Mash Tun

[Andrew G]

Has anyone ever tryed to use / adapt a hot water cylinder (Copper or Stainless) to one? i.e. cut em in half etc etc...

 

[david holden]

check out this brewery build with a hot water cylinder
http://sites.google.com/site/agwbnewzealand/galleries/brewy-build

[JackoNZ]

That's pretty bloody awesome!

[Andrew G]

Thanks David, that's exactly what I had in mind.

CHCH is going to have a few thousand plus homes demolished soon, this got me thinking re uses for home brew / old hot water cylinders. 

 

Chop one in half, surely one could make two decent mash tuns out of that, scrap value of an old copper cylinder perhaps $100?

 

Cheers

Andrew

[Vesku]

Copper is not safe to use for boiling without tinning. I don't know how safe it would be to use one as a mash tun?

Unlined Copper

• Antique or used copper kettles that have no protective lining of aluminum or tin are dangerous to use for cooking or boiling water. The chemical reaction with water or high acid foods like tomatoes or citrus fruits may be tasteless but can cause stomach or digestive system problems.

http://www.ehow.com/facts_7604335_copper-kettles-safe.html

[Druid]

Those old blokes surely lived fast and died young then!

http://bit.ly/GHgzo1

I can remember the copper boil kettles from a tour through the Speights Brewery in Dunedin - and those just visible through the windows in the Lion Breweries in Newmarket before they shifted out to Sth Auckland....

Apparently, the copper binds with sulphites helping with DMS control.

[Vesku]

Yep, it should be OK to use (and even necessary):

http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/backissues/issue4.5/miller...

[Andrew G]

Excellent cheers fellas.

[mattd2]

Or chop one in half the bottom becomes an HLT or kettle (with element fitting already in place) and the top becomes a MLT, just make up a false bottom and your done. Good idea! 

[david holden]

hi,

already have 5 on my trade me watchlist, just maybe step up the wattage, drainage pipe at bottom and fancy it up as in the pictures!!

[JR]

Our pics of a hot water cylinder mash tun construction here http://www.forum.realbeer.co.nz/photo/making-a-mash-tun-3?context=user

 

[Logan]

What about these? 

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Listing.aspx?id=459211145

[david holden]

hi logan, looks perfect, asked a few questions on s/steel and they are insulated already, just about had enough with china, another quote for $25,000 usd, looks great and all the right response, might end up getting the fermenters from china only and sort out the mash tun and kettle, using the brewtroller, open source controller for the temp/pumps etc - http://www.oscsys.com/BrewTroller/