As the above says. 36L cooler boxes back in tesco and costing only 12-13 yoyo.
Well worth a look for anyone looking to get into all grain on the cheep.
what are they like Nigel, are they any good quality wise? bottom drain in them? any pics or links?
For that money, the heat retention is not going to be great.
The outdoor shop on MacCurtain St. in Cork has the Coleman Xtreme for much the same money as delivered from Amazon.
I think he will do the 30 litre one for 75yoyo.
dont ever spend 75 on a cool box! just get the tesco one and put a sleeping bag over it. that's what ive done and only lose one degree at worse. i found that a rachet strap on top helps too
I am doing AG already using a 33l plastic fermenter wrapped in camping mat then wrapped in a quilt up until now. works ok, but a bit of a pain in the ass unwrapping, rewrapping etc.
I'm getting old and looking to simplify my brew day. ::)
Quotedont ever spend 75 on a cool box! just get the tesco one and put a sleeping bag over it. that's what ive done and only lose one degree at worse. i found that a rachet strap on top helps too
1 Degree over a 90 min mash?
yeah, if even. i insulated the outside wit some of the foil/foam stuff u lay down below wooden floors. then i strap lid down and cover with a duvet
I bought this (https://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3402715/Trail/searchtext%3ECOOLER.htm) cheapo one in Argos. Heap o junk! Lid isn't insulated so not good for heat retention. I drilled couple of holes in it and tried filling with expanding foam. That was an utter disaster and complete waste of time and money.
For what I've spent already I could have gotten a quality cooler. Lesson - scrimping is a false economy.
Nigel is there a drain tap in these? john rm 75 euro is a lot of money for some people that are just starting out. No doubt the quality is better but that is not much good if you have 20 quid in your pocket and you want a mash tun ;D
Depending on when you want it I.e. if say your thinking next year - just keep an eye on the likes of littlewoods and argos and other shops when summer is endimg that's what I did last year - got a fair sized good quality one with a drain in it for @ half price
I actually have not used it yet as I share a large Coleman extreme with a buddy - but will eventually build one
To be.fair deadman - if your looking to build up on equipment - I would.focus on one peice at a time - such as build a boil kettle first - u can so it peicemeal as budget allows - bucket 1 week - element another and its more versatile in that u could be doin partial mashed boil in a bag and extracts while watching out for the cooler bargain- you may even th 8-)ink brew n a bag is good enough for all grain and not get a cooler
QuoteI bought this (https://www.argos.ie/static/Product/partNumber/3402715/Trail/searchtext%3ECOOLER.htm) cheapo one in Argos. Heap o junk! Lid isn't insulated so not good for heat retention. I drilled couple of holes in it and tried filling with expanding foam. That was an utter disaster and complete waste of time and money.
For what I've spent already I could have gotten a quality cooler. Lesson - scrimping is a false economy.
lol, thats the one i bought- i found clamping the lid stopped most of the heat loss.
Problem is when you don't know it's a piece of rubbish and you find out on your brewday that the mash has dropped 5C or so and you're freaking out trying to get the heat up.
I wish I'd spent an extra 20 quid.
newtobrew i am sticking to buying a demijohn here and there for the moment. I need to build up on stuff like that first and funnels and other things. Trouble with this home brew lark is especially for a newbie a potential deal is hard to resist :o ;D
Stick to what you need Deadman, the rest will come in bits and pieces.
Occasionally you'll find bargains too, like when I found a box of demijohns in a charity shop for 50c each.
Of course the whole box came with me immediately ;D
It won't be long until you have brewing gear coming out your ears. Enjoy all the space until then.
Quotei found clamping the lid stopped most of the heat loss.
Any damage done figuring this out?
(We're not picking on you btw, everyone to his own!)
For the Dubs...
http://www.omearacamping.com/high-end-cool-boxes-34-c.asp
My opinion on Argos is that they will sell any old crap if they can.
I cringe when herself proclaims a new purchase is in need of assembly.
Advertising standards are only barely adhered to!
Indeed me lud, truth be told what i REALLY need now is some shelving in the brew room(spare room) to help get all the buckets etc up off the floor and tidy up the look a bit. I may yet take a trip to argos for some of that quick assembly plastic racking with shelves ;D
til then, try get some offcuts of the foam insulation board they use behind drylining, or airoboard from large appliance packaging. Then sit the brew on that instead of the floor.
Although the brew will still be down low it will be insulated from the cold ground.
Quotefor a newbie a potential deal is hard to resist
yeah -
i know where your coming form .. I've lost the run of meself loads of times like that - jumping on a bargain item that I was not quiet ready for .. what I have to keep reminding myself is that these bargains always come around again !!
funnels and crap like that - tesco's Guineys, heatons, BuyLo !!
Eoins idea @ the insulation is a good one - if you got a sheet(or two) of it you could even have an insulated brew box - so.. because of the heat generated during fementation - once its up and running it might keep itself warm - so yuou could possibly avoid a stuck fermentaion ? - just a thought I could be wrong on this
Ya i am thinking of building a brew box that will take a full 33 litre bucket fermenter, i just need a couple more cuts of 2x2 and some ply.
My problem is i convince myself i need these cooler things and i have yet to actually get one or two successfull brews under my belt ::)
QuoteYa i am thinking of building a brew box that will take a full 33 litre bucket fermenter, i just need a couple more cuts of 2x2 and some ply.
You can build a simple brew box from just aeroboard and duct tape. It will do until I'm allowed get a fridge!
:-[ i actually have a fridge but my 33 litre buckets will not fit in it width wise, the door will not close. It will eventually be used for kegs whenever i can afford some ;D
If its a brew fridge then removing the moulded shelf sheet from inside the door can give you about 3 extra inches!
Just leave the yellow insulation inn place!
I may attempt that for the craic soon :o ::)
I'd been using a cheapy picnic box but recently decided that the heat retention could be better. I disassembled it and just put more ploysterene and it seems to have made a significant difference. The lids in cheap picnic boxes in particular often have no insulation at all. For those who are a bit handier than me you can always put some insulation foam which is something like €10 a can in instead.