So I'm hoping to move from extract and partial mash to all-grain brewing by the end of the summer. The one big hold up is making a mash tun. I don't want to just buy one, because for one, I feel like they are way too expensive to simply purchase, and second, well, it seems like it could be a fun project to build. 
My question is this: What size cooler should I get to convert?
I only make 5 gallon batches, and don't intend on moving to 10 gallon anytime soon. Most of my beers have an OG between 1.045 - 1.070, with the occasional barleywine type of monster. I've made one Imperial Stout that was a 1.081 OG and a Christmas Ale that was 1.115. But those are not the norm for my brewing. I was thinking that a 52 quart cooler like this would be good, but then I started wondering if I should go a little bigger. What do you guys think?
My question is this: What size cooler should I get to convert?
I only make 5 gallon batches, and don't intend on moving to 10 gallon anytime soon. Most of my beers have an OG between 1.045 - 1.070, with the occasional barleywine type of monster. I've made one Imperial Stout that was a 1.081 OG and a Christmas Ale that was 1.115. But those are not the norm for my brewing. I was thinking that a 52 quart cooler like this would be good, but then I started wondering if I should go a little bigger. What do you guys think?
