Making a Mash Tun

[owyt]

Okay, I'm new to all grain brewing- I bought a mash boiler at BHB, and now I'm thinking of making my own mash tun. Thought I'd use a fermenting vessel, add a bottom tap and build a box around it with insulation around it. I also got a sparge bar at BHB. The bits I haven't got my head around yet include how the sparge bar works and whether there may be alternative ways of constructing a mash tun. Any comments/suggestions for a AGB newbie?

Thanks

Owy

[wol67]

greetings owy ......making a mash tun is preety straight forward really depends on how big you want it . I use a cheap £10 coolbox from Tesco with a gas tap fitted at the bottom .you will need to construct or buy some sort of filter as well .some people use bazooka types or slotted copper pipe . I use a false bottom which is perforated stainless on standoffs to keep it above the tap height . I also put my grain in a fine mesh bag used for biab brewing . the reason I use the bag is that's my filter and its also easier to empty the mash tun . I then insulate with carpet underlay . for sparging I use a 8x6 shower head .I will take pics if intrested or have a look at my setup if you want . you don't need to spend hundreds of pounds on gear have a read up on net and find hints on making your own.......

cheers warren

[owyt]

Thanks Warren. Pics might help, possibly. I've got a book or two and can do some reading up before going for it. With the sparge bar, presumably I just attach it to a hot tap with some tubing? Think I might have met you at BHB and had brief chat about this, maybe? Didn't catch your name at the time- this was a few weeks ago...

[wol67]

greetings

I cannot post pics because I cant get them small enough to post on here .......sorry warren

[wol67]

greetings again .....yes your sparge arm connects to your hlt . you just have to make sure your sparge water is at the correct temp .if you spoke to someone who looks like my avatar then it possibly was me ......warren

[wol67]

have altered the resouloution on camera ......



pic 1 is mashtun with gas tap

pic 2 is internal view with false bottom

pic 3 is false bottom and trial mesh

I am going to use some very fine stainless mesh for my next brew instead of the biab bag . the bag I use I don't think is big enough as I have a couple of inches around it when in use , want to try something different .

cheers

warren

[owyt]

Thanks Warren, that's given me some ideas.