Homemade Mash Tun from Igloo Cube Cooler

I picked up this cooler for about $20.00 at Target. It had no drain hole, which turned about to be a good thing. I used the following parts:

- Cooler
- 1/2" Threaded Copper Ball Valve
- 1/2" Close - Threaded Brass Pipe Nipple
- 3/8" ID Barb to 1/2" MIP
- 1/2" Gasket (x2)
- 1/2" Brass Locking Nut
- 3/4" Stainless Washer (x2)
- ~Foot Length of 1/2" Pex
- Food Grade Silicon

I drilled a 3/4" hole in the cooler and then I 'screwed' the 1/2" nipple into the cooler. It was a tight fight and I was happy about this. I then put a small dab of the silicone around the nipple and then slipped on the o-ring and a washer. I then tightened the ball valve on the nipple. On the inside I again used the silicone, o-ring, and washer and tightened it down with a brass lock nut. For the grain filter I drilled a bunch of tiny holes into the pex, plugged the end and then entered the pex into the nipple. Pex is slightly smaller than whats its labeled as and it fit great in the nipple.

I used it with the sweet stout and it held heat really well, I think I lost two degrees over the hour of the mash.



I used these two websites for guidance:
http://brewtech.blogspot.com/2007/01/igloo-cube-cooler-mash-tun.html
http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html

Sweet Stout

Brew Day: 10/10/09

4# Amber DME
2# Two-row
1# Pilsner
1/2# Carafa I
1/2# Crystal 90
1/2# Crystal 10
1/2# Oats
1/2# Black Patent (de-bittered)
3/16# Special B

1 oz Tradition @ 45, 1 oz Fuggles @ 15

1# lactose @ flame out

White Labs Irish Ale

OG 1.071

OG is a little high for style as are the IBUs a little low.