HDPE malt pipe

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pirateagenda

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is there any reason a hdpe malt pipe would be a bad idea?

I picked up a 185L pot this week and was going to sacrifice my old 100L pot to build a malt pipe. However looking at the new pot, it's going to be useless for doing anything under 80L batches due to dead space losses and the fact that a 60L mash would only be 20cm deep in the pot. So not sure I want to sacrifice my ability to brew a double batch every now and then in the 100L, got me thinking of affordable alternatives for the malt pipe and the best i can come up with at the moment is a 120L HDPE drum, or an off cut of 500MM diameter stormwater pipe.

I do also have a 60L pot, however that's not large enough for the malt pipe.
 
I would avoid "storm water pipe" it is mostly made from PVC, nor a good choice for brewing equipment.
Mark
 
Pretty sure its PVC, I have used the large pipe in the garden as a bottomless pot. I doubt there would be hdpe buckets or tubs large enough due to health and safety (25 litre capacity) but I would still have a look and see if there are any larger tubs in a plastic specialists supplier. I know it is something we all ignore but hdpe is not for hot liquor, I did read recently that in the Netherlands they have just invented a hdpe lined pipe that can safely carry hot water to 80 degrees Centigrade. America has not sanctioned use of hdpe pipe for carrying domestic hot water because of leeching.
 
America has not sanctioned use of hdpe pipe for carrying domestic hot water because of leeching.(sic)

You appear to be confusing HDPE and PEX: the former is high density polythene (linear), the latter is crosslinked polythene.

HDPE isn't used for hot water because it is too weak at elevated temperatures.
 
... or maybe i'm over thinking it and need to just use the 60L for single batch trial brews and sacrifice the 100L to the big dog!
 
for clarification - the pipe or drums I would use is definitely HDPE. like this http://www.rehomepipe.com/hdpe-pipe...sEv2E0b3wYCHKIPEa7CKRh1-AosvCge8aAgWHEALw_wcB

if i were to go the drum route - something like this http://www.obal-centrum.com/drums/plastic_drums_for_solids.php

so is hdpe ok for mashing in? whats an esky made out of?
Well the home brewers use it for boiling in in the UK, I was going to make a boiler using the drums from Bunnings got the element around here somewhere. But I wouldn't be worrying about what harm any chemicals leeching out of plastic would do you are making something far more toxic.:)
 
Did you do it ? For mash the hdpe is fine as your not at boiling temps . I was going to yse a 20L pale but a customer made me a SS malt pipe . Its abit narrow and the bucket would be wider , thinking of making it anyway :)
 

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