SS Braid Size/Diameter

[Pedro]

Has anyone experimented with using a 1/2" SS braid vs. a 1" braid in a rectangular cooler/mash tun? Curious on the pros and cons (assuming batch sparging), including:
- efficiency
- risk of collapse/stuck sparge
- other considerations?

All the photos I've seen posted seem to use a 1/2" braid. I've found this one to be much more common at the hardware store vs. the 1"braid, and $3 vs. $10 (not that this is such a big deal, but is it worth it?). Anyway I'd really appreciate hearing about what folks are using. FWIW, Palmer advises a 1" braid, but this was specifically for a ring design in round cooler. I'm going with a 48qt rectangular Rubbermaid. Appreciate the feedback.

Pedro

[yeast_slurry_speech]

I use one from a water heater line for the keg and one from a toilet line for the mash.

[Crut]

Hey slurry, Why such a long hose in the MT? Ive tried short and longer lengths but have'nt seen any real difference, any big difference if having a 5ft line?
-Crut

[yeast_slurry_speech]

I batch sparge, so I drain fast. I'm less likely to stick a mash if theres a place for the liquid to go. Other than that, no real difference for me.

The tighter braid makes the wort clearer too.

[Steelers&Beer]

i have a 3/4" ss braid that i took off of a flexible piece of piping to hook up a hot water heater. it works better than my old copper manifold. it does let some grain through to the boil kettle but nothing to really worry about.

[Pedro]

So returned the 1" one and am going to give it a shot with the 1/2". This should also work better with the other part of it that I came up with (along with the help from the guy at the LHBS). Basically instead of using a rubber stopper to fit the hole in the cooler (tough to find, at least here in NH), drilling it (could only get one without a hole through it), and praying that it stays in place, what we came up with was to use the stock spigot that came with the cooler and run a piece of 1/4" tubing through it with ample wraps of teflon tape so it is in there snug. So far no leaks with just hot tap water - full report after brew day is complete.

Nothing like jumping in the deep end head first - first full boil, all grain, new setup, yeast starter, and Jamil's chocolate hazlenut porter recipe. Can't wait!

[Bugeater]

A guy in our brew club thought he would avoid the problem of the braid collapsing under the weight of the grain by using the braid off some high pressure hydraulic line. It didn't collapse, but it was so finely woven that the sparge would easily stick every time. He went back to the washing machine hose braid.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[Pedro]

Psyched to report that everything worked really well - I may try to look for some 1/4" silicone-based or other tubing that has a higher temp rating than the vinyl, but no leaks at all from the mash tun and it drained nice and fast.

Easy enough to hack-saw through the braid to get it off the hose, but took a minute to realize that the braid itself is like one of those Chinese finger puzzles in that you have to push it one way only in order to get it off (at least with the one I bought at Lowes).