Pics of a brew day

[drsmurto]

My esky was used prior to its promotion to mash tun so no doubt took a beating with bottles etc.

If you already have the falsie then best to try and mod it yourself, if you are in the processing of ordering it might be worth asking about?

And i highly recommend all of Wayne products, his attention to detail has to be seen to be believed, the man is a perfectionist.

Pure beer porn!

[James L]

I think its in transit as we speak, but I'll give him an email... it wouldnt cost too much to get one sent over afterwards... But i'll give it a go without first...

[drsmurto]

Its not that simple James

The extra piece of ss is held to the falsie by 6 clips that are welded on the under side of the falsie itself so Wayne needs the falsie to mod it.

[poida]

Hi DrSmurto,

I noticed you have exactly the same esky as me and I also have the beerbelly falsie. I've only used mine once but I found that due to the bottom of the esky not being a perfectly flat surface, I had quite a bit of grain making its way underneath and into the runoff. Just wondered if you had this problem? Perhaps I needed to recirculate a bit more so that the grainbed compacted and the grain may have stopped making it way through.

I'll see how I go next time, otherwise I may have to think of putting something on the bottom of the esky to make it flatter. Cheers

[poida]

Sorry, should have read the 2nd page :p

[James L]

My gear is here!!!..

Looks fairly straight forward to put together...

[James L]

ok... i need a definative answer...

are those coleman coolers ok to use at high temps? I cant find a decent esky that doesnt have wheels, a trench dug into the bottom to help drain water, or a somewhat curved base.

i cant find a willow esky without wheels, and so far, all i have really found which is decent (and in my price range) is a coleman 47L cooler?

Should i buy it, or should i keep looking for something more withstanding to the hotter temps?

any other suggestions for coolers that people would recommend for a mash tun would also be great.

circular coolers are ruled out as i have the beerbelly false bottom (rectangular).

Cheers
James

[Kevnlis]

How is the Coleman cooler any different to Willow or the like? If anything I would think it would be better?

[sonictruth]

whats wrong with wheels? I think it would be handy.....you could mash at the beach, watching the footy, having a bbq at a mates place....think of the convenience!

[James L]

ha yeh... sounds like a plan...

the wheels interfere with the layout of the interior of the cooler, meaning there are extra corners and an uneven floor... if i want to have wheels, i'll put them on the one that i eventually buy. i'll go pheumatic tyres for off road mashing capabilities...

[drsmurto]

Here you go James - Link

[sonictruth]

i'll go pheumatic tyres for off road mashing capabilities...

*LOL* you could get some phat mags for it, fluros for underneath and do some tough lap mashing.....it would be seeeeeeeeeeeck

[James L]

i think i might just get a newie.... 47L coleman... 80 bucks... no point messing with a smaller esky when i'll eventually need a larger one..

turns out my dad has one of those 55L willow eskys that you have DrS, but in order to get it, i'll need to replace it with something new, so i may aswell get the new one and keep it for myself...

[lethaldog]

Have a look in bunnings, im sure i saw the willow packs with the 55l, the smaller one ( fits a six pack or so )and a drink container for around $80.

[James L]

Would red ones MASH faster?

[warra48]

Would red ones MASH faster?

Yes....but only if it matches your lippy.........

[Trough Lolly]

Would red ones MASH faster?

You betcha....!



Cheers,
TL

[James L]

Bloody didnt have any red ones... only blue...

but now i'm faced with the problem of the drain hole being higher than the false bottom, and the hosing to connect the two not being flexible enough, thus making the false bottom lift off the esky and create a nice gap for grain to get into. This only occurs because i want the false bottom directly in the centre of the esky base. If i were to move the false bottom to one side (the side furthest from the drain hole), there is no problem, but i feel that this will effect the efficiency of the mash...

There is only about 10mm diff in height, but because the two point are so close to each other (50mm), i need to get some more flexible food grade hosing, or get the maintenance guy at work to bend me some stainless...

Has anyone else experienced this, and how have you overcome it?

[James L]

Ask and you shall receive... Stainless bent, and all i need to do now it wait for work to be over so i can go home and do something constructive...

[James L]

Is standard thread tape ok to use to connect all the hosetail and value fittings to the boiler and mash tun? or do i need to get something food safe?

Also, with the plate chiller, does the water go in the opposite direction to the wort when chilling, or the same? I'm guessing opposite, but i'm not 100%.

As soon as i get everything together, i'll take some photos.