MLT

How I built my mash & lauter tun:

The style of MLT that I built was for batch sparging. To make it easy and cheap to build, I used a stainless steel braid for straining the grist during lautering. The bulkhead is made from a brass nipple connector and a few washers to add rigidity and obtain the correct spacing. The faucet is a simple ball valve.

Parts List:
Here are the parts you will need for the conversion
• Igloo 5 gallon round beverage cooler
• all stainless steel ¼” hose clamps x 2
• brass square head plug (Watts A-737)
• ½” x 12” (or larger) braided stainless steel supply hose
• 3/8” female barb adapter (Watts A-298)
• 5/8” Rubber fender washer
• 3/8” MIP x 1-1/2” brass nipple (Watts A-786)
• seal from plastic spigot of cooler
• Teflon tape
• 5/8” Inner Diameter O-ring
• 3 x 5/8” fender washers
• 3/8” threaded ball valve
• 3/8” male barb adapter (Watts A-294)

Assembly
Step 1 - Remove the spigot from the cooler:
using a wrench to firmly hold the nut inside the cooler, remove the plastic spigot from the Rubbermaid cooler
retain the seal and possible rubber seal from the inside of the cooler for use in Step 2 below

Step 2 - Inside parts:
Stainless steel braid:
Cut the ends off the stainless steel braided supply hose using a hacksaw or rotary tool (my Dremel tool cut through the braid like nothing -- took about 60 seconds)
Using a set of needle nose pliers, grab the flexible hose inside the braid, and PUSH the braid off the hose (don't pull!) Pull the PVC tubing out, leaving only the braiding. Insert the brass square head plug into one end of the braid and secure with a hose clamp.

Bulkhead:
Apply a few wraps of teflon tape to threads on the brass nipple
Slide stainless steel washer onto brass nipple
Securely attach female barb adapter to brass nipple
Insert seal from plastic spigot on inside of cooler and insert brass nipple inside


Step 3 - Outside Parts:
outside
Pull brass nipple all the way through the hole in the cooler. insert O-ring over nipple.
Apply teflon tape to threads on nipple
Add fender washers as spacers to ensure a tight fit of the components once the ball valve is attached (mine needed 3 washers)
Attach the ball valve
Apply Teflon tape to the male barb connector, and attach it to the bal valve

Step 4 - Attach Stainless Steel Braid
Slip a SS hose clamp over the open end of the SS braid
Slide the braid onto the barb connector inside the cooler, and tighten the hose clamp