To start over?

[Hillsboro]

Hey everyone, I've been on this site almost everyday for a while trying to learn as much as possible and now I'm making the switch to all grain. Thanks for all your help thus far.

I've got a similar question to many people on here and I hate to ask this but I seemingly obviously have a leaky mash tun. I built mine with a 48 quart rectangular cooler and a series of 3/8" fittings. i.e. ball valve, washer, nipple, cooler o-ring, washer, coupler to a stainless braid.

When I was fiddling around with the fittings, I stretched out the original hole where the fittings go. I'm currently debating whether I should use some aquarium sealant, try another silicone o-ring or just simply start over. The leak seems fairly substantial - about 1 drip every 2 seconds.

Any thoughts?

 

[LandoLincoln]

Yeah, a different o-ring would help. Possibly a bigger washer might be needed too. They have a dizzying array of o-ring/gasket choices. One of them will do the job.

 

[Snicklefritz]

I've had good luck with the flat silicone washers. They cover more surface area than the red o-rings that come with a lot of the weldless kits. I use one on the outside and one on the inside.

 

[Hillsboro]

Great, thanks! Think I'll have any luck at Home Depot?

 

[Snicklefritz]

Not sure if HD would have those or not. I'd imagine they would. This is similar to what I use only mine are clear:

http://www.homebrewing.org/product.asp?itemid=2871

 

[Hillsboro]

Not sure if HD would have those or not. I'd imagine they would. This is similar to what I use only mine are clear:

http://www.homebrewing.org/product.asp?itemid=2871

Awesome thanks! I'll check HD later today and hopefully they'll have something.

 

[LandoLincoln]

Great, thanks! Think I'll have any luck at Home Depot?

I highly doubt it. Sorry. You'll probably have to order from Grainger or McMaster-Carr or one of the homebrew equipment websites like brewhardware.com.

 

[jCOSbrew]

You can buy a 12" square sheet of silicon gasket material for about $10 from amazon or elsewhere and you can make it into any shape or size gasket. Works great for all my weldless connections.

 

[Hillsboro]

Cool I'll check that out - I didn't know that!

 

[tomCT]

Another thing you could try is to use a baby bottle nipple. You cut off the nipple part and use the base. They are silicone, food safe, and can be heated. I originally got the idea from a post on HBT and have used it - it works.

 

[Hillsboro]

Another thing you could try is to use a baby bottle nipple. You cut off the nipple part and use the base. They are silicone, food safe, and can be heated. I originally got the idea from a post on HBT and have used it - it works.

Great idea.

This forum is awesome. Thanks for all the suggestions guys.