Fermenter Taps Give Me The Sh@#$its

[Steve]

My white plastic fermenter taps give me the *****. I split them to clean with a toothbrush. When they are brand new then turn really nicely and split easily. Over a few brews its a real battle to get them back together and to turn. I have to bang them on the hard laundry floor. They go together easier if I soak them in boiling water. My question is why do they shrink? The obvious thing is not to split them but I like to get in and clean them. Anyone got any tricks? Or is it just me?
Cheers
Steve

 

[Brewer_010]

Steve
I've got the same dramas. Also, a couple of times I have crushed the spout on the edge of the bench getting the pharker apart. Hot water seems to ease the process, as you mention.
Any tricks? Unfortunately not from me. I am resigned to replacing each tap every year or when the spout is crushed. The last couple of brews I didn't bother to yank my tap apart, just soaked it in napisan overnight then a 30min bath in idophor.
And isn't it annoying when you go to run a hydro sample and the entire tap turns in the fermenter?

 

[Steve]

And isn't it annoying when you go to run a hydro sample and the entire tap turns in the fermenter?

extremely :lol:

 

[AUHEAMIC]

Hi Steve

Are you turning the taps to half open when you split them. I have found if you dont they get a mark/scratch in the bore and doing this repeatedly makes it worse.

 

[Steve]

Hi Steve

Are you turning the taps to half open when you split them. I have found if you dont they get a mark/scratch in the bore and doing this repeatedly makes it worse.

no I dont do that peels....soon as I see a bit of scuffing I buy a new one....its not that that ***** me its them shrinking that does me head in.

 

[TidalPete]

My white plastic fermenter taps give me the *****. I split them to clean with a toothbrush. When they are brand new then turn really nicely and split easily. Over a few brews its a real battle to get them back together and to turn. I have to bang them on the hard laundry floor. They go together easier if I soak them in boiling water. My question is why do they shrink? The obvious thing is not to split them but I like to get in and clean them. Anyone got any tricks? Or is it just me?
Cheers
Steve

Steve,

Give those taps the shove mate.
Look for the colourful "Beneficial" taps at your LHS. easy to dismantle, to clean, etc, although a little more expensive.
Or perhaps just spend $16 or so on an "Easy-Syphon", best of the lot IMHO.

:beer:

 

[Thunderlips]

Snap taps are the go and will last you ages.
They are designed to come apart so you can clean them and re-use them time and time again.
Here's what they look like.
http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/product_in...roducts_id=7424

 

[randyrob]

Snap taps are the go and will last you ages.
They are designed to come apart so you can clean them and re-use them time and time again.
Here's what they look like.
http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/product_in...roducts_id=7424

i thought that would be the go as well, but they don't fit on the coopers sytle fermenters (fatter shorter
as compared to taller narrower) the bit after the thread is a bit bulky.

Rob.

 

[Fents]

do you guys really pull all your taps apart and clean them with a toothbrush? :blink:

I have never pulled apart a tap in all my brews, admittley they get a good soaking but i never even knew you could pull em apart. we are talking bout the white half turn plastic taps yea?

 

[SJW]

do you guys really pull all your taps apart and clean them with a toothbrush?

No way. I just wait till they get all cruddy then dump em. I reckon 15 or 20 brews per tap is good value for $1 per tap.

Steve

 

[TidalPete]

Snap taps are the go and will last you ages.
They are designed to come apart so you can clean them and re-use them time and time again.
Here's what they look like.
http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/product_in...roducts_id=7424

For all of you who have not yet worked it out "Snap Taps" = "Beneficial" brand

:beer:

 

[Jerry]

do you guys really pull all your taps apart and clean them with a toothbrush? :blink:

I have never pulled apart a tap in all my brews, admittley they get a good soaking but i never even knew you could pull em apart. we are talking bout the white half turn plastic taps yea?

Fents,

I religiously pull my taps (white half turn plastic taps) apart after every brew.

The couple of times I've had an infection it came from the tap. This was before I started pulling them apart.

Cheers

Scott

 

[user 1153]

do you guys really pull all your taps apart and clean them with a toothbrush? :blink:

I've never bothered pulling them apart and I've never had a problem with bugs or nasties.

I just replace them every so often with new ones from Bunnings. They are dirt cheap.

 

[devo]

I would figure that by the time the taps at the stage where you feel you need to pull it apart it would also be a good option to go get some new taps!?!

they only cost about a $1.50ea so why bother pulling em apart.

BTW the snap taps are great.

 

[Tony]

i never pull them apart.

I just open them, spray through with a hose and drop them in the weak bleach solution in the firmenter.

does the trick

cheers

 

[devo]

dito

 

[Blackfish]

Snap taps are the go and will last you ages.
They are designed to come apart so you can clean them and re-use them time and time again.
Here's what they look like.
http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/product_in...roducts_id=7424

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

 

[Steve]

yes I am talking about the white , half turn ones....and yes after ive emptied the fermenter I pull em apart and clean them along with the grommets, airlock racking tube etc etc.....yes they are only about $1.50 from Bunnings, thats where I get mine from. I would use snap taps, but with a 2.5 yr old apprentice brewer that likes to play in the laundry with my gear they would prove far too tempting and easy to give it a snap.....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

 

[TidalPete]

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

No trouble with my (sanatised) plastic tubing just pushed up on the outside of the (sanatised) tap.

:beer:

 

[brettprevans]

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

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.). christ knows anythinf to speed up bottling Im interested in.