Quote:
> > <snip>
> > >> Hey,
> > >> I've heard lots of people using copper manifolds for there round
> > >> Gott coolers, but haven't figured mine out yet. I plan to use 3/8"
> > >> copper tubing that will have slices(via hacksaw) in it for drainage. I
> > >> don't know how to get the tubing though the drain in the cooler. Do I
> > >> just use vinyl tubing for that part? Do I have to take the plastic drain
> > >> out and replace it w/ a stopper?
> > >> Thanks for the help,
> > My homebrew club just did a "team" mashtun construction. Five of us gathered in the
> backyard of our
> > club president and all made mashtuns at the same time out of rectangular coolers. We
> didn't have to
> > deal with the spigot, just a drain plug.
> How, did you deal with the drain plug/manifold connection...?
I have made a manifold of this type for my Gott cooler. First, I whole-
heartedly agree Charley who recommended using 1/2" copper pipe. I use
this along with 1/2" tees and 90^ and 45^ elbows. I slotted the copper
pipe at 45^ angles every pipe diameter (1/2") half way through the pipe
with a fine tooted hacksaw. When the mash is over, I simply dissamble
the manifold and rinse it out.
For the drain, I removed the push button valve that the cooler was equipped
with. I found a small ball valve at my local hardware store. It is either
stainless steel or chrome plated brass. It has female pipe thread on both
ends. On one end I screwed in a plastic fitting with the apprpriate male
pipe threads and a hose barb. On the other end of the ball valve, I
screwed in a chrome plated brass, close *** (a piece of pipe about 1"
long that is threaded at both ends and so short is has no bare pipe between
the threaded ends); I never remove it from the valve. I also bought a
copper pipe fitting the can be sweated to 1/2" copper pipe on one end and
has female pipe thread on the other.
For mashing, I put a garden hose washer over the close *** on the valve
and then stick the close *** through the opening in the cooler where
the valve was. From the inside of the cooler, I put another two garden
hose washers over the close *** and then***on the fitting with the
female pipe thread and sweat end. Tightening by hand or with a wrench,
the garden hose washers are compressed against the inside and outside of
the cooler and form a water tight seal. I stick a piece of 1/2" copper
pipe from the manifold into the sweat end of the fitting now screwed onto
the ball valve. The valve gives me decent control over the flow rate.
The whole manifold and valve is easy to assemble, dissamble and clean.
Hope this helps.
--
Phil
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