T-Bar Font flip-tap badges - can they be changed?

[MattyBoy]

Hi All

I have stripped an old 5-tap font to get the Alumasc taps for my set-up.

I would like to change the flip-tap badges if possible but they look firmly fixed / glued in.

Is there a way to swap them are do I just have to overlay with a stick on badge of my own?

A

Thanks
Matty

[Fil]

From investigating my own 'stella' tap you will need a tool to push out the pin/tube that the lever pivots on, and then source new tops.. Neither of which will be easy, then I dont know how easy it would be to line up for a repalcement fit, or how to go about re-pinning.

So...... get some stickers/sticky back plastic/ heatshrink

[MattyBoy]

Looks like they are well and truly welded together yes

I shall have to bite the bullet and get some sticky backed white plastic then I can just scribble the beer code on the plastic - will look naff but I'm not going to be serving McEwans, JSS or any of the other listed rubbish so I'd rather cover them up...

Matty

[themadhippy]

what id do is give em a good sanding down then paint with blackboard paint,then you can write whatever you like on the taps,rub it out and rename

[MattyBoy]

what id do is give em a good sanding down then paint with blackboard paint,then you can write whatever you like on the taps,rub it out and rename

Nice idea! Thanks.

I'll do just that

Matty

[MattyBoy]

Incidentally there are 3 diameters of tubing used on the font from the pressure adjusters to the taps.

2 lines are blue 3/16" (5mm)... 2 lines are green 1/8" (3.5mm) and 1 is a skinny transparent pipe (to the Tetley tap) which looks to be about 4mm ID.



I am guessing I should be swapping out the 3.5mm pipes for 5mm pipes as I will be serving real ale with top pressure at about 10 PSI?

I guess the ultra narrow 3.5mm pipe is to give a very very slow pour on the smoothflow type beers?

Thanks
Matty

[Fil]

beer/gas line made from ldpe iirc is sized using old money and the outside diameter,
3/8", 5/16", and 3/16" are the general sizes employed..

with a keg pressure of 10 psi using just 3/8" or 5/16" line to the tap, the 'pressure gradient' or difference at the tap point will be close to 10psi, which will in all probability stimulate a foam out or catastrophic release of all co2 in suspension, Not a happy outcome!!

the 3/16" line is employed as it has pressure reducing properties, it will reduce the pressure at a rate of 1 to 2 psi per foot length, closer to 1 psi for the first foot rising with each subsequent foot of length.. folk generally find a length of 4 to 6ft ( mine is circa 5ft) of the 3/16" micro line between the keg and tap sufficient to reduce the pressure drop at the tap point as to not stimulate a foam out.

you can also use inline pressure restriction devices or taps with a pressure restricting barrel,
in my limited experience these are fine for low conditioned beers served with pressures upto 6-8psi, but are pants with higher pressures needing tweeks with every pour never quite hitting the sweet spot. you could try 2 or more on the same line?? but i think they are best used when the serving pressure is constant between keg changes, tho thats just my take on em.

hope thats useful..

[MattyBoy]

I set up a keg of sterillant and ran it through 6 feet of 8mm ID Polythene tubing, then through the restrictor valve (fully open) then through the 12" of 3/16" to the tap. at 10 PSI the pour rate was pretty good - maybe 12 seconds for a pint? Obviously I can adjust the flow rate with the restrictor valve if this pour is too fast. I can also try different lengths of 8mm ID line as I have about 15m of it.

I am sure the story will be quite different with conditioned beer rather than sterillant but I am pretty sure the restriction from the 12" length of 1/8th / 3.5mm tubing will be too great and slow things down too much.

Need to wait for my beer to ferment out first before I can get the system tested and balanced properly.

Thanks for your advice

Matty

[hazelbrew]

This is all looking really good... In the house or in the shed outside?

I look forward to seeing it ready and sampling

[MattyBoy]

This is all looking really good... In the house or in the shed outside?

I look forward to seeing it ready and sampling

In the summer house I can hold the temp anywhere from 5 - 12 degrees through the winter depending on where the beer tastes best.

I will have beer in two of the lines by New Years Eve - albeit it will be only about 2 weeks after secondary by then but hey ho

Matty