Syphoning

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:29 pm

How do you start a syphon without sucking on the tube. I have read that if you suck you can introduce diseases that harm your beer. Has anyone got any simple solutions or homemade gadgets? Pictures please.

Post by **Andy** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:34 pm

Fill the syphon tube with water and place your (sanitised

) thumb over the free end. Dunk the syphon end into the liquid to be syphoned and then lower the free end into a container while releasing your thumb - collect the initial flow of water from the tube then quickly move the tube into the receiving keg etc as the beer flows.

Post by **Andy** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:32 pm

Indeed - that's what I've done, no more syphoning malarkey for me

Kegging the Hefe tonight was a doddle

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Mon Nov 06, 2006 11:47 pm

Hole cutter and tap will be one the list of jobs for the morrow, thanks guys

mr.c · Post by **mr.c** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:03 am

do you Sterilis the tap befor you syphon /decant ,if so how ???

Post by **Andy** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:08 am

Bigster · Post by **Bigster** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:12 am

and those taps are ideal for the mod andy found so that you can fit a weeny pipe on for decanting to reduce danger of foaming

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 12:26 am

Daab, should you spray the tap on the bottom of the King Kegs in the same way. Is there a chance of infection ?

deadlydes · Post by **deadlydes** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:50 am

I always suck the syphon and have never had a problem!

Kev. · Post by **Kev.** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:23 pm

deadlydes wrote:I always suck the syphon and have never had a problem!

Des, I suspect we've all did in the past with no obvious problems.

These days I just grip the siphon tubing by making a tight fist, with a sanitised hand, and suck at the opposite end from the tube, the thumb end, to the start the flow. At no point does your mouth come into contact with the tubing. I find it much quicker and easier than filling the tube with water etc etc.

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Tue Nov 07, 2006 1:36 pm

I have a tap on my fermenters and this does the job perfectly. In fact, since I have started using the tap I am losing less beer. With the tap a couple of mil is left behind. When I used a syphon a pint or 2 would be left due to too much trub coming up and not being able to control the syphon whilst tilting the Fermenter.

Personally I have never sanitized my tap before/after use (only after initial cleansing). So far I guess I have been lucky not to have had any problems. I may fit a bag even if it is to just stop drips going on the carpet.

Once kegged, I have never even considered cleaning my taps (both King Keg and Budget Barrel). I don't think it would ever cause an issue to be honest.

flytact · Post by **flytact** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:26 pm

I've got a tap in my boiler, but for transferring to a secondary I use this: http://www.northernbrewer.com/pics/full ... siphon.jpg

It's fantastic!

Post by **Andy** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:43 pm

A few of us on here would have the natural wrist action for that!

PieOPah · Post by **PieOPah** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:01 pm

Whatever works for you I guess

bandit · Post by **bandit** » Wed Nov 08, 2006 8:36 pm

http://www.northernbrewer.com/pics/full ... siphon.jpg

Is this a commercially available product or are there plans to build one anywhere?

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