My Stainless Steel Thermo Mash Tun

[chastuck]

Just upgraded my brewing kit to SS and thought I would share my efforts with all. I bought the 50L thermopot from the usual German source and had a stainless steel 100mm skirt fabricated to fit inside the bottom rim. I then fitted a 1" SS ball valve as shown in the pictures. I prefer the 1" size as it drains quicker and is less likely to be blocked. All plumbing was made with 316 standard fittings. The drain hole is a modified SS marine skin fitting. I fitted a bottom of 0.9mm SS to hide the plumbing and give a neater finish - I also used some expanding foam behind it to improve heat insulation.

[rossi74]

pics fixed.

Looks good

[Cazamodo]

Looks good. the 1" plumbing looks huge compared to my 1/2". Mine was small enough to fit under the existing rim luckily. One thing I find annoying about mine is, the bottom drain not fully draining, I mean it drains plenty enough, but when I'm cleaning I always get a mm or two of liquid left, that I need to then upturn the pots to empty out. Its not much of an issue, just not as easier as cleaning them in place on the brewstand.
Anyway good luck with the first brew in it!

[barneey]

Looking good, what are you using as a FB?

[chastuck]

[quote="Cazamodo"]One thing I find annoying about mine is, the bottom drain not fully draining, I mean it drains plenty enough, but when I'm cleaning I always get a mm or two of liquid left, that I need to then upturn the pots to empty out. Its not much of an issue, just not as easier as cleaning them in place on the brewstand.

What I did to help the draining was to dent the centre slightly to make it lower than the sides. I did this once the drain fitting was bolted tightly in place but before the pipe work to the edge was added. How I did it was to whack the drain fitting squarely on the top with a piece of 2" x 2" timber with a club hammer. It sounds drastic but it works! I also ground down the skin fitting with an angle grinder to make it more flush and cut grooves through the skin fitting edges to the drain hole centre. Practically all of my mash liquor drains away easily.

[barneey]

Hehe, ask Kev about his dome bottom experiments.

EDIT found the link viewtopic.php?f=6&t=44884&p=476746&hilit=+dome#p476746

[chastuck]

[quote="barneey"]Looking good, what are you using as a FB?[/quote]

Here I must confess to buying-in a ready made FB from the Malt Miller. His 396mm od SS false bottom is a perfect fit for my mash tun. I did not see how I could make one so good without proper welding equipment, or the time.

[chastuck]

[quote="barneey"]Hehe, ask Kev about his dome bottom experiments.

EDIT found the link [url]viewtopic.php?f=6&t=44884&p=476746&hilit=+dome#p476746[/url][/quote]

Yes - I saw this catastrophe, so I was determined to get it right. Just three or four whacks inside with the club hammer and the length of stout timber did it. The key is knowing when to stop!

[Cazamodo]

i saw kevs attempts just after Id put my fittings in, so couldnt try it the same way. My fittings arent the same as used here, I went the flange, ss bolts, and jb weld route so there is actually nothing on the inside of the pot to stop the run off. I may get the wood and hammer out tomorrow and have a go.

[barneey]

I think from Kevs post if I were to try, I would make the initial dome part (similar to a sink waste outlet) and stop there.