Copper Manifold

[thesmasheddemijohn]

I'm using a cool box for a mash tun with a copper manifold inside which has been solderd together.the manifold thats is.After each use roughly every two weeks I flush it through a few times with hot water scrub it to remove any grain then sterilise it.Will that be ok or would a manifold that comes apart to clean be better.

[adm]

It should be just fine.

Even if there are some bugs left in it if you don't clean it well enough, anything that transfers into the kettle will be killed in the boil.

[thesmasheddemijohn]

Ok cheers thanks.

[MikeG]

It should be just fine.

Even if there are some bugs left in it if you don't clean it well enough, anything that transfers into the kettle will be killed in the boil.

Could I bend the thread a little please?

Granted that the boil will kill off any bugs but will bugs affect the enzymatic action in mashing?

Do you need to sterilise the MT at all?

[maxashton]

No need to sanitise your mash tun at all, since your grain is unsanitary. Your wort will be boiled as above.
In fact, you shouldn't use bleach on copper, anyway, it'll make it ugly!

[Dr. Dextrin]

Copper is actually a pretty hostile environment for most bugs. It's used in fungicides and copper fittings in hospitals are used to prevent bacteria being transferred (e.g. by doorknobs). Sort of self-sanitising.

[WishboneBrewery]

My copper manifold does come apart, but it never gets furred up anyway...

My Hop stopper manifold in the boiler I use a Cask-tap cleaning brush which does a cracking job of loosening the crud