| Author |
Message |
    
Mike McNeil
New Member
Username: Macster
Post Number: 90
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 03:27 am: | 
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Currently mashing in a 10 gal. Rubbermaid Gott with a Kewler Kitz/Bazooka. Very happy with this set up, but looking for more grain capacity. Been seeing quite a few postings lately on several HB boards on the use of the Igloo IceCube. At $12.84 for the 12 gal. and $18.74 for the 15 gal. at Wally World it seems like a great deal. However, I had a few questions for any of you fellow brewers who may use or be familiar with these before I make the purchase:
1) Not being all that handy I would prefer to just use something like a Kewler Kitz/Bazooka set up rather than build a manifold device. Would a Bazooka set-up work in the 12 gal. IceCube cooler? It appears that the screen would be positioned fairly close to the middle on the bottom.
2) I'd really like to go with the 15 gal. one, but it seems the spigot exits on the bottom on a downward angle of about 45 degrees and in turn angles upward at the same angle inside the cooler. Would this preclude using the Bazooka set up because of the upward angle? It seems you would need a connector tubing from your screen to your valve that has quite a downward bend to allow the screen to sit on the bottom of the cooler. If the Bazooka set-up isn't applicable to this cooler, what WOULD work? Will the liquor flow "uphill" that much in order to completely drain your MT? Would a flexible tubing set-up, like the Wort Hog, be a usable system for this type of cooler?
3) I've seen some pictures posted where brewers use some kind of flexible stainless steel braided looking tubing as their manifold. What actually is this stuff and where do you buy it? If I need to employ something like this for the 15 gal. Igloo, I was wondering if anybody had some advice on what materials I would need and how to rig it up?
Sorry for the long post, but I appreciate the help. Regards!} |
Dave Witt
Intermediate Member
Username: Davew
Post Number: 422
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 04:02 am: |
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I don't know what size the spigot/hole is in the 15 gal Cube, but if it were me, thats the one I'd get. I've looked at these and I don't think a Bazooka would be that hard to modify to work with that angle. You would probably have to use a Bazooka tee and bend the copper tube so the screens would sit on the bottom. It would work like a siphon tube in a converted keg.
The stainless braided tubing is the outer sheathing of braided stainless hose, which has had the inner hose removed. Pretty easy to do, according to others here. And only costs $6-9 for a 3-4' long hose.
(Message edited by davew on July 06, 2004) |
jeff wright
Junior Member
Username: Barly
Post Number: 39
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 10:55 am: |
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Mike,
I use stainless braid and it works really well. The hardest part of using it is getting the braid off the hose inside. If you cut off the ends and push the braid toward the middle it relieves the tension and you can slide it off pretty easily. Kind of like that Chinese finger cuffs we had as kids. I'm dating myself. But the braid does work.
Good luck.
Jeff |
Chris Testerman
Member
Username: Chris1kanobi
Post Number: 119
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 03:52 pm: |
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Here is what I use and I am very happy with it. http://www.freewebs.com/candcinnovations/ The 60qt. cooler has a few low spots, for the wheels and handles, that may not be a problem, but I have never had a problem with the 48 quart cooler. You could build something very similar. email me if you want details, or just a part of the Worthog set-up. Sorry for plugging.
(Message edited by chris1kanobi on July 06, 2004) |
Craig Johnson
Member
Username: Californiacraig
Post Number: 199
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, July 06, 2004 - 06:38 pm: |
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Mike,
I have been using a stainless braid for a few years now and am very happy with it. I just upgraded my mash tun to a 54 qt cooler. I installed my own drain and used a 3/4" x 18" SS braid from a hot water heater supply line. All the parts to build the drain were under $25 and it took me about an hour to assemble, test, and fix leaks. I am brewing Thursday and will let you know what kind of efficiecy I get. |
Eric A. Bonney
Junior Member
Username: Vanhlebar
Post Number: 27
Registered: 02-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, July 07, 2004 - 11:58 pm: |
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I looked at getting one of these coolers tonight when I was at Wally World. How are you guys getting the hole cut into the cooler to be able to install your bulk head? The coolers that I saw didn't have any spigot on them.
-Eric |
Mike McNeil
Junior Member
Username: Macster
Post Number: 96
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 03:29 am: |
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Eric:
The Igloo Ice Cubes, both 12 and 15 gal. I saw at Wally World had spigots on them. The 15 gal. one had a spigot that exited toward the bottom at a 45 degree angle. Not sure what kind of drain system you could hook up with that configuration. |
Steven Edward Haun
Member
Username: Stevehaun
Post Number: 102
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 03:55 am: |
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Here is the view from the outside. I bought mine at Sam's Club
 |
Steven Edward Haun
Member
Username: Stevehaun
Post Number: 103
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 03:57 am: |
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I have the 15 gallon version. The faucet on mine exited parallel to the bottom.
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Steven Edward Haun
Member
Username: Stevehaun
Post Number: 104
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 03:59 am: |
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The one I bought seemed like it was made to be a mash tun. The drain hole is level with the bottom but there is a recessed area allowing room for the bulkhead washer and O ring. |
Tom Meier
Junior Member
Username: Brewdawg96
Post Number: 100
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 02:49 pm: |
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great pics steve
I'd like to duplicate this setup for a friend. Did you use a close nipple (all threads), or was it thick enough to need a longer one? |
Chris Testerman
Member
Username: Chris1kanobi
Post Number: 125
Registered: 02-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 03:44 pm: |
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The Icecube coolers that I saw at Kmart, did not have spigots on them. I was suprised, because the ones at Wally World do have spigots on them. You might want to look around and make sure that the one you get has a spigot. |
Steven Edward Haun
Member
Username: Stevehaun
Post Number: 106
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 10:50 pm: |
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I used a close nipple in my bulkhead. Here is a picture of the bulkhead:
 |
Mike McNeil
Junior Member
Username: Macster
Post Number: 99
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 05:20 pm: |
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Steve Haun:
That's a nice set-up. Where did you find the 15 gal. model you show in your pic. The 15 gal. Ice Cubes at Wally World here have wheels and a pull handle on them and as I mentioned the spigot is at a 45 degree angle exiting toward the bottom of the cooler. I'd like to get the 15 gal. model you show that has the spigot parallel to the bottom surface of the cooler.
Thanks! |
Steven Edward Haun
Member
Username: Stevehaun
Post Number: 107
Registered: 03-2003
| | Posted on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 11:29 pm: |
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I got it at Sam's Club for $19.99 |
Brews and Views Archive 2004 
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