Fermenter Taps Give Me The Sh@#$its

[TidalPete]

I'd also like to know. wouldnt snaptaps contribute towards oxidisation of beer if you dont have some sort of hosing (ie beer splashing around in bottles.). knows anythinf to speed up bottling Im interested in.

Read my last post.

:beer:

 

[Jerry]

I guess I was just asking to see if anyone else taps are a bugger and if they had a trick to stop shrinkage.
Cheers
Steve

Steve,

I also have the same problem getting the taps back together as they get a little older. But apart from using some hot water and brute force I don't have any other solutions.

As far as a trick to stop shrinkage, umm...............................don't swim in cold water?? :unsure:

Scott

 

[TidalPete]

Read my last post.

:beer:

Sorry, should have explained this more fully.
The transfer hose I am refering to is good for transfering your wort from primary to secondary & also for kegging with the snap tap.
For bottling, all you need to do is to file a slight taper on your bottling tube to fit the inside of the snap tap & all is well. Won't speed up your bottling but it is a better tap for cleaning, sanitising, etc.

:beer:

 

[craig maher]

How do you get a transfer hose onto those snap taps? some kind of adaptor shoved inside?

My racking tube fits sungly inside the snap tap outlet - too easy I say :beer:

BTW mine don't get pulled apart lust soaked in weak bleach solution like Tony and Devo.

Cheers

 

[devo]

How do you get a transfer hose onto those snap taps? some kind of adaptor shoved inside?

use a hose with a larger diameter that will fit over the nozzel.

 

[Screwtop]

Eighteen months or so ago I saw a thread on dismantling taps using a small length of dowel, did this about 4 of 5 times and fcuked a couple of taps. Now I have a 2L icecream bucket with weak bleach solution in the brewery at all times for sanitising small things such as taps and airlocks. Keep the lid on and change the solution every month or so. Remove the tap seal/'O' ring, open the tap and toss it in the container and leave it for a few days then store it dry with your other taps in a sealed container. Too easy.

 

[Sammus]

I just leave the bung in and use a easy syphon... and as a result I don't take hydro readings anymore, because its such a PITA, anyone got a solution for an easy solution for that one?

S

 

[randyrob]

I just leave the bung in and use a easy syphon... and as a result I don't take hydro readings anymore, because its such a PITA, anyone got a solution for an easy solution for that one?

S

get a wine thief?

 

[lucas]

use a hose with a larger diameter that will fit over the nozzel.

all the snap taps I've seen are very tapered (ie. thin at the bottom and grow fatter towards the top). how do you get the hose to stay put? looks like hose clamps would be useless

 

[TidalPete]

I just leave the bung in and use a easy syphon... and as a result I don't take hydro readings anymore, because its such a PITA, anyone got a solution for an easy solution for that one?

S

Unscrew\lift your fermenter lid, insert sanitised Jug\eyedropper, close lid. All over in under 2 seconds without fear of oxidisation. Waiting for flames.

:beer:

 

[winkle]

all the snap taps I've seen are very tapered (ie. thin at the bottom and grow fatter towards the top). how do you get the hose to stay put? looks like hose clamps would be useless

A little bottler tube into the snap tap - transfer hose on it.
I always pull my taps apart, had a series of infections caused by crud in them. Yes they do get brittle and stiff - just pick up a few spares when your next buying "house stuff".

 

[crozdog]

I just leave the bung in and use a easy syphon... and as a result I don't take hydro readings anymore, because its such a PITA, anyone got a solution for an easy solution for that one?

S

I use an auto syphon as a home made "wine thief". Just remove the centre plunger & the crap catcher cap (dunno what else to call it) then simply insert the main part of the syphon in the fermenter, lift it up. The 1 way valve will close keeping your beer in the syphon. Simply pour the sample into your hydro measuring cylinder. you may need to repeat to get enough volume.

Thanks to Stuster for telling me about this. :beer:

 

[Sammus]

I use an auto syphon as a home made "wine thief". Just remove the centre plunger & the crap catcher cap (dunno what else to call it) then simply insert the main part of the syphon in the fermenter, lift it up. The 1 way valve will close keeping your beer in the syphon. Simply pour the sample into your hydro measuring cylinder. you may need to repeat to get enough volume.

Thanks to Stuster for telling me about this. :beer:

yeah I was thinking about that, but my auto syphone tube is very long, and the valve isnt perfect at the bottom so you end up dripping wort/beer everywhere, then you try and tip it out the top and the little valve opens up down the bottom and spills out both ends... bah, better than nothing I guess... or maybe not actually

 

[blackbock]

In my experience the 'snap taps' are aptly named: They like to snap in the wrong place at the wrong time. But maybe I have used a different brand.

I have seen other taps in plumbing suppliers which have a top-rotating valve, i.e there is no chance of accidentally screwing out the tap instead of opening the valve. They do cost more though.

 

[ratchie]

none of my fermenters have taps on them i just take the airlock and grommet out put in plastic pipe with 2mts of tubing with easy bottler attached and syphon.I use aclothes peg to hold the plastic pipe and move the pipe down as I syphon work for me.

 

[WildaYeast]

I use the snap taps. Easy to clean. One of my fermenters is a Coopers and it fits fine.

Use a racking cane to transfer to my cube for secondary, so no need to put a hose over it.

Use a white plastic tap on my cube, because the snap tap doesn't seal OK on the threads. Use a racking cane to transfer back to fermenter for bottling.

Don't pull it apart, just run water/napisan out through it when I'm rinsing out my cube and give it a soak if necessary. Cleans up OK (you can see) and - knock wood - haven't had an infection yet.

For bottling, just use a little bottler on the snap tap.

Brian

 

[SJW]

If all these plastic taps are crap has anyone investigated using a S/S ball valve? I just wonder how the thread would go?

 

[devo]

all the snap taps I've seen are very tapered (ie. thin at the bottom and grow fatter towards the top). how do you get the hose to stay put? looks like hose clamps would be useless

no clamps, it should stay on "as is" if the diameter you choose is the correct one. just slip it on until it wedges itself firmly enough to hold.

 

[Doogiechap]

If all these plastic taps are crap has anyone investigated using a S/S ball valve? I just wonder how the thread would go?

I use a 3/4 - 1/4 BSP adaptor

and a mini ball valve (mine is a brass male to female 1/4")

and a 1/4" BSP to 8mm push fit/ John Guest connector. (I use a brass body one)


This gets connected directly to my filter ala Pumpy's The 'no Messin Method' Fermenter To Keg,

A thorough soak in napisan and a Peroxide based no rinse and happy days
I'll have a digi camera soon and will post a piccy.
Cheers
Doug

 

[mika]

Thought the brass body wouldn't be real flash for this kinda work ? :unsure:

Ideally I guess you want something you can pull apart to clean.