haven't counted how many there are. Have a go!!!

I use hot water tank insulation. It's 4 pieces of plastic covered material measuring 400mmx1000mm. See http://www.bes.ltd.uk/products/107.asp. They are good because they can be wiped with a damp cloth if they get dirty. Now, I have 2 of these permanently wrapped around the sides of the tun:-

The other 2 are used to insulate the top once the lid has been replaced. The tun is then sat on a piece of foam insulation. I've been using these kinds of tun for 10 years and have never had any issues. In the depths of winter (I brew in the garage) the tun loses no more than 1 degree over a 90min mash. My tun does sit in a cupboard during the mash, which I'm sure helps as these is little air movement around it, although since moving to a 40L setup the top of the tun sticks out the top. The plastic of the buckets is a pretty good insulator anyway and must contribute to the insulation; with this method most of the tun has twice the thickness. I've never used a coolbox tun so I can't really compare. My current tun is the third one I've built like this in 10 years. I've also never had any manifold issues (which seem to be quite 'popular' with cool box tuns) .

I reckon your sleeping bag would be fine. You could experiment easily enough with the tun filled with hot water.

Post by **Andy** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 8:44 am

QUOTE (jasonaustin @ Jul 14 2006, 08:40 AM) I've also never had any manifold issues (which seem to be quite 'popular' with cool box tuns) .

Now ain't that the truth!

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:55 am

Hehe, I'm justgetting impatient to start my AG brewing. Might heat some water up over the weekend to see how well it holds the heat with my sleeping bag as insulation. I have also been quite lucky to receive a digital probe thermometer from work so that will help me know how efficient my new mash tun will be.

Only thing left for me to buy will be an Imerssion Chiller and a spinny sparge arm. The sparge arm can wait as I can do Batch Sparging for now. Alternatively, I could always create my own sprinkler system from some tubing attached to the lid. Would be really simple to do this I imagine - spiral some tubing around the lid. Clamped on or glued on and some holes pierced around the tube.

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:35 am

Just thinking - how effective would polystyrene be? I could somehow make a jacet out of a block. Not sure how I would cut out a snug fit though. Gluing sheets together would mean I could make the block as thick as I wanted.

Another alternative would be to make a box and then fill in the corners to minimize space around it.

I guess that the biggest problem would then become storage. Would have to re-organise the shed...

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:02 am

I never even thought about the rate of temp loss being different with grain+water. Makes sense

If I was to buy 25kg of grain (crushed) how long could I expect this to last. I would expect it to make me 5ish brews (about 5kg per brew). What type of storage would I need to make it last longer? Thanks

jasonaustin · Post by **jasonaustin** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 11:12 am

I think polystyrene would be very effective - if you could make it fit snugly. However, I do think it would be overkill. Most modern hot water cylinders do now have a polystyrene(?) insulation already on them (so you don't need the jackets) which demonstrates how effective it would be. This is sprayed on though. Stick with the sleeping bag; I'm sure it'll be fine.

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 12:39 pm

QUOTE (Daft as a Brush @ Jul 14 2006, 12:33 PM) I'm thinking a hotwater cylinder jacket would be easier though

Guess that a trip to B&Q is in order then

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 5:41 pm

Will be going to Focus DIY to have a look. If I can get it cheaper online I will do that. Just don't like the idea of paying Ã‚Â£5 for P&P if I can pick something up cheaper myself

I know I am lazy, but I am also stingy!!!

Thanks for all the tips and advice though

confused · Post by **confused** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:43 pm

POP - ever thought of using the polystyrene ceiling covering, comes on a roll like wallpaper - normally about 5m x 600mm x7 mm thick and very inexpensive (especially if you pick up a roll end). You could wrap that around laminating it with paste as you go and then secure it finally with duct tape or strapping. You'll end up with around an inch and a half of solid polystyrene insulation moulded perfectly to your bucket. Trim the bottom flush to the bucket and should both look very tidy and be very effective.

confused · Post by **confused** » Wed Jul 19, 2006 5:45 pm

this kind of stuff

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Decoroll-Polystyr ... dZViewItem

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 7:50 am

That looks perfect

Thanks...

Post by **Andy** » Thu Jul 20, 2006 8:12 am

I never knew such stuff existed

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Bucket in Bucket Mash Tun

Bucket in Bucket Mash Tun