# mash tuns **URL:** \ **Category:** Systems, Gear, & DIY\ **Created:** [March 27, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705 "2020-03-27T16:46:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![donrasmussen735\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@donrasmussen735\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/donrasmussen735_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 4:46pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/1 "2020-03-27T16:46:45Z")
How do you choose a mash tun? Currently using a 10 gallon insulated home depot cooler and wish to do 10 gallon batches. I recirculate the mash through a heated HLT (15.5 gallon keggle). Seems like I need a 20 gallon mash tun… Should I use a regular kettle or an insulated MT like Chapman or Ss Brew Tech? Thanks DR ---
**Author:** ![HopDen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/hopden/32/11576_2.png) [@HopDen](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/HopDen)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/2 "2020-03-27T17:16:01Z")
Thinking that you could add an additional MT and plumb the two together thereby doubling your wort and you can still recirculate the mash. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/3 "2020-03-27T17:56:14Z")
My main mash tun is a 70 qt. cooler.  Plenty of room for 10 gal. batches up to a fairly high OG but not too big for smaller batches. ---
**Author:** ![KellerBrauer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/kellerbrauer/32/1322_2.png) [@KellerBrauer](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/KellerBrauer)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 6:28pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/4 "2020-03-27T18:28:10Z")
> [@HopDen](#): > > Thinking that you could add an additional MT and plumb the two together thereby doubling your wort and you can still recirculate the mash. While I never tried recirculating, I did try something like this and I found it to be very problematic (maintaining 2 Mt) with regard to pH adjustment, hot liquor added, sparging, etc…  In theory it works, but practically it didn’t - at least not the way I anticipated. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2020, 6:57pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/5 "2020-03-27T18:57:53Z")
I use an Igloo cooler. But I’ve been looking at the SSBrewtech only because of the center drain. Seems like a lot of money for a center drain doesn’t it. LOL ---
**Author:** ![profitt\_chartermi.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/profitt_chartermi.net/32/20691_2.png) [@profitt\_chartermi.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/profitt_chartermi.net)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/6 "2020-03-28T14:30:25Z")
Having modeled my first all grain brew system a dozen years ago on one found at a little website called [www.dennybrew.com](http://www.dennybrew.com) 😉 I also used the Coleman Extreme 70qt. It seems to be in the Goldilocks zone as far as picnic cooler mash tuns… not to big not too small. ---
**Author:** ![donrasmussen735\_gmail.com](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9bd4f/32.png) [@donrasmussen735\_gmail.com](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/donrasmussen735_gmail.com)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/7 "2020-03-28T16:24:52Z")
thanks everybody for the responses… I don’t want to use plastic any more for my mash tun… Anybody mashing with stainless steel kettle of stainless insulated mash tun? ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/8 "2020-03-28T16:25:25Z")
> [@](#): > > thanks everybody for the responses… > I don’t want to use plastic any more for my mash tun… > Anybody mashing with stainless steel kettle of stainless > insulated mash tun? Out of curiosity why no plastic? ---
**Author:** ![goose](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/goose/32/20722_2.png) [@goose](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/goose)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2020, 6:32pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/9 "2020-03-28T18:32:01Z")
> [@](#): > > thanks everybody for the responses… > I don’t want to use plastic any more for my mash tun… > Anybody mashing with stainless steel kettle of stainless > insulated mash tun? Yes, Don.  I use half barrel (15.5 gal) keggles for my mash tun and HLT.  I insulate them with the duct insulation you can get at Lowe’s or Home Depot (it’s the stuff that has shiny aluminum on the outside and sticky foam on the inside).  Two layers and seal the joints with aluminum tape.  It works well and I use a RIMS system to maintain temperature in the mash tun and direct heat the HLT with a burner. Also curious, why not plastic?  It is already pre-insulated for you. ---
**Author:** ![ynotbrusum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/ynotbrusum/32/10316_2.png) [@ynotbrusum](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/ynotbrusum)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2020, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/10 "2020-03-29T12:00:29Z")
The 20 gallon InfuSSion mash tun has center draining and manometer tubes which aid in recirculation using a return manifold.  I like it and have no complaints for both Herms recirc and infusion batch sparge mashing.  There are several similar to it, though, so YMMV on favoredbrand. ---
**Author:** ![profitt\_chartermi.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/profitt_chartermi.net/32/20691_2.png) [@profitt\_chartermi.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/profitt_chartermi.net)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 7:06pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/11 "2020-03-30T19:06:13Z")
I’m also wondering why the aversion to a plastic mash tun? A picnic cooler is well insulated and nearly ideally suited to the task. That being said I’ve used a converted keg, a stock pot on the kitchen stove and now use a 15 gallon SS Blichmann MT. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 7:09pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/12 "2020-03-30T19:09:05Z")
I read about concerns with using plastic vs stainless steel.  The thought is plastic is leached into the liquid. ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 8:55pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/13 "2020-03-30T20:55:42Z")
> [@BrewBama](#): > > I read about concerns with using plastic vs stainless steel.  The thought is plastic is leached into the liquid. > > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Not HDPE, which is what coolers are made of. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2020, 10:41pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/14 "2020-03-30T22:41:09Z")
Rgr that. Just passing along what I’ve read the concerns are. I’ve used a cooler for yrs. ---
**Author:** ![profitt\_chartermi.net](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/profitt_chartermi.net/32/20691_2.png) [@profitt\_chartermi.net](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/profitt_chartermi.net)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2020, 2:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/15 "2020-03-31T14:24:28Z")
I guess some urban myths die hard. I haven’t heard that one for nearly 2 decades. ---
**Author:** ![Visor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e19adc/32.png) [@Visor](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Visor)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2020, 5:22pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/16 "2020-04-01T17:22:11Z")
Ya, that one’s right in there with the one about microwaves making your food radioactive, when I had the appliance store I was amazed at how many people bought into that one. ---
**Author:** ![swlusk](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/swlusk/32/9858_2.png) [@swlusk](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/swlusk)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/mash-tuns/29705/17 "2020-04-03T17:26:16Z")
I’ve just started using an Anvil Foundry and love it so far. Like the ability maintain accurate mash temps while being able to circulate with stainless components.  Having said that I will ALWAYS keep my plastic/cooler tun around for certain brews that are just too big for the Foundry. Time and place for everything! 🙂