HomeBrew equipment

[Vossy1]

Being fairly new to brewing I'd like to get something off my chest.

Why doesn't homebrew gear use universal sizes for taps and pipework?

You go to a plumbers merchants and you know what you can do ie, reduce from 10mm to 15mm, 22mm to 15mm the choices are endless.

I spent 2 hours today trying to find some pipe for my boilers nylon tap and when I found it, it needs reducing to fit the spinny sparger...can I get a reducer.

I know I can acetone weld plastic but I shouldn't be even having to think of this.

I'm very tempted to rip the HB gear out and outfit with plumbing gear as I know a few of you more experienced guys already use.

Grrrrrrrr

[Vossy1]

I know your right DaaB but I'd set my heart on doing my 1st AG tomorrow.

You watch I'll be up t'ill 3am tonight fixing the ruddy thing, then I'll oversleep tomorrow and won't have enough time to brew

Ps, if I should have put this in the Tap Room...... sorry

[Garth]

Vossy,

good luck with the AG, hope it goes well, I'll be making the leap myself in the next month and I'm interested how you get along, buying a boiler but probably gonna make a counterflow chiller and mash tun myself after seeing it done a few times on this great forum

Cheers all the best

[jasonaustin]

Might not help for tomorrow, but http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/item1074.htm are quite useful.

I'd recommend plumbing fixings (although I know you won't find any 'big brass ornaments' hanging from any of DaaB's kit :blink: )

[Vossy1]

Cheers Garth B)

I saw one of those thingies at the HB Shop and recoiled at the price.

What's even more annoying is that when I was looking for tubing today at a local aquatic centre I found the same thingy for 88p. I picked it up and thought..I wont need that and put it back down again :rolleyes:

Its just that HB supplies seem so botched and antiquated.

There's keeping things cheap but when I'm dealing with 25 ltrs of BOILING water and the possibility of a lifetime of scarring I don't want any risk.

Melodramatic maybe but worth the risk....no way

Yes, I'm on my soap box, and the Nelsons Revenge is'nt helping

[jasonaustin]

I think some of the problems are because much that we use in HB isn't necessarily intended for such. It's all a bit cobbled together, especially in this country.

Go on Vossy1, you know it makes sense:-

[Vossy1]

JA, I thought it was you, but due to a shortness of patience, attributed to tiredness and beer I wasn't going to look for the pic so thanks for helping.

Now that looks solid, I know it makes sense and you know it's going to happen

One trip to B+Q tomorrow. I'll be paying triple over what the plumbers merchants would charge but can you put a price on your 1st AG brew B)

Time for match of the day to watch the champions beat Watford

[Andy]

On all my W&D taps I apply the following mod:-

http://www.forumforfree.com/forums/inde ... wtopic=353

and then use :-



from BES Ltd to connect to standard syphon hose.

[Vossy1]

That's so simple it might just work...hmmmm

The only question I've got to ask myself is ...is it shiny enough

Where's that ruddy tinfoil :rolleyes:

Seriously, that will do the job without having to spend a fortune...nice

Like the new avatar btw dan.....sorry andy couldn't resist

They don't make them like they used to

[Vossy1]

Cheers andy, jobs a good'un.

Went to B+Q spent £4 and here are the results, exactly as you described.



I hacksawed the ends off the y piece and glued them onto my boiler taps using plastic glue



Now tubing from boiler fits exaclty to sparge arm.

Nice cheap simple safe mod B)

EDIT

The glue dried and when I tried to screw the nut on, the hole lot came off the boiler tap. The tap has got a very smooth surface which doesn't give the glue much purchase

EDIT 2

All sorted, hot glued

[BlightyBrewer]

Ah, the joys of homebrew equipment manufacture.

Nice job Vossy. Hot glued, I like it!

[Vossy1]

Hmmm BB, I wonder what temp hot glue melts at

Imagine if I turn the tap for sparging/chilling and the whole lot comes off the tap

[Vossy1]

Like it DaaB, Nice and simple, you know I'm gonna try it B)

It wont come into contact with the water so food safety aint an issue

[Andy]

Nice one vossy.

I made some score marks on the tap outlet section before gluing so there was some purchase for the bonding. I used araldite and had the mash tun one fail first time, bit more glue and it's been fine ever since as has the HLT and fermenter mods.

[Vossy1]

I thought about scoring and in hindsight, even having used hot glue I should have scored for purchase as well

I must admit I am thinking of using the JA connectors for my gear but reducing to sparging arm size would be a problem :blink: