Buying a mash tun this week and just looking for advice. Does anyone know if there's much difference between these two? The homebrew west option seems to have a bazooka screen as opposed to a copper manifold. Is this an advantage/disadvantage?
http://www.homebrewwest.ie/insulated-mash-tun-fully-kitted-out-35-litres-1998-p.asp
http://www.thehomebrewcompany.ie/insulated-mash-tun-new-design-34litre-capacity-p-908.html
Go with manifold better efficiency less likelihood of channelling
Sent from my divining rod v2.0
This one (http://www.mybeerandwine.ie/litre-insulated-mash-p-378.html) is €20 cheaper than HBW one. It's looks the same to me.
Edit; it's 2L less!
I have the Home Brew Company one and never had a stuck sparge and efficiency's are good.
To support Ciderheads point I think the Bazooka shouldn't be used in a Mash Tun, only be used in a Boiler, as in the mash it could lead to channeling and leaving concentrated wort or at least un-sparged grain at the edges, whereas in the Boiler wort is wort.
Cheers lads, will go for the HBC one.
Yeah F*CK bazooka screens in mash tuns. 50% efficiency at best. Ive had first hand experience with the bazooka method & switched to a manifold in the same cooler & get 75% now.
Also its worth filling the lid with expanding foam & covering it with a few layers of thermo foil. That'll keep your loss down to 1˚c over a 60 min mash.
Or herms:)
Sent from my divining rod v2.0