5 GAL Mash tuns at Canadian Tire?

JohnQ · August 24, 2011, 06:00:01 AM

At Ace they are about the same price ($62) with free shipping to any store, I had mine shipped to a store near the border.
JQ

Kyle · August 24, 2011, 07:42:15 AM

Yeah, ebay prices on large, bulky items, often from the US are not really representative of the final price you'll pay when all is said and done for the item.

fakr · August 25, 2011, 06:20:45 PM

went out and bought the $20 special at canadian tire...48qt I think.

Got all the fittings, ball valve and stainless braided line...only question now is how do I seal up the shank that I have to put through the side...? is there a good permanent install for this?

If the setup is already posted...can someone throw me the link?

Dave Savoie · August 25, 2011, 06:24:15 PM

remove the spigot that is already in the cooler

fakr · August 25, 2011, 06:36:11 PM

this one doesn't have a spigot...I could make a hole with a home saw...or is the hole from the spigot clean and sealed?

and what about sealing the tap and shank in place?

fakr · August 25, 2011, 06:37:49 PM

and I appologize if I'm coming off sounding a little numb...I'm just looking for a way to install the ball valve permanently with the shank...

or should all the fittings be easily removed for santizing?

Jmac00 · August 25, 2011, 06:40:37 PM

post a pic or link of what cooler you got...

fakr · August 25, 2011, 06:44:18 PM

its the same coleman one Dave and Richard suggested, only I bought it at canadian tire instead of wallmart.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5 ... ?locale=en

http://www.walmart.ca/Sports/Camping/Co ... Lid-Cooler

Kyle · August 25, 2011, 06:46:39 PM

cleaning is important, but there is no need to sanitize since it is pre-boil. It is a good idea to keep the rubber gasket that was probably on the inside of your cooler to use with the new fitting, so that it seals up tight. The standard way the drain plugs fit onto the cooler is essentially two threaded fittings that cinch together, and then a gasket on the inside wall of the cooler. Looking at the inside of the drain, see if there is a way to put a large screwdriver / knife / pliers in there and turn left-wards, once it's loosened, you will need to hold the outside fitting with your hand or pliers, this should completely remove the bulkhead, so that you can install your own, using the original rubber gasket.

Richard · August 25, 2011, 09:11:32 PM

it doesn't come with a gasket or anything, just a drain thing you can pop open.

I just rammed some 1/2" OD solid plastic tubing (it was once a bottle wand) through it - fits snug. then shove 1/2" OD hose on the outer side and use a hose clamp to attach the mesh filter to the other side. Works fine.

Failing that you can just screw 1/2" fittings straight into the plastic. I did that for a while, too.

Others have used washers to seal the thing, but it really didn't seem necessary - 1/2" OD of whatever solid tubing will pressure seal just fine without leaking.

fakr · August 26, 2011, 07:29:36 AM

this one didn't come with a drain at all....

well, I think I'm going to sacrifice my expensive 80 can 7 day cooler to make a mash tun as it has the proper drain plug in it. I'll use this cheapo cooler for camping instead.

I'm assuming the cooler can't be too big? because my expensive cooler is about twice the size of the cheapo...

Dave Savoie · August 26, 2011, 07:34:12 AM

check your temp loss over an hour with about 4 gallons of 154F water with the extra space i dont think it would be a problem as a couple guys I know use those huge coolers from fish processing plants big enough to mash for 50 gallons of beer

Jmac00 · August 26, 2011, 10:08:08 AM

Quote from: "fakr"this one didn't come with a drain at all....

maybe return it and get the one from walmart? those definately have the drains in them.

fakr · August 26, 2011, 11:07:07 AM

yeah, I'll probably return it and use my good camping cooler...I haven't been camping for a couple of years...

not sure why I didn't think of using my cooler before.

Here's my cooler:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5 ... ?locale=en

Joke....here it is:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/5 ... ?locale=en

I guess it is a 50QT cooler...I thought it was way bigger. it's a 6 day cooler so it should hold temperatures very well.

I'll pull the plug out and if I have any issues with the install, I'll let you guys know. thanks for all your input.

Jmac00 · August 26, 2011, 11:13:45 AM

those extreme ones were on sale last week for around $47.99 if i remember correctly.