Boil Kettle and Mash Tun Designs

[MrChalky]

I'm building a boil kettle and a mash tun, but I've never done an all grain brew before, so I'd like some feedback and advice on the design.

I have a couple of kegs that I'll be converting.

Side drain with dip tube vs bottom drain.
For both BK and MT.
I would imagine the bottom drain would be better due to better draining. This would mean though that I'd have to add feet to the keg to allow for the plumbing underneath.
Would this cause problems with the liquid in the pipes not being included in the boil/mash?

False Bottom for MT
I see a few people here have used the candle tray from ikea as a diy false bottom. If I'm using a bottom drain, how would I secure it in place. I'd need it to be easily removable for cleaning. Would the weight of it plus the grain be enough?

Hop Strainer for BK
The way I see it, I have 3 options.
1. Use something like this
              Would this leave much wort behind?
              I doubt this would work with a bottom drain.
2. Use a bazooka screen
              Same as above
3. Improvise something using something like this
              How would I secure it in place?


Insulation
I have no plans to do anything like RIMS or HERMS, so I'm just going to insulate the heck out of the mash tun.
I don't like the idea of gluing insulation on, so I was thinking of making a removable jacket using camping mats. Would a couple of layers of that be enough?

[Tom]

Foam carpet underlay doesn't work as insulation. Just tried it! Suspect yoga mats won't cut it either. There's foil covered bubblewrap that looks quite good, though expensive...

[Garry]

I would imagine the bottom drain would be better due to better draining. This would mean though that I'd have to add feet to the keg to allow for the plumbing underneath.

Bottom draining probably is better. It's open to debate. You won't have to add feet. The keg already has a skirt around the base so this should be enough of an up-stand.

I see a few people here have used the candle tray from ikea as a diy false bottom. If I'm using a bottom drain, how would I secure it in place. I'd need it to be easily removable for cleaning. Would the weight of it plus the grain be enough?

The weight of the grain should be enough to hold it in place.

Hop Strainer for BK

The BK hop strainer debate has yet to be finalised! There is a forth option. Use a hop spider. That's what I use and have yet to block the drain.

Insulation

I use the foil bubble stuff that Tom mentions. I think I have about 3 or 4 layers.

[MrChalky]

In the kegs that I have, the skirt doesn't leave much room underneath. I'll have to double check though.

I hadn't thought of using a hop spider. I do like the idea of it though. Where did you get yours Garry, and how much did it cost?

I might try an experiment with the camping mats to see if they'll work. I'd think they'd be better than the foam carpet underlay, as they're made for insulation whereas (I think) the underlay is mainly for cushioning

[Garry]

Have a look here. It's fairly basic!

[Tom]

HIJACK! Is that insulation you use fireproof/meltproof then?

Any special material for the hop spider, or just muslin?

[Garry]

HIJACK! Is that insulation you use fireproof/meltproof then?

I don't know! I just got the roll in Woodies. I don't use gas though, so I don't think it matters? It hasn't melted yet.

Any special material for the hop spider, or just muslin?

I use 5 gallon paint strainers. I think they are nylon. Eoin (our BIAB guru), recommends voile if you are making your own. Muslin will rot over time.

[MrChalky]

I think the hop spider is my favourite option so far

[Shanna]

I'm building a boil kettle and a mash tun, but I've never done an all grain brew before, so I'd like some feedback and advice on the design.

I have a couple of kegs that I'll be converting.

Side drain with dip tube vs bottom drain.
For both BK and MT.
I would imagine the bottom drain would be better due to better draining. This would mean though that I'd have to add feet to the keg to allow for the plumbing underneath.
Would this cause problems with the liquid in the pipes not being included in the boil/mash?

False Bottom for MT
I see a few people here have used the candle tray from ikea as a diy false bottom. If I'm using a bottom drain, how would I secure it in place. I'd need it to be easily removable for cleaning. Would the weight of it plus the grain be enough?

Hop Strainer for BK
The way I see it, I have 3 options.
1. Use something like this
              Would this leave much wort behind?
              I doubt this would work with a bottom drain.
2. Use a bazooka screen
              Same as above
3. Improvise something using something like this
              How would I secure it in place?


Insulation
I have no plans to do anything like RIMS or HERMS, so I'm just going to insulate the heck out of the mash tun.
I don't like the idea of gluing insulation on, so I was thinking of making a removable jacket using camping mats. Would a couple of layers of that be enough?

I have a bottom drain and to be honest its less than optimal. The bottom of the mashtun is bevelled and while you will able to make a hole in the bottom you will need to use something like a nipple to thread through the hole. Mine i have a set of hexaganol lock nuts that compress stainless steel washers that compress food safe orings. The nipple is about one inch above the bottom of the inside of the mashtun. i use two right angled bends one connected to the other to turn 180 degrees to reach up & back down from the centre nipple to the bottom of the mashtun. I used an ikea candle tray as a false bottom. Underneath the mash tun i used a right angled bend screwed on to outside of the nipple and with a compression fitting i have attached a length of copper pipe from the bend to the edge of the keg. At the end of the copper pipe i have a ball valve connected up. The bottom of my mashtun is supported by some large steel bolts that give approximately 2" extra clearance. I used fire rated pur 7 foam to cover the bottom of my mashtun and more of is a type of glue to hold 3" insulation allthe away around the outside of the kettle. i used rachet straps to hold everything in place till it dried. i use a small solar pump to drain recirculate the wort from the mashtun.

If i was to do it again i would use a side mounted tap and connect a dip tube through the centre bottom of the false bottom all the way to the bottom of the tun. This i would think would drain better as what i have leaves about a litre & half of wort behind. Would be interested to hear from others with a side drain as to how effective it is and any kind of problems they have.

i have a side mounted ball valve with dip tube in my kettle. i had a bazooka screen previusly but i was useless & kept clogging. i now use.it to screen my wort before it goes in my boiler. i use a combination of paint strainer bags with cotton hop bags inside them. No more problems with excessive cold break as most it gets caught in the bags and i also end up with much less.trub. Whether my beer is any better remains to be seen

Hope this helps.

Shanna

[MrChalky]

A litre and a half seems like an awful lot. How high from the bottom is the mouth of your drain?

[Greg2013]

Its not really in a 5 gallon brew, IMHO its better to leave 1.5 litres behind than end up with 3 inches of trub in the bottom of your fermenter