Mash Tun Question

[Georgeous]

I have unique opportunity to purchase an over 2k gallon mash tun with false bottom for making malt spirits. I currently have a 600 gal mashtun for in grain mashing no false bottom. My question, has anyone rused a still that has mash tun and rake to make ingrain mashes for bourbons by removing the false bottom? Will the rake provide enough agitation during the mash cook? i dont really see why not, would be nice to just have one cooker that can do both. 

 

[harold01]

If it doesn't work just make a bolt on extension for the agi shaft 

[jeffw]

I don't really  know the answer, but rakes usually have a higher gear reduction, so the agitator is likely way slower than the one on your mash cooker.  

[Broad Run Creek]

Yes, we use a mashtun that came with a false bottom.  We removed it and have no problem with in grain mash cooks

[loneoak]

Would you be interested in selling your 600gallon mashtun? 

[Georgeous]

no i am not, sorry

[Georgeous]

3 hours ago, Broad Run Creek said:

Yes, we use a mashtun that came with a false bottom.  We removed it and have no problem with in grain mash cooks

so the rake agitates sufficiently? 

[Broad Run Creek]

Yes it does.

[whiskeytango]

We removed our false bottom and would get a nice pile of grain in the center around the rake shaft since the rake is about 7 inches up from the bottom of the mash ton. We just made a cross bar that bolts on that rider an inch or so ups from the bottom and added that below the original rake.  Works great now 

 

[Georgeous]

18 hours ago, whiskeytango said:

We removed our false bottom and would get a nice pile of grain in the center around the rake shaft since the rake is about 7 inches up from the bottom of the mash ton. We just made a cross bar that bolts on that rider an inch or so ups from the bottom and added that below the original rake.  Works great now 

 

so was the mash successful in the end? 

[whiskeytango]

On 9/20/2023 at 5:47 AM, Georgeous said:

so was the mash successful in the end? 

It was.  We might have a little better conversion after we added the bottom arm but it all make whiskey. 

 

 

[Southernhighlander]

I've built combination mash cooker/lauter tuns that will both cook corn mash and lauter single malts.  There is no need to remove the false bottom nor add an arm below it, to cook corn mash in my design.  I have also built them as combination mash cooker/lauter tun/stills.  For a quote email paul@distillery-equipment.com

[Southernhighlander]

Georgeous.

There is no need to remove the false bottom to cook corn mash if the lauter tun has a side manway.  There will need to be a little fab work done on the side manway and then you will be good to go.  Email me privately and I will let you know what you need to do.