Insulating a Stainless Steel Mash Tun

[Mylo]

I found a commercial insulation company here that uses it. I'll call and see if they can supply me. If not, I'll split a piece with you Mylo. I'm making an electric keggle, but I wanted to direct fire it with flame if need be. Even the high temp stuff is only rated to 300f. Maybe I'll figure out a heat shield, or just have the stuff be removable if I need to fire the kettle.

Well, the lower chine would definitely exceed the 300 degrees - but the main part of the MT keg would never exceed 170 or so - unless you are doing something wrong. So you can just put the insulation on the main part.


Mylo

[WetmoreBrew]

I use a converted Sankey w/ a double Bazooka for my mash tun, and usually only lose a couple of degrees during a 1hr mash.
Have you thought about trying a neoprene keg parka? I got one from B3 that fits a corney keg, I know Ive seen them for sankeys.

... nevermind after a quick search, the cheapest one I could find was $70.00.



Here are a couple of links if you're interested.

http://www.kegkits.com/Merchant2/mercha ... =KEGSLEEVE

http://www.40below.com/product_detail_p ... ductID=215

http://www.keglove.com/

[Brandt]

Well, the lower chine would definitely exceed the 300 degrees - but the main part of the MT keg would never exceed 170 or so - unless you are doing something wrong. So you can just put the insulation on the main part.


Mylo

Yeah. I was worried about the heat spilling around it, and through the holes. It really is kind of ridiculous for me to worry about it, since I will just about never need to apply flame. I already have two kettles for that. By the way, I saw in the carpet section of Lowes an anti fatigue mat that looks and feels very similar to armaflex. It is only 1/2" thick but I could double up. Comes in a 36" roll and is about $3.25/ foot. It would be a bit cheaper than Armaflex.

PS this kettle is doing double duty as a boil kettle/ HLT. Eventually there will be a seperate electric boil kettle, when I get the $$ for the electronics and stainless couplings.

[Hammer]

I built my mash tun out of a sanke. I cut 1" Pink rigid foam into 1" strips and layed them out on the floor. Then I ran three strips of duct tape evenly spaced down the back. I then wrapped it around the keg. Taped it in place and wrapped the whole thing with wide aluminum flashing. It looks pretty cool and is easy to keep clean.



I also cut a disk out that snugly fits in the bottom ot the keg. It will hold temp well loosing maybe half a degree per hour.

[Brandt]

Nice, Hammer! Elegant solution and looks cool! Plus you don't have to work on polishing up your sanke to make it shine.

[jwatkins56550]

I was thinking about insulating my kettle since it's tough reaching a rolling boil on my stove top. I need it to be removable so I figured I could get some reflective insulation and wrap it around my kettle, securing it with industrial strength velcro.

[ggltd]

Gentlemen: Over the weekend I figured this out and I am very happy with the results. First I found the material at Lowes in the carpet section. Item # 295099 is a 4 pack of 2x2 linking mats. Cost is $17.98. The material is 12mm EVA closed cell, waterproof, smooth on one side and textured on the other. I got the charcoal grey (it comes in bright colors also) and put the smooth side out. There is enough material for 2 kegs with enough left over that I cut a circle for my mash lid. With the dovetail interlocking joints it is easy to put together 2 pieces 15” and 16-5/8” by 51-7/8”. I crazy glued the joints and then reinforced them with duct tape. I then wrapped the kegs, cut the holes for the plumbing and put all the thermo stuff and valves back. I held up the bottom on my HLT (15") so the flame shouldn’t be a problem, but I can always run a strip of aluminum tape around the bottom edge after I test this. I don’t plan to ever remove these because the material is waterproof and won’t stink, but if I have to I just pull the one duct tape joint free. No bungee cords to mess with, and the fit is tight. So I’m glad I waited and didn’t go the Armaflex route which would have cost almost 4 times as much.

[leaky_porch]

I wrapped my sanke mash tun(and now my boilermaker) in reflectix wrap with bungee cords. Works pretty well, I don't typically lose more than a couple of degrees.