Mash Tun Question

Easier to make? Probably either one shouldn't be too hard.

Try this page for ideas, Screwy Brewer's instructions on making a mash tun.

I made a 5 gallon one (but I'm making 3.5-4 gallon batches). It works well.

You should be able to extrapolate the hardware for a ten gallon tun, rectangular or cylindrical. I brought in my computer and just had a sales associate help me find everything I needed. He also helped me decide on the exact tweaks I needed for my own needs. I only wound up going back once because I needed a couple more washers, no big deal.

Some use a false bottom, I don't because it was cheaper and easier to use the mesh hose filter. I can't comment which one works better either. If my mesh hose setup winds up being a problem later, I'll get a false bottom, but based on the trial run it works great.

Others can comment which one works better, I don't know. Mine works fine.

And how the **** did you get that for six bucks!

 

You can use either and neither should be more difficult to build than the other. In theory the geometry of a round cooler (deeper, narrower grain bed) or more well suited to fly sparging, whereas a rectangular cooler (shallower, wider grain bed) is more well suited to batch sparging, in reality though either shape can successfully be used with either method.

 

The issue making a mash tun from rounded cooler is to seal the spigot on the none flat surface.
In the case of rounded cooler the spigot meet the cooler in two surface point which you need to use gasket.
The inside is rounded. the out side is flat.
Usually the gaskets design to work on flat surface, so its need to be creative on sealing and testing the cooler for leakage.

 

I would use whichever cooler has a larger capacity. that way you won't be limited later when you want to brew larger batches/higher gravity beer. My buddy uses a 10 gal. round cooler and he tops out at around 22# of grain. I have a 48qt. ice cube cooler and I can squeeze in about 28# with strike water at about 1.25 qts water/# of grain.

 

This is definitely an issue. You will notice in the original link I provided from screwy brewer, he recommend bending a washer for the inside of the mash tun. You will need to do this, and those washers aren't that easy to bend without a vice handy (yes, I didn't have a vice handy that day, so I know ). With proper tools you could make that sucker fit perfectly, but I got it close enough with a hammer and some ingenuity.

Also the cooler may or may not come with a perfect gasket for the inside, although mine did and I suspect most of them will have the inner grommet/gasket thing that's molded for the cooler. I also used a couple carefully chosen o-rings for extra security and stability. Mine doesn't leak at all, BTW, even though it *could* be sturdier and more stable. I'll mess with perfecting the design when I upgrade to a bigger mash tun. Right now this one suits me fine and works great.

So yes, creativity is your friend when it comes to homebrewing.

 

Bending the inside washer to the right shape is a work of art. after you band it when you need to tighten up, this action may flat back your rounded washer.
Beside that all the necessary work inside the cooler is easier just because of the together space.
Last thing is that mashing sparging and cleaning are more comfortable on the square one.

 

I used very heavy washers so un-bending wasn't an issue.

But OP's application and means seems to be pointing to a rectangular mash tun so...

 

I am liking the braided hose but caveat sample size is small.

I do think that rice hulls will be in order if I try to mash anything sticky or prone to stuck sparges (i.e. rye).

 

I use a rectangular cooler and batch sparge and consistently get 85% efficiency so I am in no rush to change at least 1 piece of equipment I own. My vote goes for the rectangular one - though I have no experience with the round ones.

 

Rectangles will fit into a closet/corner perfectly, and have better stacking efficiency (think Tetris) then a cyinder. Its all about the post-brew storage!

 

I wish i could have rectangles but rounded have a smaller Footprint.

 

Have a round rubbermaid 10-gal cooler, and I have had zero leak issues. Check bargainfittings.com for a cooler kit...a bit pricier than piecing it together, but they know exactly what you need for leak-free cooler fittings without any of this newfangled washer bending business. Absolutely unnecessary in my experience. The washers on the flat outside, rubber gasket clamped in tight on the inside.

 

A second vote for bargain fittings.com! They had everything i needed and shipped quick!

 

Round/cylindrical coolers accept false bottoms and bazooka screens with equal ease.

I have (3)...(1) 10 gal and (2) 3gal...(from my partial mash and 5 gal days)...none have ever leaked.