by warramungas » Wed Sep 20, 2017 10:32 am
Still being virginal when it comes it all grain I always wondered about using a plastic drum, like one of those olive oil drums, or a stainless 44 as a cooker. Not sure the strength would remain in the plastic drum is all if you filled it all the way to full. I have had 20 liters of boiled water in one and it seemed strong enough.
If you heated to strike temp, put all the grain in and placed an immersion heater in the top inside some sort of metal tube or mesh sock to keep the grain off and controlled the temp using an stc1000 or the like and a good stirring paddle you could do a big batch in one hit.
If you came from below with the temp, say 60 steady, then 62 steady up to desired temp, you could be sure you wouldn't overshoot mashing temp.
I was going to try something similar with an agave instead of roasting it (like a sous vide) but my studies is taking all my time at present.