Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

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Broob
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Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by Broob » Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:10 pm

Going to make a mash tun out of a 48 qt Coleman cooler. Does anybody know if the kettle valve and grain screen that they sell at noble grape would fit? They didn't know and I searched it out but couldn't find the answer. It's a 3/8" thread btw. If anyone had any better suggestions, they would be appreciated as well. Thanks

Steve
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by GAM » Thu Jun 06, 2013 12:47 pm

Check out the BIAB solution Jimmy has. Custom made bag, for your cooler and you can still do a sparge.

Sandy

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CorneliusAlphonse
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by CorneliusAlphonse » Thu Jun 06, 2013 1:16 pm

Broob wrote:Going to make a mash tun out of a 48 qt Coleman cooler. Does anybody know if the kettle valve and grain screen that they sell at noble grape would fit? They didn't know and I searched it out but couldn't find the answer. It's a 3/8" thread btw. If anyone had any better suggestions, they would be appreciated as well. Thanks

Steve
My brother uses that exact setup and it works well for him.
planning: beer for my cousin's wedding
Fermenting: black ipa
Conditioning:
Kegged: barrel barleywine from 2014 - i think i still have this somewhere

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ethier.sc
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by ethier.sc » Thu Jun 06, 2013 3:25 pm

I didn't have much success when I tried. Maybe I'm using a different cooler but I could barely get the valve to thread. It was holding on by less then a full turn. I'm sure it would have worked but I didn't want risk it. I'm not sure where you live but if your anywhere around Dartmouth, I could pull the valve off my kettle for you to try. I was able to get the parts needed to make something up that would do the same job for roughly the same price at home depot. I can throw a picture up later if you'd like.

Cheers

Another Steve

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CorneliusAlphonse
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by CorneliusAlphonse » Thu Jun 06, 2013 4:13 pm

ohhh yeah thanks steve that is something else, my brother cut off the outside layer of plastic and the insulation leaving just the inside layer for the ball valve to work (it is designed for a thin wall metal pot, not an inch-thick cooler)
planning: beer for my cousin's wedding
Fermenting: black ipa
Conditioning:
Kegged: barrel barleywine from 2014 - i think i still have this somewhere

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Broob
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by Broob » Thu Jun 06, 2013 5:05 pm

Cool thanks for the quick replies. I would love to see the picture of the valve you're using Steve. I think I watched about a hundred YouTube videos on mash tun set ups and everyone of them looked different. That's why I thought that set up from NG would be good if it actually fit. At least I know that I can cut the cooler if need be. I'm also in Dartmouth.
Steve
Red Five Brewery
Anchorhead Steam
Boba Fest
Carbonate ChAmber Ale
Chewbocka
Darklighter Stout
Episode V - ESB
Hoth 45
Ryewalker IPA

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ethier.sc
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by ethier.sc » Thu Jun 06, 2013 6:13 pm

So here is my ghetto rig.

Outside:
20130606_174515.jpg

Inside:
20130606_174543.jpg
Torn down:
20130606_175238.jpg
From Left to right. Screen, 1/2 to 3/8 reducer, silicon washer that was already apart of my cooler, threaded tupe 1 1/2 long, 2 1/2inch washers and a 1/2 inch ball valve. I'm pretty sure about all the sizes but not absolutely positive.
Everything in HD is in ziplock type bags so you can pull them out to try. I know all the pieces that I used were colour coded with yellow.

When I built mine, I brought my screen into homedepot and pretty much made it in the store.

The reason the one washer is rusted is because initially I tried to use it on the inside(also the reason there's a ring on the inside)
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Broob
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by Broob » Thu Jun 06, 2013 8:03 pm

That's great thanks. I was hoping to use the screen instead of the washing machine hose that many people seem to use.
Red Five Brewery
Anchorhead Steam
Boba Fest
Carbonate ChAmber Ale
Chewbocka
Darklighter Stout
Episode V - ESB
Hoth 45
Ryewalker IPA

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Broob
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by Broob » Sat Jun 08, 2013 4:51 pm

I've got it all together now. With some no so skilled knife work I was able to use the outside end of the original spout as a seal. Thanks for the help.
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Red Five Brewery
Anchorhead Steam
Boba Fest
Carbonate ChAmber Ale
Chewbocka
Darklighter Stout
Episode V - ESB
Hoth 45
Ryewalker IPA

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CorneliusAlphonse
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by CorneliusAlphonse » Sat Jun 08, 2013 5:27 pm

Hey, as long as it won't let the water into the insulation, its all good! Glad it worked for yah
planning: beer for my cousin's wedding
Fermenting: black ipa
Conditioning:
Kegged: barrel barleywine from 2014 - i think i still have this somewhere

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Wilco
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by Wilco » Tue Jun 18, 2013 8:08 pm

Nice work! I just built one of these based on the tips in this thread and it turned out great. Now I just need to make sure it's water-tight and I'm all set.

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Broob
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Re: Mash tun - Coleman 48 qt cooler

Post by Broob » Tue Jun 18, 2013 9:23 pm

Mine was water tight and worked great. Lost only about one degree after an hour.
Red Five Brewery
Anchorhead Steam
Boba Fest
Carbonate ChAmber Ale
Chewbocka
Darklighter Stout
Episode V - ESB
Hoth 45
Ryewalker IPA

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