Using a heatstick

[big_fat_bald_german_butt]

I'm interested in using a heatstick to do a step mash. I've read the info on how to build them and it doesn't seem too hard. I think that this will be the easy way to do the step mash and will also help if my mash temps are low. My question is:

Will the heating element melt/burn the inside on my plastic cooler if it touches it?

[baltobrewer]

at household current it prolly will do no harm unless you hold it against the side of the cooler for a prolonged period. you'll be stirring with it, so i forsee no imminent meltage.

[big_fat_bald_german_butt]

I know you are not to use in the open air but how hot do these get?

[Bugeater]

I know you are not to use in the open air but how hot do these get?

I accidentally did some "research" on that several months ago.
I don't know how hot it got, but the element did explode quite loudly about 15 seconds after being plugged in without being submerged first. Had to rebuild it right after that.

As far as burning the plastic goes, I had that concern too when I first built mine. I don't think it will hurt anything if it touches the plastic as the water acts as a coolant. I got around the the possibility of that by using a plastic plumbing elbow instead of a straight pipe for the handle. This keeps the element parallel to the bottom instead of the heatstick resting on the element on the bottom of the bucket. The gadgets article in the latest Zymurgy magazine also shows that construction, but I first built mine a couple years ago. That guy must have stolen my idea!

The instructions for my heatstick came from this site. http://www.cedarcreeknetworks.com/heatstick.htm

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[big_fat_bald_german_butt]

I'll take a look at that site too. thx.