Double wall mash tun?

[spittybug]

I have a traditional 3 tank (kegs) setup with a HERMS coil inside the HLT. I pump the mash through this for temp control. When doing a BIG beer or a sticky one, this sometimes results in some clogging. I know that the grind is a little small sometimes, but I like the efficiency of such. I had a idea of sitting the mash tun in a 55 gallon drum (cut down) and keeping the water in the space between at the desired temperature. No more clogged pump from grain. No problem that I can see with putting the electric element through the wall of the drum. Still will want to keep HLT to provide strike water/sparge water and to use as my cooling coil.

Anyone done this? Downside?

 

[Toejam792]

Why not just throw in some rice hulls. If I'm making a wheat beer I just throw a couple handfuls in with the grain and my mash flows great.