Wheels in motion (albeit rather slow motion)

[WishboneBrewery]

Just picked up my old Thermos Cool Box from the parents house...
Bought it back when ESSO petrol was just stopping giving petrol tokens, so it was a freebie from petrol, I guess it must be the best part of 15 years old.
It clips apart and there is about 30-35mm of polystyrene insulation in it, would this be OK for my Mash Tun?
Or would you fell the gaps and Lid with some expanding Foam??

I'm probably going to stick to Extract brews for now as I feel there is plenty for me to learn while I've limited space for a full AG setup, but at least I'm progressing with the kit; big old stock pot with S/steel ball valve and hop strainer and now a Coolbox for a mash tun... Just need the HLT and an Immersion cooler

**edit, I should probably have put this in the Brewing Equipment section!

[Parp]

Immersion Cooler - Yes

HLT - No, Not essential.

Try 3/4 filling the coolbox with hot water, get it to 66degC and stick some blankets on/around it and check the temperature periodically to see how good a job it can do.

Mind, I think that an actual mash, ie grains and water 'porridge' holds heat better than water, so dont be too disappointed by the water test.

Have you started making a manifold for it or some other lautering system?

EDIT - Post a piccy of it, I dont suppose coolbox design has changed much since the early 90's

[chris_reboot]

It should be fine, that's how most people's tun's are made.

double a blanket over the top to save the insulating foam if you can't be bothered.
the grain will help the temp stay constant, so a plain water test is a good idea, but not representative.

[WishboneBrewery]

Thermos:

Thermos ala cup holder, its like thermos anorack porn:


Oh.. not started making a manifold yet but i have all the parts for a copper one, just need the ball valve

[Trunky]

[Parp]

Aye,

Same as mine too

Does a grand job - got mine from Hop and Grape though, with the manifold ready made.

[WishboneBrewery]

Cheers guys...

that Wilko's BBQ grill thing looks like a good idea

[Parva]

The H&G supplied Thermos comes complete with an SS screen like that for fly-sparging. Mine's stuck in a cupboard somewhere as I batch-sparge. If you're only doing 23l brews then you may find batch-sparging a much simpler affair, it's pretty fool-proof. I am however contemplating digging the screen out and having a blast at fly-sparging as I really need to ramp up production with summer coming and batch-sparging 10g brews in the Thermos is pretty much a no.

[WishboneBrewery]

Aftering seeing someone on here doing a Youtube video of a brewday, I think I would be Batch sparging as it looked simple

[WishboneBrewery]

Just filled the coolbox with water, it holds just short of 30 Litres, I presume this volume would be OK?

I've been looking at this viewtopic.php?f=6&t=17728&st=0&sk=t&sd= ... 15#p213123 and have filled out my Tank connector so the 15mm pipe slides right through, I'm just wondering about making a manifold now is there any benefit for having the pipe from the tank connector reach right to the opposite side or middle of the coolbox? And do people have a preference which way around the Tank connector should be fitted?

Cheers

[coatesg]

Just filled the coolbox with water, it holds just short of 30 Litres, I presume this volume would be OK?

Should be fine for most beers except the very strongest for a 5/6 gallon brewlength - I use a 24l at the moment, and have not too much trouble in getting 5 gallons at 1070 (continuous sparging - think it would be fine for batch sparging up to about 1050 certainly - probably higher).

[WishboneBrewery]

Good stuff, taa

[Parva]

I've done a 6.5% Riggwelter brew in my Thermos box (23l) and had absolutely no problems at all. It wasn't supposed to be as high as 6.5% but tasted fab anyway.

[WishboneBrewery]

The manifold, needs saw cuts in the bottom and I was thinking of soldering the long sides together and leave it to they pull off the middle section along with the main outflow being loose, but the T and middle section to be fixed.

The Ball Valve.


I'm also working on a form of CF cooler, which probably won't work but I'll keep thinking of it as an experiment.

[Trunky]