Dispensing From Cubes

[goatherder]

Just took a look at Graham Sanders' article about converting plastic spray containers into mini kegs. Similar principle. He states, though, that you need to use crome-plated or stainless steel valves. I can't work out why that should be. Any thoughts?

Maybe the rubber taste?

I tried a while back to make a carbonation cap for soft drinks using the rubber tyre valves. I found they transferred the rubber flavour to the drink really easily on contact. I dumped using them as a result. Chrome or SS valves were much harder to find though...

 

[Wortgames]

Maybe the rubber taste?

I tried a while back to make a carbonation cap for soft drinks using the rubber tyre valves. I found they transferred the rubber flavour to the drink really easily on contact. I dumped using them as a result. Chrome or SS valves were much harder to find though...

That's possible - it'll be a shame! I wonder if there is some a way to 'passivate' the rubber to remove the odour?

I picked up a couple of chromed valve stems from an alloy wheel supplier - they are threaded along the full length though which might make it harder to get a good seal. They also lack the taper which helps to give this design its adjustment. No doubt they can be made to work, but it will probably be trickier.


Good effort Rob, that was quick - that red tap looks exactly like the yellow one I tried, but I got drips from that. If yours is fine that's a good sign!

 

[geoffi]

Maybe the rubber taste?

I tried a while back to make a carbonation cap for soft drinks using the rubber tyre valves. I found they transferred the rubber flavour to the drink really easily on contact. I dumped using them as a result. Chrome or SS valves were much harder to find though...

I'd be surprised if such a small amount of rubber could affect the flavour of that much beer (15L or more).

 

[goatherder]

I'd be surprised if such a small amount of rubber could affect the flavour of that much beer (15L or more).

I agree - it was noticeable in 2 litres of water but I didn't test it with beer. I think there is a good chance there would be no actual contact with the rubber if you are careful with the cube, shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Wortgames]

I just did a bit of googling, and apparently rubbery tastes can be reduced with a soak in coke or citric acid. Not sure how this would affect the brass bits, but's it's an option to try if it does prove to be a problem.

 

[Vlad the Pale Aler]

Nice work.
On the subject of topping up the co2, why not fit another inflation valve to the cube, then use a tyre inflation chuck connected to your gas bottle reg to top up, saves buying a co2 bulb kit.

Rob
3 grams of dextrose per litre would be enough to carb to English ale standard.

 

[geoffi]

I just tested out my cubecask. I followed the instructions as per Wortgames' post, but used an airlock grommet for the relief valve.

I fitted a red snap tap, quarter filled the cube with water, and pumped in some air to see what happened.

Perfect. No leaks at all. The cube swelled and held, the water came out with a rush.

Now to get the CO2 source happening...

 

[Airgead]

You'd be better off just getting a spare cap, and putting an airlock and grommet into it. That's actually what I use for primary fermentation anyway. A lot of 'plastics and storage' type places sell the caps by themselves, they are only a couple of bucks from memory.

Wortgames

Yep. I have a bunch of spare caps lying around at home anyway. Even though its not what I wrote.. thats what I was thinking when I wrote it.

Cheers
Dave

 

[warrenlw63]

also anyone got any idea on priming rates?

Many Thanks Rob.

Rob, as a possible experiment re; plastic cube priming rates you could fill the cube with 23 litres of water. Add say 70g of sugar and a packet of dried yeast and just leave it to sit for a week or so. Should give you a visual/rough indicator of the carbonation you'll get without the risk of your beer going arse-up or exploding in the cube. :beerbang:

Fantastic thread guys. Reading it with a vested interest.

Edit: Haven't read this thread in it's entirety so if somebody else has suggested the water/yeast/sugar priming test apologies in advance.

Warren -

 

[0M39A]

Rob, as a possible experiment re; plastic cube priming rates you could fill the cube with 23 litres of water. Add say 70g of sugar and a packet of dried yeast and just leave it to sit for a week or so. Should give you a visual/rough indicator of the carbonation you'll get without the risk of your beer going arse-up or exploding in the cube. :beerbang:

Fantastic thread guys. Reading it with a vested interest.

Edit: Haven't read this thread in it's entirety so if somebody else has suggested the water/yeast/sugar priming test apologies in advance.

Warren -

Good idea, but i was thinking pretty much every beer i have made already has some level of carbonation just from the primary ferment (albeit not very much), but still enough to be noticeable. perhaps go with a little more priming sugar than what you normally would do just to be sure.

