Mash Tun, 3/8" or 1/2"?

[SliverXZennon]

So I'm putting this question out there for hopefully a quick answer...

I have this false bottom and a 10 gallon igloo cooler. I also want to use a 3 piece SS 1/2" ball valve from bargainfittings.com.

My question is, the false bottom is 3/8" hose barb and the ball valve is 1/2". Should I change the false bottom to 1/2" or put a reducer on the ball valve to 3/8"?

Thanks!

 

[Indian_villager]

The ball valve does not include a barb. The ball valve just has (2) 1/2" FNPT ports. You can thread a 3/8" barb x 1/2" MNPT fitting into one end of the ball valve and you will be fine.

Best bet is this setup
http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=47&product_id=85
http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=36_57&product_id=62
http://www.bargainfittings.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=36_39_61&product_id=137

on the bulkhead kit the inside of the pot will have the 1/2" NPT coupling, thread the barb to that and run some silicon tube between the barb on the false bottom and the one on the outlet.

Good luck!

 

[Setesh]

If it was a brew kettle I would tell you to upgrade it to 1/2" all the way. But with a mash tun you aren't going to be running it full tilt anyway, so 3/8 should be fine. On my old setup it was all 3/8 and I would stick my mash long before I got the valve full open. This was a 10 gallon cooler with a full size false bottom.

 

[SliverXZennon]

Thanks for the replies! I was thinking a reducer would be fine but I wanted to be sure..

 

[2B_Brewing]

Its not needed. I was in the same situation about 3 months ago and I did upgrade the false bottom to a 1/2 inch elbow (mainly b/c I had extra parts laying around) and I feel like I have to close my ball valve more so it doesn't flow too much and suck the mass down.

 

[SliverXZennon]

Its not needed. I was in the same situation about 3 months ago and I did upgrade the false bottom to a 1/2 inch elbow (mainly b/c I had extra parts laying around) and I feel like I have to close my ball valve more so it doesn't flow too much and suck the mass down.

Sounds like the setup mentioned will work great then, thanks!

 

[SliverXZennon]

What do you guys do about cleaning? How hard is the tube to get off the barbs? That's my only concern now since I will go the 3/8's route.. Do you just flush it with soap and water and leave it in the cooler?

 

[wilserbrewer]

What do you guys do about cleaning? How hard is the tube to get off the barbs? That's my only concern now since I will go the 3/8's route.. Do you just flush it with soap and water and leave it in the cooler?

I would think rinsing and cleaning with the tube connected is acceptable. A mash tun just neeeds to be reasonably clean as it is pre-boil, which kills any undesirables. Lots of folks just simply rinse the mash tun well b/w brews. Concentrate your cleaning efforts on the cold side of the brewery....fermenting, bottling, kegging are the areas where cleanliness is important...a mash tun not so much.

 

[Setesh]

I would think rinsing and cleaning with the tube connected is acceptable. A mash tun just neeeds to be reasonably clean as it is pre-boil, which kills any undesirables. Lots of folks just simply rinse the mash tun well b/w brews. Concentrate your cleaning efforts on the cold side of the brewery....fermenting, bottling, kegging are the areas where cleanliness is important...a mash tun not so much.

+1.

I have found that the tube comes off extremely easily if you do it right after you dump your grain because it's so hot. I find it easier to clean my false bottom by removing it. I find it easy to remove because the heat from the mash has softened the tube so much. I think you will find the same thing true.

 

[SliverXZennon]

+1.

I have found that the tube comes off extremely easily if you do it right after you dump your grain because it's so hot. I find it easier to clean my false bottom by removing it. I find it easy to remove because the heat from the mash has softened the tube so much. I think you will find the same thing true.

Hmm. Good way of doing it for sure. I'm just such a clean freak when it comes to brewing that I want EVERYTHING clean for each batch. Maybe going a bit overboard but I'm sure thats a good thing.