Converted Keg Insulation

[kujo]

Hi all,

OK - so I have a few little improvements under way on my brewery for this season, but one thing that is still unaddressed is insulation for my converted keg system.

At the very least, I'd really like to get the mash tun insulated. More important - I'd like to do that without spending all kinds of money, and without creating a fire hazard (I rarely need to, but I *have* had to put the MT on the burner).

I've seen pictures of a few solutions, but no accompanying commentary on how that solution is working out, so I figured I'd just go ahead and ask :-)

So... what are you doing for insulation? How is it working out? Have you seen a big difference in how long you can keep your mash temps from falling?

[danno]

I used to have an insulating blanket made out of what I can best describe as aluminum covered bubble wrap. it worked well, although a typical 10 ballon batch has a pretty big mash and it holds its temps quite well just from the thermal mass. what I didn't like, and why I ultimately removed it, was cleaning the mash tun turned into a huge PITA. if I was to do it again, I'd probably go get a water heater insulating blanket, and cut it to size, and put some velcro on it so I could put it on and take it off easily so it wouldn't interfere with cleaning.

(also, get some aluminum tape and cover up the drain holes in the skirt of your keg to keep the flame off whatever you do end up going with...)

[takhsh]

What I have is the same bubble wrap, expept the palstic is aluminized. I found this in home depot. It is wrapped around hte keg a couple times, and the end is held in place with velcro. The intention was to undo the velcro each time the keg is for cleaning. In reality, I hav enever used the velcro. It simply slides off from the top of hte keg. I never use it over the fire. I place it, only after the keg has gone with the heating. If I ever need to put the keg back to fire, I expect to remove it. When I bought it form home depot, I only used have of what I got. I kept the other half, and I have used it, several years later when the first one wore out.

[Beerbilly]

I use a sleeping matt made from closed cell Pothyethylene. It cost 10 bucks and does the trick nicley. Plus Closed cell PE reisists moisture. You can buy them any where camping supplies are sold.

[generalzonzo]

The alum. coated bubble wrap is awesome. I use it to insulate my Mash Tun and it keeps the mash to within a degree for up to an hour, probably even more.

http://img.diytrade.com/cdimg/395642/1933536/0/1140939260/Aluminium_Foil_bubble_aluminium_Foil.jpg