| Author |
Message |
    
Jim O'Conner
Advanced Member
Username: Roguejim
Post Number: 877
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 204.16.45.151
| | Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 06:54 pm: | 
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Any reaqson to insulate a heavy aluminum kettle/mash tun?
Jim
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Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 6926
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.224.220
| | Posted on Saturday, April 14, 2007 - 07:58 pm: |
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You would likely want to insulate it if you used it as a mash tun and could not direct heat it. Otherwise there could be a significant temperature loss during mashing. |
Rob Farrell
Intermediate Member
Username: Robf
Post Number: 438
Registered: 02-2003
Posted From: 68.50.104.138
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 04:28 pm: |
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There's more reason to insulate an aluminum vessel than a stainless one. Aluminum is a great conductor of heat. I keep trying to insulate my aluminum HLT, but my turkey fryer keeps burning the insulation. Oh, for the days of asbestos. |
Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 6930
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.224.220
| | Posted on Sunday, April 15, 2007 - 06:22 pm: |
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There's little reason (and a some trouble) to insulate a mash tun during heating, but the rests are a different matter. I would build a removable sleeve with foil-backed bubble wrap insulation and duct tape and cover the vesserl with an old blanket or sleeping back during rests. |
Jim O'Conner
Advanced Member
Username: Roguejim
Post Number: 880
Registered: 06-2003
Posted From: 204.16.45.151
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 12:56 am: |
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Well, the aluminum kettle I have in mind is thicker than a turkey fryer. I would be using direct heat. I presume, Bill, that you would reach whatever mash-step you wanted, turn off the flame and slip on the insulation sleeve. Might make it hard to read a thermometer if it was installed in the tun. Lifting the lid off to check temp would cause other temp problems, I suspect.
Jim
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Bill Pierce
Moderator
Username: Billpierce
Post Number: 6935
Registered: 01-2002
Posted From: 24.57.224.220
| | Posted on Monday, April 16, 2007 - 02:38 am: |
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You might be able to use a thermometer inserted into a thermowell after you slip on the insulating jacket. Another choice would be a digital thermometer with a cable and remote sensor, or even a wireless digital thermometer.
Like many people I mash in a converted keg. I don't worry about insulating it, as I can apply direct heat when necessary. |
Brews and Views Archive 2007 
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