Stoopid qustion #2

[Robin54]

Right, Ive been thinking, and I can't get my head around this one, but I reckon theres some bright young FORUMITE who can answer this one.
Ive been looking at vids and still pictures on this forum and elsewhere of wonderfully skilled people building mash tuns from cool boxes and then filling the insides with loads of copper tubing, carefully soldered together, and then perforated with dozens of little holes. Im thinking....chuck all that and just put a BIAB in the box and get on with it. At least you can get all your grain out easily in one go..or am I missing something here??

 

[Covrich]

Think of it like this they drain the mash water off into the boiler and fly sparge at the same time over the bed for example

But Yes I think someone here did do a BIAB in a cooler

 

[Robin54]

Think of it like this they drain the mash water off into the boiler and fly sparge at the same time over the bed for example

But Yes I think someone here did do a BIAB in a cooler

Assuming you have an outlet tap, you can still Fly Sparge, without all the copper bits and bobs, which just seem (to simple me) a complicated way of stopping your grain getting recirculated. I guess the cheaper option is to use a fine metal mesh of some sort, but a bag would do that, and then you can lift it out all in one hit.
It may have been me who did the post re BIAM in a cooler....the cooler turned out old and useless, like me!

 

[Fil]

a bag could allow sparge liquor to run down the walls of a tun bypassing the grain and failing to dilute the sugars into suspension when fly sparging. If batch sparging and mixing in with each batch before allowing to stand then its not so much of a problem.

 

[Robin54]

a bag could allow sparge liquor to run down the walls of a tun bypassing the grain and failing to dilute the sugars into suspension when fly sparging. If batch sparging and mixing in with each batch before allowing to stand then its not so much of a problem.

OK think Ive got you...thanks

 

[Personal91]

Assuming you have an outlet tap, you can still Fly Sparge, without all the copper bits and bobs, which just seem (to simple me) a complicated way of stopping your grain getting recirculated. I guess the cheaper option is to use a fine metal mesh of some sort, but a bag would do that, and then you can lift it out all in one hit.
It may have been me who did the post re BIAM in a cooler....the cooler turned out old and useless, like me!

I remember someone saying you get a lower efficiency when using a bag as the grains don't circulate aswell

 

[TheRedDarren]

Yes, it's all about the fly sparge. It's a really efficient technique when you nail it.
As said above, if you used a bag in the mash tun you'd lose some efficiency, as the grains need to be in suspension.

 

[johnnyboy1965]

See my post..."Easiest Mash Tun Ever"

 

[Robin54]

See my post..."Easiest Mash Tun Ever"

Found it. I like your thinking. I can see that all ideas will divide opinion regards efficiency etc.

 

[Bigjas]

I use a bag in my mash tun. I have converted an ice box by adding a tap and more insulation. When I was building it I thought about bazookas and perforated copper tubes etc. Then it dawned on me that it would be a good idea to put a BIAB bag in there to catch all the grain. I have completed 6 AG brews this way and for me it works just fine. My efficiency averages at about 70% which I'm happy with at the moment. Cleaning up is easier. I batch sparge and don't have any problems that I'm aware of. I will upgrade my tun to a slightly bigger one and might try the copper tube method to see if it's any better.

Jas

 

[Robin54]

I use a bag in my mash tun. I have converted an ice box by adding a tap and more insulation. When I was building it I thought about bazookas and perforated copper tubes etc. Then it dawned on me that it would be a good idea to put a BIAB bag in there to catch all the grain. I have completed 6 AG brews this way and for me it works just fine. My efficiency averages at about 70% which I'm happy with at the moment. Cleaning up is easier. I batch sparge and don't have any problems that I'm aware of. I will upgrade my tun to a slightly bigger one and might try the copper tube method to see if it's any better.

Jas

Glad it works for you and it wasn't me just going mad:thumb:

 

[Smileyr8]

I mash in the boiler in a bag & as full as the 30ltr boiler will allow (24-25ltrs), I have a recirculating pump & PID setup and nearly always hit 88-90% efficiency.

 

[Hoppyland]

Yep, like you Robin I looked at the modified coolbox mash tuns & thought that it seemed like a lot of work. Also liable to leak, as the coolbox walls are very flexible.
I like fly sparging, though. So my solution is to use a standard coolbox as a mash tun, then scoop out the mash into a plastic bucket fitted with a tap and bazooka filter (loose-fitting, coarsely perforated alu foil as an extra screen on top of the filter). Works great for me (80-85% mash efficiency when I mill my own grain, maybe 75% with ready-crushed).
Here's what it looks like:
http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=59805

 

[Covrich]

Glad it works for you and it wasn't me just going mad:thumb:

:thumb: Lets face it you could take 10 different AG brewers at random and got them to explain their setups and all 10 will probably differ..

 

[Fil]

Yep, like you Robin I looked at the modified coolbox mash tuns & thought that it seemed like a lot of work. Also liable to leak, as the coolbox walls are very flexible.
I like fly sparging, though. So my solution is to use a standard coolbox as a mash tun, then scoop out the mash into a plastic bucket fitted with a tap and bazooka filter (loose-fitting, coarsely perforated alu foil as an extra screen on top of the filter). Works great for me (80-85% mash efficiency when I mill my own grain, maybe 75% with ready-crushed).
Here's what it looks like:
http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=59805

fix the tap in the inner skin alone of a cold box mod trying to seal against 2 flexible skins is too difficult.

 

[Hoppyland]

fix the tap in the inner skin alone of a cold box mod trying to seal against 2 flexible skins is too difficult.

Yes, that sounds sensible.
But I don't think I'll bother!
I reckon go with Covrich & just find your own way!! :)

 

[Brightonnik]

Just goes to prove there's more than one way to skin a cat.
Find a method that works for you and roll with it.

 

[JapanBrew]

I mash in the boiler in a bag & as full as the 30ltr boiler will allow (24-25ltrs), I have a recirculating pump & PID setup and nearly always hit 88-90% efficiency.

I really thought about doing it that way, well not BIAB but just add most of my water at mash since I too recirculate during the entire mash time.
Anyone know the down side to this? I think I would still sparge but a whole lot less.

 

[Smileyr8]

I really thought about doing it that way, well not BIAB but just add most of my water at mash since I too recirculate during the entire mash time.
Anyone know the down side to this? I think I would still sparge but a whole lot less.

I don't sparge, I tease the last of the liquor out of the bag using 2 chopping boards.