 

[randyrob]

Rob, as a possible experiment re; plastic cube priming rates you could fill the cube with 23 litres of water. Add say 70g of sugar and a packet of dried yeast and just leave it to sit for a week or so. Should give you a visual/rough indicator of the carbonation you'll get without the risk of your beer going arse-up or exploding in the cube. :beerbang:

Fantastic thread guys. Reading it with a vested interest.

Edit: Haven't read this thread in it's entirety so if somebody else has suggested the water/yeast/sugar priming test apologies in advance.

Warren -

Heya Warren,

good thinking 99, i'll have a crack at that when i get home!

Thanks Rob.

 

[randyrob]

Hey Guys,

grabbed myself a connector.



hooked it up to my regulator/sodastream bottle.



wound my reg up to 5psi.



it's seems to be holding pressure but the whole cube is very baloon like :blink:

Rob.

 

[randyrob]

Here is my 25L cube with 5psi, it is made of much thicker plastic than the last but is still quite swolen.



Rob.

 

[berazafi]

why dont some of you do a test, buy a container, fill it to the brim with water (extremly important) put it somewere so when it ruptures your not in the firing zone, then wind it up

Then post the make and model and failed pressure

NB please please please make sure that there is no space for air (water doesnt compress so when it ruptures it wont expand

 

[oldbugman]

try with a 16L cube, much more rugged.

 

[randyrob]

try with a 16L cube, much more rugged.

Hey Mate,

was just thinking that!
i've just filled my 25L one with 23L of water / 70 grams of sugar and dried yeast as warren suggested
so i'll see how that goes.

i don't think the aim of this game is to see how high we can pressurise these cubes but what is
an acceptable "safe" level of carbonation.

Rob.

P.s. i'd also like to note that @ 5psi the water in the cube was absolutely bucketing out when i opened up the tap to pour a pint.

i'm guessing around 3 psi would be the go carbonation wise.

 

[randyrob]

Good idea, but i was thinking pretty much every beer i have made already has some level of carbonation just from the primary ferment (albeit not very much), but still enough to be noticeable. perhaps go with a little more priming sugar than what you normally would do just to be sure.

i've read that at the end of normal fermentation, beer contains about 1 volume of CO2.
and English Style Beers are generally 1.5-2 volume of C02.

 

[berazafi]

Hey Mate,

was just thinking that!
i've just filled my 25L one with 23L of water / 70 grams of sugar and dried yeast as warren suggested
so i'll see how that goes.

i don't think the aim of this game is to see how high we can pressurise these cubes but what is
an acceptable "safe" level of carbonation.

Rob.

P.s. i'd also like to note that @ 5psi the water in the cube was absolutely bucketing out when i opened up the tap to pour a pint.

i'm guessing around 3 psi would be the go carbonation wise.

To find out what safe leval of carbonation is, you need to find the breaking strain of the cube is then find a percentage of that. (that you are comftable takes into account aging).



Its not wise to find at 5psi it holds, but not to know that at 5.5psi it gives way, if its full of gas 5.5psi is alot of energy stored and could potentially be deadly



I work with pressure testing at work, so just trying to provide a little saftey to the exersise

 

[randyrob]

To find out what safe leval of carbonation is, you need to find the breaking strain of the cube is then find a percentage of that. (that you are comftable takes into account aging).



Its not wise to find at 5psi it holds, but not to know that at 5.5psi it gives way, if its full of gas 5.5psi is alot of energy stored and could potentially be deadly



I work with pressure testing at work, so just trying to provide a little saftey to the exersise

Heya Berazafi,

now that you've explained it, that makes total sense

it is going to vary from cube to cube as some are thicker walled and some are designed slightly differently.
but if we would find an acceptable guideline i think that would be the go!

Rob.

 

[geoffi]

Well folks, I've "kegged" my first cubecask brew.

Whatever else, it beats the shit out of bottling.

15L of best bitter, primed with 40g of dextrose. Cube fitted with a modified tyre valve, airlock grommet covering relief valve hole.

All systems go.

Except...yet to find the CO2 source. What the frick, why not jump in and get things going and sort out the details later.

I can get my hands on an old Soda Stream unit with a gas bottle. I think it's about 10 years old. Does anyone know if you can still get (or refill) the bottle used by these older models? I was at Kmart this arv and they seemed to be selling a new type of SS unit.