using boiler as a mash tun

[bomberns127]

does anybody use their boiler as a mash tun and if so do you regulate the temp with the elements fitting or will it taint the mash somehow because the elements get too hot trying to keep temp?
reason i ask is i have a 50lt boiler and a standard cooler box mash tun, seems to me i could do 40-50 lt brews if i had a big enough mash tun, could the boiler be used and being used i mean to keep the mash at temp with a pid controlled temp thingy(which the parts are winging their way to me albeit slowly)
when i do a standard brew grist and mash water fill the tun near to the top which means i cant do more than a standard 20-25 lt brew, anybody got any ideas? 50 lt brews would mean less brew days for me and in turn keep her indoors on my side.
cheers!

 

[Mark1964]

its not a good idea as the mash tun should have a false bottom in so that what you boil is not full of grain bits. Also the boiler should have a hop stopper in to stop the hops going into your fermenter. An element used for heating a mash tun could scorch the mash and grain giving a foul burnt taste to your finished beer.
Your better off with seperate mash tun and boiler

 

[bomberns127]

my boiler has the tap cut in to the bottom, the hop filter pushes in tight, i might have a go at just using as a tun without using the elements, just keep it wrapped up tight to keep the temp right( i am a lagger so making a jacket is simple enough) then sparge into 2 fv's, then clean boiler, fill back up with wort then use as normal, although it does seems like its gonna be a lot of work,i think giving it a go just the once to see- without using the elements of course in mash tun mode, if the filter keeps out hops and associated bits it should in theory work with the mash.

 

[Mark1964]

we used to do the same with an electrim bin but soon got fed up if you want a good way of insulating try b & q 3 quid cold water tank jacket. We use one to do overnight mash and it only lost 4 degrees in 8 hours

 

[bomberns127]

i have made a jacket for my boiler already, ss boiler with the the jacket on is cool to touch on the outside when at a rolling boil, i get the materials from work free of course, made a 3 piece jacket for the mash tun as well, base, sides and top keeps the temp spot on, handy being an insulation engineer! lagger to everyone else! lol

 

[pittsy]

we used to do the same with an electrim bin but soon got fed up if you want a good way of insulating try b & q 3 quid cold water tank jacket. We use one to do overnight mash and it only lost 4 degrees in 8 hours

nice 1 i'll get some of that for my mash tun

 

[orlando]

does anybody use their boiler as a mash tun and if so do you regulate the temp with the elements fitting or will it taint the mash somehow because the elements get too hot trying to keep temp?
reason i ask is i have a 50lt boiler and a standard cooler box mash tun, seems to me i could do 40-50 lt brews if i had a big enough mash tun, could the boiler be used and being used i mean to keep the mash at temp with a pid controlled temp thingy(which the parts are winging their way to me albeit slowly)
when i do a standard brew grist and mash water fill the tun near to the top which means i cant do more than a standard 20-25 lt brew, anybody got any ideas? 50 lt brews would mean less brew days for me and in turn keep her indoors on my side.
cheers!

Most AG 'ers prefer a 3 vessel set up so they can individually control the whole process much better. I would think about getting a 45 litre coolbox (that should brew you average strength at 50 litres) and adding an HLT. There are too many complications with asking the boiler to do all 3 jobs.

 

[bomberns127]

i do have a 3 piece ag kit, i have a hlt made from an old fv which fits the bill perfectly, i have a few old fv's turned into boilers just hanging up in the garage as i now have a 50 lt boiler, looks like its fv central in my garage! lol, i was originally wondering about just using the boiler as a large mash tun but from the replies i think its gonna be too much hassle and work to make it viable, thats the great thing about this forum, someone has normally tried what you want to do and can give sound advice on the pros and cons of it. and if i get a large cooler box i will have an old 24lt cooler box hanging up there as well!

 

[orlando]

if i get a large cooler box i will have an old 24lt cooler box hanging up there as well!

There's always someone on here looking for old kit to make the tiny steps to AG Nirvana, I know I was one.

 

[bomberns127]

if anyone based in or around bristol wants to give ag a go or just want to see whats involved send me a pm and with my limited knowledge of the subject will endevour to set up a brew day in the garage (well half a garage anyway!)it will be on a sat or sun due to work getting in the way, i have been blessed with a dad who at 75ish still brews ag and has done all my life and is the reason i got into this in the first place, all starting kit donated from him and he even gave me his wort chiller to keep!
be warned though, once the boiler is going and the hops are in the aroma is intoxicating and addictive, my neighbour has helped me over the last 2 weekends brewing and bottling has problems staying away from the boiler once its at a roll.
i have 2 old fv turned into boilers that are free if wanted, 1 with 3 holes, 2 for elements and 1 for a tap and 1 fv which has the element with it, an old big kettle element which has lost all its shine but still works but it will need a tap but there is a home made hop filter with it and it needs a damn good clean.
pm if you are interested in the fvs or wanting to see ag from start to finish, it takes at least half a day from start to finish, if you wait for at least 5-6 weeks the ipa and ourken ale will be ready to try, what an offer!! lmao this could get messy