Converting a cooler to mash tun

[AdamWiz]

Hi all -
I have been doing more partial mashes with an eye on going all grain at some point. I read the BYO article about doing mini mashes by using a slightly modified 2 gallon cooler for a mini mash/lauter unit. I was considering doing something like this, but since I am going to eventually be going all grain, I want to avoid buying/making anything that I will not be using any longer once I make the switch. Therefore, I was thinking I'll get a 5 gallon cooler instead, so I could still use it after going AG. Would there be any adverse effects from doing mini mashes ( maybe 4-6 lbs. of grain at a time ) in a cooler that is so much larger than I need? I was thinking that with such a big amount of headspace I may have a harder time maintaining temperature than if the cooler was more full. I don't necessarily plan on going AG immediately, but I know I eventually will and really don't want to buy any more equipment unless it is something I will be able to use for a long time. Anyone have any insight on this?

-Adam

[snowcapt]

AdamWiz, I think that you are on the right track. As long as you preheat the cooler with boiling water, heat loss shouldnt be that much of an issue.....I think. I have a 52 qt coleman chest cooler and I have made some small beers in it without much trouble, maybe 7 lbs. in it, and it held temp just fine.
Also, if you are doing mini-mashes, you probably have a handle on the principles of all-grain. I would say, get a big ol cooler and make the jump. I dont know your situation, or the equipment you are working with now, but the equipment is not too expensive, and alot of it, you can make yourself, such as a manifold or screen. Another pot will be needed, as well.
I hope this helps.
Cheers Brotha
Dano

[Yeast Whisperer]

You may want to jump to a 10 gallon cooler right away rather than the 5 gallon. I did the same thing about 6 months ago - and converted a 5 gallon cooler, but when I stepped up to all-grain, I couldn't get the 1 1/2 - 2 qt per pound liquid to grist ratio in most mashes and if you are completely filling the cooler, you don't have any wiggle room if you miss your temperature and need to add some cool or hot water. So I ended up doing one mash in the 5 gallon and then buying and converting a 10 gallon cooler before my next batch. I recommend going to the 10 gallon and if you do a mini-mash and don't want to do it in the big cooler, do a mini-mash in your boil pot.

[PSUHomebrewer]

I use a 10 gal cooler for my 5gallon batches. I made a Scottish 60 about a month ago with it. I think the reciepe only called for 8lb of grain and had no problems with temp on the mash. The only things I'd recommend from doing this is: 1 preheat the mash tun with water before you add your grain and mash water, and 2 go a size bigger cooler than you think you'll need. I started with a 5gallon for pm and found out that for bigger beers I'd have problems with over filling it ( did a pm for my pumpkin ale with 7lb of pumpkin and 3lb (I think) grain and I think had .5-1 gallon of space left).

[edisonst]

I was thinking along the same lines a couple of years ago. i went for the five gallon cooler tun, Made one partial mash beer and from then on it was all grain. If you can mash 4 # of malt..you might as well mash 10# and do the all grain thing. You might as well go for the 10 gallon cooler so you are prepared to go for 10 gallon batches of all grain seriously though..spend your money on the 5 gallon cooler so you dont have to build a new mash tun when you want to go all grain. if you batch sparge you dont necessarily nedd any more equipment as long as you do full boils already.

[TheDarkSide]

I have the 72 coleman Xtreme cooler mash tun and did Jamil's Dark Mild with no problem.

Here are the exact instructions I used: http://brewing.lustreking.com/gear/mashtun.html

[ZZ]

I used this cooler the other day with 22 lbs of grain it it with room to spare. I've also done 8 lbs with no problems. Because it's square, the grain doesn't spread out to much and making small beers is no problem. Plus the insulation is great. 2F is the most temp drop I've gotten over as much as 2 hours!

[foomench]

+1

I used a 5 gallon cooler for years for five-six gallon batches. When I made bigger beers, I supplemented with a small amount of extract. I was happy with that. Now I have a 12 gallon Ice Cube for 10 gallon batches, and do an occasional 5 gallon batch it. I don't think you'll have a problem with head space and maintaining temperature. Sure, a bigger cooler might be nice, but the 5 will work too. Relax.