Considering Mash Tun Options.

[cheezycow]

I have been using a 5 gal round cooler. Temps maintain well, had one stuck sparge using a braid, and after several brews noticed the braid is starting to get damaged. Currently upgrading to the 10 and gonna get a false bottom . Although I didn't have any problems with the braid it was just a little long.

[rhino777]

There is a guy in my local club that uses a 55 gallon kettle to mash in too. He says if he can't mash enough in it, he needs to brew a slightly smaller batch

55 gallons? HOLY BALLS!

[krizwit]

If you are going to go with a cooler, I would recommend a Coleman Extreme 70qt with the SS bazooka screen. They work great. The SS braids that you can make are nice as well, but not as durable.

[foomench]

I've heard that you can coil a piece of copper wire around something like a pen or dowel and then insert that in the SS braid to keep it from getting crushed in the mash tun.

[dogismycopilot]

I use a 10 gallon Coleman beverage cooler (tall and square), and a slotted copper pipe manifold, per Palmer's instruction. Nary a stuck sparge yet, knock on wood.
It's a PITA to cut all those slots, but once it's done, it's done. Easy to take apart and clean, using dry-fitted tees and elbows.

[Fremont Brewer]

If you are going to go with a cooler, I would recommend a Coleman Extreme 70qt with the SS bazooka screen. They work great. The SS braids that you can make are nice as well, but not as durable.

+1 on the bazooka screen idea. You can pick those up pretty cheap and it will probably mount right to where your currently existing SS braid is.

[jhubert]

Keep in mind, if you are looking at the 10Gal Rubbermaid beverage cooler to look at Home Depot first. They have them for $39.96. For some reason some of the online brewing retailers are pumping up the price on the exact same thing upwards of double the price. I just bought my 10 Gal cooler today and ordered the ball valve kit and SS mesh screen from bargainfittings.com.

[mordantly]

my xtreme 70qt has a stainless screen that the first 6 batches or so i was having stuck sparge issues. i haven't concluded if it was floating, collapsing, or plugging yet. perhaps i should get a bazooka.. but in the meantime, i am going to make a BIAB and line it with that... hope that'll show it!