Is a scratched cooler mash tun a problem?

Brewing Processes
1

I have done about 75 batches with my current igloo 10gal cooler. When I clean the false bottom, the cooler gets scratched. I noticed there are new false bottoms with a rim on them to prevent this.
My question is whether all the scratches I’ve accumulated cause an issue? I’m getting good efficiency, so I don’t think I have tunnelling water during the sparge. Am I carrying flavors over from one beer to another? Risking contamination of some kind (yes, this is pre-boil) ?
To be clear, this is a 10gal round cooler and I am running 5gal batches of all flavors.

So do I need to replace my mash tun?
Thanks.

2

Mine has a few scratches, too. If it were a bucket, there might be some merit in replacing (though I think the risk is overstated). But this is preboil as you say - no risk of contamination, and if you rinse the cooler out thoroughly after brewing, no risk of carry over. No worries.

3

I would be concerned with cracks which are impossible to clean and dry quickly.  Scratches can be cleaned and dried well enough.

4

I wouldn’t be too concerned. You can always resort to sanitizing the interior of the cooler if you want.

You could look at putting food grade silicone over where the scratches are or on the rim of the false bottom to avoid further scratches.

5

IMHO

A few scratches in the mash tun won’t hurt a thing.  Whatever may lurk in the scratch will be boiled for an hour so you should have worries.  There isn’t likely to be enough of anything in a scratch to cause any carry over flavors either.  Definitely in the relax, don’t worry category.

Paul

6

Having used the same cooler for over 17 years and 480 batches, it,s scratched, stained, and everything but broken.  Still makes great beer.

7

+1

8

I would boil anything that came out of a scratched cooler.

9

I agree…I used mine for 25 years before I finally had to replace it.  It looked like hell, but made great brew.