How to a Add Thermometer to your Cooler Mash Tun

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10 Responses

  1. Nate says:

    Good tutorial, peter. I’ve added stainless ball valves, just not thermometers. I picked up a high temp O-ring kit at Harbor Freight for twelve bucks…it came with over a hundred O rings that can handle temps up to 400C, so when money isn’t as tight, I want to add a thermometer to my tun and my boil kettle.

    A word on calibration…my last couple of beers have been thin with no residual sweetness. Blah. I thought I was loosing my touch. Turned out my thermometer was SIXTEEN degrees off. Lesson learned.

    • Simply Beer says:

      Thanks Nate! Ouch, 16 deg, high or low? I was sick of my temp probe being off, so having a good thermometer on ever piece of equipment is nice. I also calibrate them every couple of months, but haven’t had to make any adjustments so far.

  2. David Jensen says:

    Great tutorial. I didn’t know that you could drill through the rubber stoppers so easily. The last time that I asked about it at the homebrew shop, for some reason they recommended against it.

    I think I’ll build one of these for my next batch.

    • Simply Beer says:

      Thanks David. I’m actually going to use the same method to run my fly sparge through my cooler lid. It has worked great for my temp gauges. About 10 batches since w/o any problems.

  3. Andy Z says:

    Hey Peter,
    Thanks for posting this! I got my mash tun together, and I’m prepping to follow your instructions to add a thermometer to it. I think it will go a long way in helping reach my proper mash temps.

    Question for you – when you say 3/4″ drill bit, do you mean hole saw? I got a 3/4″ bit, and it isn’t as wide as the #5.5 stopper. I want to make sure I do this right the first time. Do you think this saw will work? http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-D180012-4-Inch-Standard-Bi-Metal/dp/B00005LEYQ/ref=sr_1_21?ie=UTF8&qid=1300368306&sr=8-21

    Thanks again for posting man.

    – Andy Z

  4. Simply Beer says:

    Andy, you want to have the stopper bigger then the hole or it won’t plug. A hole bit will make a nicer edge, but should be able to use a regular bit if that is what you have. I used a forstner bit for mine. That bit will be perfect.

  5. Andy Z says:

    This is the bit I have: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100098840/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

    It’s a 3/4″ Forstner Bit, and I think it might be the same one you used. This will work okay?

  6. Sean Buchan says:

    Any idea if there are places that will sell this stopper without having to order online?

  7. Ron says:

    Thanks Nate for your post, I like your idea. I’ve purchase all the items you’ve listed, however I have a couple questions. You mentioned to push the thermometer up against the cooler. Do the threads on the back of the thermometer go into the hole? Also, do you think this will work on a 5 gallon (home depot) cooler for my hot liquor tank? The space between the walls would seem to be too close.
    Thanks again for your post and time. Greatly appreciated.
    Ron