I hate bloody autosyphons!

[simpleton]

Seriously though, what are my options otherwise?

I'm on my fourth auto syphon. The others have just decided to crack. I always lose the bottom filter thing. And it's too big....you put it in something to sanitise, turn around and it's jumped out onto the floor. That's even if you can find something big enough to immerse it in to sanatise. The tubing comes badly kinked which is highly irritating. And after a few uses the friggin seal isn't so great so it sucks air bubbles in.

Is it just me? Maybe.

I've tried a tap, they kinda suck. Pain to clean and either waste loads of beer or you get loads of trub.

Is there anything better? Please tell me there is maybe a tube and my mouth is the way to go.

Si

[seymour]

It's not just you, they're pretty frustrating. I just threw one away which got infected. When I went to bottle a batch this weekend, I remembered I hadn't replaced it yet. I assure you, trying to get a steady siphon going the old-fashioned way with a simple racking cane and tube is an even bigger pain.

I'm planning to get a new auto-siphon and a low rectangular container to lay it in with sanitizer while I'm working, maybe a wallpaper tub from the hardware store or something. I'm sure you know, but they sell numerous different sizes of auto-siphons too.

[Trefoyl]

maybe a tube and my mouth is the way to go.

Si

Actually I often start a siphon with a turkey baster stuck in the end, so the principle is the same as sucking with your mouth.

Most often I push it out with CO2 on a two spout carboy cap.

Edit: and if I'm bottle filling (before when I didn't have co2) I would partially filling the hose with water, place the bottle filler with valve on, and then start as usual but discard the first runnings.

[simpleton]

Aye, I've seen the smaller ones but they seem very small. Not sure they are long enough for my FV.

Maybe I shall try and invent a much improved autosyphon

[simple one]

I suck.











No infections as of yet.

[Jamie488]

I use starsan to sanitise the auto-siphon. No need for large buckets etc. just rinse it out with hot water or twp and clear with cold water then spray a few cm of starsan into the tube and siphon and flush out. I leave it coated in starsan and leave it all to dry. Then just give it a spray through with starsan before using and you are good to go! Works well so far.

[daf]

Jesus, just suck on the tube like a normal person. 30 brews and no infection....

[barry44]

I have just started with my auto syphon.

I give it a good soak after use in the fv with hot water and oxi and run the oxi solution through it into the sink once done.

It then gets a good rinse and I run a full fv of cold water through it.

I store it in two pieces.

I made a hop filter for it an I noticed that the mesh I used has left some scratches on the outer tube which I will need to rub down with some sandpaper prior to use again. Although I may just ensure it is starsaned prior to next use. I normally run five litres through it when I am getting ready to bottle once I have let it sit in the water bottle for a few minutes.

[Steveicky]

Hold your siphon tube in your fist so that the end of the tube is just below your first finger and thumb. Put your fist to your mouth and suck til you go blue.

If you can perfect this method you should not touch the tube with your mouth. No auto siphon required.

[simpleton]

I've sucked a tube before, I just spray star San in my mouth first. Maybe I'll go back to that method.

[Waffty]

Get a small length of over sized tube to fit over your syphon tube. Give it a good suck and when you've primed the syphon simply pop the over size tube off, complete with all your gems and let it do it's own thing.

An alternative to the above is to use one of those small plastic taps all home brew shops sell. Then attach your mouth piece on the end. Suck, when you have enough fluid in the tube. Close the tap, remove the mouth piece, then either add a fresh piece of tube or just turn the tap on.

[NobbyIPA]

i use a 100ml syringe works great

[simpleton]

Not a bad idea and I already have an 80ml syringe, will give it a crack.

[pobrien20]

Use a plastic window box, only a couple of quid from B&Q or similar, it's ideal for cleaning/sanitising the auto-syphon.

Once it's longer than the auto-syphon it shouldn't jump out.

Then when your finished transferring, use it to store the auto-syphon & other tubes, bottle wands, etc

[Matt12398]

When it comes down to it, what you're basically saying, is that it's time to buy a conical.