Mash Tun Fun!
An essential piece of equipment for all-grain brewing is a mash tun. This is where your starchy malts get transformed into sweet, sweet, worty goodness. Surely I am not the only one to have my housemate walk past my computer and gasp, slack jawed at the scintillating image splayed shamefully across my computer screen in all its unbridled glory... a shiny, stainless steel mash tun of course.
What you need:
2. Remove stainless steel nut and red gasket from bulkhead
3. Slide 3-5 washers down the shank of the bulkhead, slide the clear washer back on the shank and press it against the washers.
5. From inside the cooler, re-install red gasket and stainless steel nut back on the shank and tighten against the cooler wall.
6. You now have a mash tun, fill it with water to check for leaks
7. Continue to tighten stainless steel nut inside the cooler until there are no leaks detected
8. Attach the 1/2" NPT coupler to the bazooka screen
9. Thread bazooka screen and coupler onto the bulkhead inside the mash tun.
I have used this mash tun for almost 2 years now without any issue, I absolutely love it.It is very important to get a leak free seal between the bulkhead ball valve and cooler, remember that if there are leaks you will be losing precious wort and also make a huge, sticky mess. Take your time to ensure you have a leak free seal.
Happy Mashing!
Who wouldn't want something like that to mash their grains in? While these are indeed a beautiful sight to behold, there are far more cost effective options that work just as well in my opinion. I have opted for the classic Home Depot cooler mash tun! This is a very inexpensive mash tun that cost less than $80 to build. I by no means came up with this idea, it is well documented all over the internet.
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| My Mash Tun |
- 5gal Home Depot Cooler ($22)
- Stainless Steel Ball Valve /w bulkhead 1/2" NPT ($27)
- 1/2" MPT x 3/8" Stainless Steel Barb ($6)
- 3/4" x 1.5" Washer (5 x $0.40)
- 6" Bazooka Screen 1/2" MPT ($11)
- 1/2" NPT Stainless Steel Coupler ($8)
Conversion Steps:
0. Pour yourself a beer
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| Reference Part Names |
1. Remove plastic valve from cooler but keep the rubber gasket sealing the valve to the cooler
2. Remove stainless steel nut and red gasket from bulkhead
3. Slide 3-5 washers down the shank of the bulkhead, slide the clear washer back on the shank and press it against the washers.
4. Insert the bulkhead into the valve opening in the cooler, ensure the rubber gasket that came with the cooler is still in place.
5. From inside the cooler, re-install red gasket and stainless steel nut back on the shank and tighten against the cooler wall.
6. You now have a mash tun, fill it with water to check for leaks
7. Continue to tighten stainless steel nut inside the cooler until there are no leaks detected
8. Attach the 1/2" NPT coupler to the bazooka screen
9. Thread bazooka screen and coupler onto the bulkhead inside the mash tun.
I have used this mash tun for almost 2 years now without any issue, I absolutely love it.It is very important to get a leak free seal between the bulkhead ball valve and cooler, remember that if there are leaks you will be losing precious wort and also make a huge, sticky mess. Take your time to ensure you have a leak free seal.
Happy Mashing!
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