Coolbox mash tun...Small and deep or wide shallow and wide?

[Brewedout]

Forgive me if this has been asked before, I couldn't find an answer to this one...

I'm planning to make my own beer (AG), in terms of coolbox design is it best to go with a small opening but deep, or wide opening but shallow?
e.g http://www.towsure.com/product/Campingaz_Icetime_Cooler_Box_30_Litres
or
http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/products/Coleman/36QTExcursionCoolerChest.aspx.

I'm looking to make 40pints worth of beer (by the end).

Thanks

 

[Muddydisco]

I'd say the Coleman one, gives you a nice size to make a grain filter, is fairly well insulated (but the lid isn't) and if anything like my 2 colemans it comes with a drain hole in the side ready to fit a tank connector :thumb:

 

[prolix]

The more cube like the better, volume to surface area ratio and all that.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

+1 for Colemans, :thumb:
I used one for a couple of years before going down the shiny route.

This was my internal sparger.

BB :drink:

 

[Sean_Mc]

Whats a Nordic thermo 38/50ltr pot going for these days?

 

[simonranson]

Whats a Nordic thermo 38/50ltr pot going for these days?

Loads of nice shiny stuff... :)

http://shop.ebay.fr/catering-service-fr/m.html

 

[keith1664]

Whats a Nordic thermo 38/50ltr pot going for these days?

£81 (ish)

 

[Titch]

+1 for Colemans, :thumb:
I used one for a couple of years before going down the shiny route.

This was my internal sparger.

BB :drink:

that looks like a build i could handle

do you have more pictures or a link to the build anywhere

i feel the need to make a shopping list

 

[Sean_Mc]

Just thought if they were closer to £50 in then long term then might be a better option, when you consider resale down the road......Just ignore me then

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

that looks like a build i could handle

do you have more pictures or a link to the build anywhere

i feel the need to make a shopping list

I didn't do many pictures of the build. I constructed the manifold in a way like others did with loads of slits underneath and made it fit what I'd got......
I could get in top whack.... 9.5kg of grist and 21 litres of liquor thus allowing me to brew 46L.
This is a pic of the manifold with the ends removed for cleaning, the outer is 22mm, the inner is 15mm.

 

[Brewedout]

Thanks to everyone for their input. Is there an advantage to going with a more square shaped IGLOO 48 over the coleman extrem 36QT which is more rectangular? :?

 

[MikeB]

Thanks to everyone for their input. Is there an advantage to going with a more square shaped IGLOO 48 over the coleman extrem 36QT which is more rectangular? :?

I have read somewhere that good though the Igloo coolers are, they have pegs to locate the lid and this makes them quite a bit less efficient. Mind you, I did discover this when researching the feasibility if overnight mashing, so for a normal brewday it's probably irrelevant

I ended up getting http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IGLOO-COOL-BO...essories_RL&hash=item4cf511574d#ht_2365wt_754.

 

[Brewedout]

A question for the BB,

I've made my decision to go with the coleman box...

With your mash tun how did you connect to the 15mm pipe and seal to either side of the cool box? :wha:

Thanks

 

[Cyclops]

Thanks to everyone for their input. Is there an advantage to going with a more square shaped IGLOO 48 over the coleman extrem 36QT which is more rectangular? :?

I have read somewhere that good though the Igloo coolers are, they have pegs to locate the lid and this makes them quite a bit less efficient. Mind you, I did discover this when researching the feasibility if overnight mashing, so for a normal brewday it's probably irrelevant

I ended up getting http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/IGLOO-COOL-BO...essories_RL&hash=item4cf511574d#ht_2365wt_754.

This one is in Costco for £29.99 i think, and has lifetime guarantee from there.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

A question for the BB,

I've made my decision to go with the coleman box...

With your mash tun how did you connect to the 15mm pipe and seal to either side of the cool box? :wha:

Thanks

I made it a tight fit so the rear of the manifold shoved up against the rear and a 15mm pipe went into the tank connector.
I extended the 15mm manifold drain pipe after taking this picture.

 

[The Ginger Ninja]

BarnsleyBrewer:

What is your internal sparger made out of? Just black plastic tube with wholes drilled in?

Cheers

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

BarnsleyBrewer:

What is your internal sparger made out of? Just black plastic tube with wholes drilled in?

Cheers

Hi Guy. :thumb:
It was black plastic airline, think it was 6mm or was it 8mm :hmm: the holes were made with an hot needle to melt not drilled, worked great..
BB

 

[The Ginger Ninja]

Excellent! I shall get to work :)

cheers for that John

 

[Brewedout]

Hi BB,

Thanks for your previous info, I have taken a look at fitting the tank connector to my coleman cool box but have found that there is insufficient thread left to allow a 15mm pipe (then valve) to be connected once the tank connector has passed through the coolbox. I know I could solve this issue by cutting a larger hole on the outside of the box then firmly clamping the tank connector onto the inner skin, but i'm interested to find out how you solved this issue. :wha: