Now that I have decided to make myself a Mash tun I need to pick up a 5 gallon round cooler. I almost bought one at the local home supply mega-mart, then decided I better ask you folks what model you recommend. I'm just causious that the $20 "home supply mega-mart" branded unit may actually not have the same insulating properties as those available elsewhere.
Anybody have any advice?
Doug was able to put it
Doug was able to put it together in about 10 minutes. Now for a good recipe...
Doug said you can simply
Doug said you can simply back out the nipple to increase the depth that the assembly can span. (notice how carefully I'm wording this) I'm going to take him up on his offer to work on it at the shop today or tomorrow.
sorry saw you called last
sorry saw you called last night we were out well you have two choices. choice number one is you need longer nipple. get a 2 to 1.5 inch i/2 inch nipple at lowes. they wont have stainless but get brass or plastic. choice two is this cooler has outer(orange) and inner(white) layers.orange layer is real thick white layer real thin like wall paper. okay cut orange wall out so you just have white layer and add your fitting use both red gaskets one in and one out or it will leak.be careful with step two. i would pick choice one.
Not really as easy as I'd expected...
I bought the 5 gallon unit from Home Depot. The assembly is not going particularly smoothly.
Mash tun parts
Close up of the ball valve assembly. Came without the brass hose connector. Note the location of the red gasket between the st and 2nd washer.
Exploded view
With gasket in place, using only one washer and the nut, there are too few threads available to attach the ball valve.
Inside view
If I omit the nut and add the second washer, using the ball valve as the mechanical force holding the assembly through the cooler wall. I don't know is this is advisable, especially since as you see it here (dry fit and hand snugged) it spins freely. Liberal amounts of teflon tape will be necessary to make it tight.
Any ideas. And no I dont have any food grade Silicone adhesive. If thats my best bet, Jeff has some and has offered it. ;)
Parts adjustments
When I made my HLT out of the same cooler, I ended up using a 1/2" conduit lock nut on the outside to hold the washer in place, as it is thinner than most other available nuts (it's about as thick as a SS flat washer). I used a cpvc ball valve (poor man's stainless, at 1/10 the price and still rated for the heat). The other thing that works well, is if you have the tools, run a 1/2" NPT tap a few threads further into the coupling, which will let you tighten up more on the inside (allowing you to omit the nut). Just be careful with the teflon tape, you definitely need it with stainless to prevent galling, but if you use too much, it pushes back on the threads instead of sealing between them.
i can get some of those
i can get some of those 22"-30" mylar blankets with insulation in them if needed about 15 "tall.
Mash tun
Kirk I found and bought one of the round coolers that you refer to. I found that the heat lose is greater thru the lid than anywhere else. If you can find means to insulate it, you'll be fine. I filled mine w/ spray foam and it works great. For added insurance, throw a coat over the whole cooler. I believe you'll find it will hold temp stable. So long story short, the $20 cooler will probably work fine.