How big a mash tun is too big

[Basquebrewing]

Looking to go all grain soon so looking into buying mash tuns. I currently have a kettle that is only big enough for 5 or 6 gallon batches but would be interested in scaling up to 10 gallons in the future. The question I want to ask is should I buy a mash tun/ hot liquor tank for the bigger size to save money in the future. The problem I is would mashing a smaller batch in a big mash tun cause problems, I am guessing mainly with maintaining a temperature.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[The Brew Mentor]

I love my 48 qt Igloo square cooler mash tun. It works well for 5 and 10 gallon batches.
Always pre-heat the tun with your strike water and you shouldn't have trouble maintaining temperature.
I like the square or rectangular coolers because u can easily make a manifold out of CPVC. With the round ones you either use a false bottom (expensive) or a bazooka screen( prone to clog).
You can make a mash tun out of a number of vessels and they all have pluses and minuses.
Good luck
Brian

 

[Basquebrewing]

Thanks that fits with other info I read. I think I will definitely go with the bigger option.

On a related note, A home brew shop here in Spain sell a 70 litre (about 74 quarts) stainless steell insulated cooler. Thinking of getting two of these for mash tun and hot liquor tank with the idea that the HLT could have a heating element put in at a later date. Anybody have any experience with the stainless steel cooler and or converting them to electrical heaters?

 

[surfmase]

I have found that a lot of people here and in Germany use insulated stainless pots with one of these:
http://www.conrad.ch/ce/de/product/827343/Rommelsbacher-TS-1502-Tauchsieder?ref=list
or non-insulated pots on a hot plate.

 

[Basquebrewing]

Thanks Surfmase. Do you know if that is used to bring the water to temperature, or to maintain temp?

 

[Nosybear]

That might be used to maintain temperature but it would take forever to heat a mash with it.

 

[TheZel66]

I've been grain brewing now for about 18 years. Always used a 5 gallon igloo cooler for my mash tun. I never had a problem keeping the temperature constant. Recently, I picked up a 10 gallon cooler (from northern brewer - not igloo brand). I have noticed that the temperature does drop for small batches. More airspace is the issue, especially if you uncover to stir the mash every so often. (15 minutes is what I do).

So if you're just starting out, and you want to make beers no bigger than 1.065 to start, I would go with a 5 gallon.

 

[Nosybear]

I've found that stirring the mash for single-infusion mashes is mostly unnecessary. I add grain to my water, stir until the grain is wetted and there are no dough balls, take a temperature and pH reading, cover the tun and do something else for an hour. My conversion efficiency ranges in the mid-70 percent range.

 

[GernBlanston]

I've found that stirring the mash for single-infusion mashes is mostly unnecessary. I add grain to my water, stir until the grain is wetted and there are no dough balls, take a temperature and pH reading, cover the tun and do something else for an hour. My conversion efficiency ranges in the mid-70 percent range.

I hate those doughy balls.