How To Build A Pickup Tube?

[pokolbinguy]

Folks I want to put a pick-up tube in my kettle as the outlet is too high (it was there when I got the vessel) and I don't really want to have to put on in the bottom as I will have to make a frame to put it on to allow the outlet out the bottom (I hope this makes sense).

Anyway how should I go about making a pick-up tube??? The outlet is just a hole with no thread on the internal side?? Could I just get a short peice of copper pipe and "crimp" it to fit the hole and "jam" it in??? and then bend it to meet the bottom???

Any suggestions???

I did a search but couldnt come up with anything...could just be me though.

Cheers, folks.

Pok.

Hoping to get Ag'ing in the next few weeks....damn project taking a lifetime.

 

[reVoxAHB]

Anyway how should I go about making a pick-up tube??? The outlet is just a hole with no thread on the internal side?? Could I just get a short peice of copper pipe and "crimp" it to fit the hole and "jam" it in??? and then bend it to meet the bottom???

Hey pok, I'd be looking at installing something that can be screwed in and torn down for cleaning every now and again. You didn't mention if your outlet hole (w/ valve I would presume?) is welded to vessel? Can you snap a shot of the outlet in question in and out. Might be easier to advise.

reVox

 

[pokolbinguy]

Ahh sorry Revox. The outlet is welded in with a thread on the exterior to accommodate a ball valve. So the inside is just a hole....not thread etc. Does this make sense???

I'll got and try and take a photo. But don't have my dig camera...only mobile atm.

If all else fails I might have to build a stand to allow a outlet from the bottom. But then I have to go and buy a bundle of fittings etc (skin fitting, elbow, hose tails, ball valve etc...) and then will end up with two outlets basically

Pok

P.S that avatar of yours there Revox is pretty sexy hahaha

 

[Screwtop]

First, this might depend upon what the fitting is that is welded into your kettle, if it's a bush it might be possible to use an adaptor. If it's a nipple it may pay to have a 1/2" tank socket welded in, in place of what you have.

Screwy

 

[pokolbinguy]

Alrighty so I went and had a look....tried to take a photo but didnt work as the flash just reflected too much to make it clear...anyway from the inside all there is, is a hole ... looks like a 1/2"-1/4" nipple (with a 1/4" sized bore...what ever that would be) has been welded on...so the valve I have is 1/4".....does that make sense??

anyway no thread on the inside...just a hole....Could I possibly "jam" a piece of tube in to make this work??? and make it removable for cleaning??

I really dont want to have to get any welding done as I don't really know anyone that can do this, other wise I would just rather drill a hole in the bottom and install a weldless fitting like I have put in my HLT (Like this)

Pok

EDIT: Also any idea where to get a small length of copper pipe to do this...will only need like 100-200mm and don't want to have to buy heaps of it for such a small amount considering copper is so damn pricey.

 

[Yorg]

Really need a picture dude.
Cheers.

 

[rich_lamb]

When you say the outlet is just a hole - it that literal? Or is it a welded fitting with nothing on the internal side?
If it's just a hole then you could weld in a fitting, possibly with a threaded nut on the inside. I personally bought a weld-b-gone fitting which just screws together so I didn't have to weld (not that I couldn't weld, but couldn't be bothered).
Not sure if any of the HBS here stock the weld-b-gone kits; got mine from US.

If the outlet has something welded that has a thread on the outside you could maybe poke copper right through and attach it from the outside.

Or you could weld a pipe into the hole. Somebody may even suggest a nice tight silicon grommet, though I don't know where you'd get one.
Send a pic and we could probably be more specific.

 

[pokolbinguy]

Really need a picture dude.
Cheers.

When you say the outlet is just a hole - it that literal? Or is it a welded fitting with nothing on the internal side?

If the outlet has something welded that has a thread on the outside you could maybe poke copper right through and attach it from the outside.

Ok so below is some dodgey pictures I tried to take with my phone camera. My real digitial camera is currently OS with my old man so can't use that.

The hole is as "B&T" suggested a welded fitting with nothing on the internal side (no thread or similar). The threaded fitting on the outside that takes the ballvalve is 1/4" in size. Seems like a 1/2"-1/4" nipple has been welded to the vessel.

Anyway pics are:

Outside:

Inside:


Pok


EDIT: Edited pics....might help a bit.

 

[Frank]

The hole is as "B&T" suggested a welded fitting with nothing on the internal side (no thread or similar). The threaded fitting on the outside that takes the ballvalve is 1/4" in size. Seems like a 1/2"-1/4" nipple has been welded to the vessel.

I know you said it has no thread on the inside, but try undoing your nipple and tap and see if you can screw it in from the inside. You might be able to screw it into the external threads, through the wall. Make sure you remove the tap and nipple, not just try with the tap in place. You may have to share the thread with the tap if it works.

Edit: Just saw your edit photo. Is it a male thread or female thread welded to the kettle wall?

