10 gal. Igloo Cooler Mash Tun Conversion

[TheWitGuy]

So my co-worker was generous enough to give me a brand new water cooler to convert into a mash tun. I went to Home Depot and Lowe's to buy the supplies needed by going off this guy's part list. https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/cheap-easy-10-gallon-rubbermaid-mlt-conversion-23008/

I test fitted all of the parts but it seems that with the nipple, valve, and barbed connector there's about 1 /4" of space around the fitting. Are the hole sizes for Rubbermaid coolers smaller than the ones on the Igloo ones? I'm going to return all of the parts and go off a 1/2" plan to see if that works. Another question was has anyone made the mash tun that this guy has made? Is it worth the coin to do it?
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/how-build-best-mash-tun-beverage-cooler-343994/

 

[timpoulsen]

I'd get the kit from AIH. With just a few more bucks, it's complete with a false bottom. http://www.homebrewing.org/Igloo-Cooler-HLT-Fitting-_p_1823.html

 

[TheWitGuy]

You're a ****ing lifesaver. I definitely owe you a cold one.

 

[dyqik]

I don't know about the Igloo coolers, specifically, but the 10 gallon orange Home Depot and red Rubbermaid coolers are smaller than the 5 gallon orange Home Depot coolers. The red Rubbermaid 5 gallon coolers in my local Home Depot are also the smaller size. The smaller size needs 3/8" fittings, while the 5 gallon orange cooler needs 1/2" fittings.

For the 5 gallon orange cooler, I used the stainless fitting set from Bargainfittings.com, after I couldn't get a good seal with 3/8" hardware. This will fit a 7/8" to 1" hole in the cooler.