Mash tun take one

I built a mash tun today. I originally decided to use the directions here. However, those directions are pretty hard to follow since they seem to be written for mechanically inclined people. It also requires non-standard washers which were not available in any hardware store in my area (the author says to just expand a smaller one, but I have yet to talk to someone who knows how to do that).

I instead used the directions here, which were both easier and required fewer parts. I have:

1. 5 gallon round Rubbermaid cooler ($22)
2. 1/2' of 1/2" copper tubing ($1)
3. a small rubber stopper ($1)
4. a stainless steel mesh taken from a supply line ($5)
5. a square head plug (Watts part A-737)
6. 1/2" hose clamps

Most of this is straightforward. However, the supply line needs the ends to be sawed off. You then pull the hose from the center. I asked the guy at Fetch Lumber to help me saw off the ends of the supply line and he did with relative ease. I used needlenose pliers to pull the hose out and it took about 5 minutes.

Next, I would wash the mesh in some alcohol to get the oil off.

1. I unscrewed the plastic spigot from the cooler.
2. I jammed the stopper in from inside out. Make sure to go this direction so it can withstand the pressure. This took me 5 minutes of strenuous work. If it isn't hard to do, you may have a stopper which is too small, and will not get a good seal.
3. I pushed the copper through the hole in the stopper. This was by far the most difficult task and took me about 10 minutes of pushing. I was drenched in sweat by the end
4. I attached the head plug to the mesh using a hose clamp
5. I attached the mesh to the copper using a hose clamp.
6. I attached the vinyl tubing to the copper on the outside of the cooler

Here's a picture: