Sealing HERMS coil

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HairyJamie
Steady Drinker
Posts: 70
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2015 1:34 pm

Sealing HERMS coil

Post by HairyJamie » Fri Jul 21, 2017 3:11 pm

Hi,


I've just got myself a shiny new brew builder HERMS coil for my HLT and some stainless compression fittings. Try as I might I just can't get it to seal without a slight drip into the pot when testing by running cold water through the coil.

On a real brewday I'm not wanting wort to run into the HLT whilst recirculating, so does anyone have any tips on getting a good seal?

The compression fittings are tight on, could I run a small bead of food safe silicon sealant round them too?

Any ideas gratefully received!


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Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Sealing HERMS coil

Post by Fil » Fri Jul 21, 2017 5:35 pm

ptfe tape should be a staple in any brewers kit box ;)

if using the kit here.. https://www.brewbuilder.co.uk/herms.html

i cant tell if its a 2 part ferrule (olive) inside the SS compression fitting, but they can take a bit of torque to set n seal, and should result in a permanently clamped on SS ferrule on the herms coil ends. If im describing correctly wrap some tape around the ferrule/olive, (cover it all and the tube) not a lot 2-3 wraps should do it, and you should then be able to make a seal with finger tightening and perhaps just a nudge with a spanner..

however coming from Mrlard it may have been modded, and use an oring in place of the SS ferule, in which case try adding a 2nd o-ring or substituting 2x of a slightly smaller size, (orings are temporary seals unlike the SS clamp on the tube ferrules ) , and if stil no joy again a wrap of good ol ptfe....
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

HairyJamie
Steady Drinker
Posts: 70
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2015 1:34 pm

Re: Sealing HERMS coil

Post by HairyJamie » Fri Jul 21, 2017 9:58 pm

Thanks Fil , it's a 2 part olive - I tried PTFE and that did the trick for one of the fittings but the other one is still dripping.

I'll have to try nipping the other up tighter

Thanks very much for the tips

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Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Sealing HERMS coil

Post by Fil » Fri Jul 21, 2017 11:58 pm

Well real plumbers will yell at me for this but if 3 wraps of ptfe wont do it try 6, 9, 12, 15.............. its cheap, food and heat safe.. go to town.. generally less is more but...
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

HairyJamie
Steady Drinker
Posts: 70
Joined: Mon Jun 22, 2015 1:34 pm

Re: Sealing HERMS coil

Post by HairyJamie » Sat Jul 22, 2017 3:10 pm

Application of copious amounts of PTFE tape and brute force seems to have done the trick!

Thanks all, roll on brewday!

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Fil
Telling imaginary friend stories
Posts: 5229
Joined: Sun Oct 16, 2011 1:49 pm
Location: Cowley, Oxford

Re: Sealing HERMS coil

Post by Fil » Sat Jul 22, 2017 9:36 pm

ha i wasnt seeing double the other night.. good to hear, hope your gonna document the brewday, we like pics ;)
ist update for months n months..
Fermnting: not a lot..
Conditioning: nowt
Maturing: Challenger smash, and a kit lager
Drinking: dry one minikeg left in the store
Coming Soon Lots planned for the near future nowt for the immediate :(

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