|
Mash Tun
After looking at many different Mash/Lauter Tun designs on the web, I decided I wanted something insulated. My choice ended up being a 48 quart picnic cooler, about $15 from WalMart. I used a slotted copper manifold, I also decided that I need to come up with some kind of heating coil. Given the rectangular shape of the cooler I came up with a design that looked like this. I also added a 3/8" ball valve to the top of the coil, to which I attached a question-mark-shaped sparge arm. This arm is pinched off on the end with small holes drilled in the underside. I cut two notches in the lid of the cooler and the heating coil sits inside the cooler. A note regarding the heater coil/manifold. I originally thought I would be able to raise the mash temperature by circulating the HLT water through the heating coil. It really didn't work out too well, it's way too slow. I currently just use it to maintain mash temperatures and I do step mashes using infusions. I'll probably incorporate another coil in the HLT and do the usual recirculating-heat-exchange method that many others are doing.
|
