Beer Forum

I am in the process of building an upgrade equipment list and am looking for advice. I am in the AF and live in IL so sculptures seem a pit cost/move prohibitive at this time. I am thinking a couple of 15 gal HD Pots (HLT and Boil Kettle) which can later be applied to a sculpture once I think I stop moving (assuming MB allows sculpture purchases without kettles). For the mash tun, I'd like to use an Igloo cooler fitted with a SS false bottom but 10 gals for the MT seems a bit small. I see the largest cooler is a 10-gal one....has anyone converted a 60 or 70 qt Ice Cube??

I currently have a CampChef 60K burner and an inop 30K burner that I will fix (if I can find the regulator assembly) or replace with another 60K CampChef. Last piece I see in the works would be a March Pump. My wife views 15 gallons of boiling water on top of any structure as a hazard so I'd plan to elevate my mash tun somewhat and pump from HLT to MT to sparge and then gravity drain to boil kettle. I assume the pump could also be easily repositioned to recirc the wort to cool.

Thanks in advance. I"ll continue to research the forum and look for more guidance. I am a bit limited on time to build, so I am not really looking to make the project a heavy DIY endeavor.

I have a 10 gallon round cooler with a false bottom for my mash tun and it'll hold 25 pounds of grain so it depends on if you want to make high gravity beers or not. I do 5 gallon batches and I got the 10 gallon cooler to make higher gravity beers. You might go with a 15 gallon SS pot as your mash tun. If you are getting a pump and a couple 15 gallon kettles already why not go all the way and make a RIMS system. Or maybe you could have your HLT and mash tun, collect your wort in buckets, then dump it back into the HLT and use that as the boil kettle.

Thinking about how to tackle 3 SS kettle system. Not all that familiar with RIMS and HERMS, but need to look at the feasibility and cost. I'm looking to buy pieces all to be part of next upgrade when I am more permanently in-place and can build a sculpture.

Score. Just came across an Igloo 50 qt Ice Cube cooler for $20. Flat bottom except for slight depression where the drain should be. Plan to drill that spot for a SS bulkhead fitting and then use either a 3/4" dishwasher hose or copper manifold.

Thinking 4 or 6 pipes for the manifold interior is 11 3/8" x 11 3/8" (~14" deep)

TimmyR wrote:I see the largest cooler is a 10-gal one....has anyone converted a 60 or 70 qt Ice Cube??

I believe Crut has one that he built. You might drop him a PM for details.