 

[pokolbinguy]

I know you said it has no thread on the inside, but try undoing your nipple and tap and see if you can screw it in from the inside. You might be able to screw it into the external threads, through the wall. Make sure you remove the tap and nipple, not just try with the tap in place. You may have to share the thread with the tap if it works.

Ok I have no idea what you mean by that...im lost. The 1/2"-1/4" nipple is welded to the wall of the vessel. My ball valve (1/4") then screws onto the 1/4" thread. The 1/2" end is the end welded to the vessel

EDIT. Just noticed your edit :lol: it is a male thread at both ends.

 

[Pumpy]

Folks I want to put a pick-up tube in my kettle as the outlet is too high (it was there when I got the vessel) and I don't really want to have to put on in the bottom as I will have to make a frame to put it on to allow the outlet out the bottom (I hope this makes sense).

Anyway how should I go about making a pick-up tube??? The outlet is just a hole with no thread on the internal side?? Could I just get a short peice of copper pipe and "crimp" it to fit the hole and "jam" it in??? and then bend it to meet the bottom???

Any suggestions???

I did a search but couldnt come up with anything...could just be me though.

Cheers, folks.

Pok.

Hoping to get Ag'ing in the next few weeks....damn project taking a lifetime.

Compression fitting ,straight piece of copper, bend, another little piece of copper, solder bend with food grade solder, too maintain syphon.
Otherwise the same around a false bottom as a Hop Stoppa.

Pumpy

 

[Frank]

EDIT. Just noticed your edit :lol: it is a male thread at both ends.

Ok. If it is a male thread, not female welded to the pot, then you might be struggling. It is unusual to weld a thread section like this, Beerbelly welds a socket (female) to the pot, this way you can still screw a nipple from both directions.
If you plan on jamming something in as suggested earlier, you will have to ensure it is air tight, to ensure a syphon is formed when the kettle is nearing empty. If air can enter the join, then you have gained nothing.

 

[the_fuzz]

Hey pumpy in Pic 1 you look to have a pickup tube and plumbing from the false bottom? Is this so the vessel can be used as either a mash tun or kettle? And I assume the other "pipe" is a thermowell?

 

[Tony]

Hi mate.

I think that 1/4 fitting may well be 3/4 by the looks of it. 1/4 bsp is about the dia of your little finger.

What your going to have to do is have the fitting either chopped off and a socket welded in so you can access a female thread inside and out for a ball valve out and a compression fitting in to hold the pick up tube.

Or cut it off and drill it out with a 22mm hole saw. This will fit a 1/2 bsp fittings thread perfectly.

I do this and screw the compression fittings male thread holding the pickup tube into the ball valves female thread. I put a ss washer on either side that is a snug fit over the thread and stops on the thread shoulder. A fiber washer inside each flat washer to seal on the keg walls inside and out and tighten it all up. It seales well and strips down easily for cleaning.

cheers

 

[Tony]

I have 2 lines to my kettle also.

One is for delivery of un boiled wort

One is for draining of boiled wort to the fermenter.

Never again shall the 2 meet

 

[pokolbinguy]

Or cut it off and drill it out with a 22mm hole saw. This will fit a 1/2 bsp fittings thread perfectly.

Hmm If I am to do this I might just drill a hole in the bottom and put a Skin fitting in and do what I have done with my HLT and drain from the bottom. Only problem is this could be an issue if I want to install a hopscreen......

On the other hand the idea of using a hole saw to make a new hole could be a good option. I can get my hands on a hole saw fairly easily.

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

Pok

 

[Screwtop]

Hmm If I am to do this I might just drill a hole in the bottom and put a Skin fitting in and do what I have done with my HLT and drain from the bottom. Only problem is this could be an issue if I want to install a hopscreen......

On the other hand the idea of using a hole saw to make a new hole could be a good option. I can get my hands on a hole saw fairly easily.

Thanks for all the help so far guys.

Pok

Would think that using a hole saw without being able to drill a hole to steady the bit would be a problem??

 

[pokolbinguy]

Would think that using a hole saw without being able to drill a hole to steady the bit would be a problem??

That just crossed my mind as you said it....maybe the drill bit would fit nicely in the bore of the fitting already there....might not aswell. Would have to be a decent sized brill bit on the hole saw

 

[Pumpy]

Hey pumpy in Pic 1 you look to have a pickup tube and plumbing from the false bottom? Is this so the vessel can be used as either a mash tun or kettle? And I assume the other "pipe" is a thermowell?

WWWH

I never thought of that, it is the same as the Mashtun and works on the same principle as the copper pick up tube on the right

the other pipe is the thermowell which allows me to remove the Dial thermometer to calibrate it whilst its full


Pumpy

 

[Screwtop]

That just crossed my mind as you said it....maybe the drill bit would fit nicely in the bore of the fitting already there....might not aswell. Would have to be a decent sized brill bit on the hole saw

Maybe the nipple would fit neatly inside the holesaw? Still the weld would be pretty hard to cut I would imagine. Probably best to suck it and see.