Plastic Fermenter Taps

[UsernameTaken]

I am wondering if everyone fermenting in plastic is happy with the regular fermenter taps or uses something else?

I find they often have flaky bits of plastic on the end that beer gets stuck on after taking samples.

Also they can be stiff to open and a pain when the whole thing turns rather than just the open valve.

Thoughts?

Cheers,
UNT

 

[P!N20]

Happy with mine. As mentioned in another thread, I replaced the square section o-rings with round section o-rings and found you can get the tap heaps tighter, which eliminates the tap turning when you're taking samples.

Just hit the flaky bits with a bit of sandpaper.

 

[timmi9191]

I got infections from the taps from not pulling apart and cleaning thoroughly. I then moved to a siphon in preference to the taps to avoid the risk of infection. Then moved back to taps as I found I was experiencing the effects of oxygenation from the siphon.

Make sure you pull the taps apart and clean between brews!!

Now moved to stainless, praise the lord :beerbang: :beerbang: :beerbang:

 

[sp0rk]

Just hit the flaky bits with a bit of sandpaper.

Don't use sandpaper, it leaves little ridges for nasties to hide in
use a super sharp scalpel and scrape away the dags

 

[UsernameTaken]

Well I just trashed one tap trying to take it apart!

How exactly am I supposed to do that?

Cheers,
UNT

 

[find_another_slave]

Well I just trashed one tap trying to take it apart!

How exactly am I supposed to do that?

Cheers,
UNT

http://aussiehomebrewer.com/topic/10484-cleaning-fermenter-taps/

OR just buy new ones... B)

 

[damoninja]

You can rip them apart by getting a blunt rod down it and jamming it on the ground, the centre part will come away from the outer. This does ruin them eventually but they're $2 from bunnings

If you have troubles with this you can also boil them, they're HDPE it won't hurt the plastic.

 

[UsernameTaken]

All good now thanks. I will buy new ones and I have practiced pulling them apart on the old ones!

Sharp scalpel to remove dags and replacing square section o rings with round section!

Cheers,
UNT

 

[timmi9191]

Well I just trashed one tap trying to take it apart!

How exactly am I supposed to do that?

Cheers,
UNT

Put in a pot of warm/hot water to loosen it up. Get a wooden spoon or similar with a blunt end. Bang it on the ground or hard bench while holding the outer part and it should pop right out.

Clean it. then put back into the warm/hot water and bang it back in.

 

[earle]

Where are people sourcing the round section o-rings from?

 

[P!N20]

^ A popular hardware store chain. You'll end up with heaps of different sizes, but there should be about four that fit.

https://www.bunnings.com.au/kinetic-assorted-sizes-o-ring-kit-43-pack_p4920305

 

[Batz]

Use these, they easily just screw apart for cleaning and sanitation.

http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=4443

 

[Matplat]

Yeah, I found that taps would never work as freely after taking them apart. So I just rinse them thoroughly, and then steam them on the stove before use.

Might head to craft brewer for one of those snap taps though.....

 

[Batz]

Snap taps are sold in many places, camping stores etc.

http://www.grainandgrape.com.au/products/category/search/7TAP%20SNAP%20TAP--fermenter-accessories-drum-tap-snap-tap

 

[UsernameTaken]

How are they for attaching hoses for packaging?

Looks like that might be a bit unstable?

Cheers,
UNT

 

[crowmanz]

I use the regular taps on my bunnings fermenters, cut the dags with a sharp knife. Pull apart for cleaning and starsan, then hit with keg lube so they turn with ease

 

[Batz]

How are they for attaching hoses for packaging?

Looks like that might be a bit unstable?

Cheers,
UNT

The tube from the 'little bottler' goes into them, hose attached to the tube.

 

[Matplat]

The tube from the 'little bottler' goes into them, hose attached to the tube.

Whats a 'Little bottler'?

I thought this might have been a homebrew specific snap tap, because I used to have a snap tap, but it was too small to fit a normal bottling tube into. I drilled it out so the tube fit, but then the seal leaked.

 

[P!N20]

^ I was wondering the same, one of these? http://www.goodlifehomebrew.com/en/little-bottler

My bottling wand doesn't fit into the snap tap, think it was from a Brewcraft kit.

 

[Vini2ton]

Just use a bit of sandpaper on the bottling wand. I've been using standard taps for ages with no issues other than the standard they **** me issues. Bought a snaptap to try out and man, what a revelation. Love em. Australian made too.