Sight Gauge - Parts?

[mobrien]

After the successful test of my new HLT on the weekend, its time to add a sight gauge. I looked at the ones on G&G and after I picked myself off the floor decided I could build one a bit cheaper than that!

I want to do it stainless. I assume what I want is some heat resistant polycarbonate tube, and a stainless right angle bend - probably 1/2" female bsb to compression fitting.

I'm in Brissy (well ipswich) - any ideas where to start? Because they need to mate, I think I need to get available sizes for compression side of the elbow, as well as the polycarb tube.

Am I on the right track? Any pointers in the right direction would be great

Matt

 

[RobW]

This was posted a while back

View attachment BYO_BuildaSightGlass.pdf

 

[RobW]

and Sosman's is here:

http://brewiki.org/BrewPot

 

[Jye]

Hey mobrien,

I got some 1/2" polycarb tube from "Acrylic Rod & Tube Supplies" and it fits perfectly into the standard 1/2" compression washer.

13 Brennan Street
Slacks Creek

Ph 07 3290 5621

 

[mobrien]

Thanks for the tips - Sosmans looks good - I can't download the BYO article - adobe tells me the file is damaged

I got some 1/2" polycarb tube from "Acrylic Rod & Tube Supplies" and it fits perfectly into the standard 1/2" compression washer.

13 Brennan Street
Slacks Creek

Ph 07 3290 5621

[post="102779"][/post]​

Acrylic rod and tube supplies don't exist any more They were my first port of call this morning. Now the number belongs to an interior decorators.

Trying random businesses in the Yellow Pages right now

Matt

 

[mobrien]

Righto - Acrylic Rod and Tube supplies do exist - diff number now, 32903978.

1/2" tube is $20.20 for 3m plus GST.

Also found some stainless elbows - 1/2" female BSP to 1/2 compression - $55 plus GST.

So assuming 500mm sight tube, looks like could do them for $64.20 inc GST.

So is anyone else interested in one? I could do 6 out of a length of tube.

Will try and find a cheaper elbow!

Matt

 

[RobW]

Try this one. The first one is off a network drive & I've found problems before with that.

View attachment BYO_BuildaSightGlass.pdf

 

[RobW]

doh! - is there an echo in here?

 

[Crazy]

Mobrien

Have you tried Midways at Yatala they should be a lot cheaper than that for the elbows or else mobs like SMC and Festo do all those fittings as airline fittings. I have plenty but they are all brass and plastic. If you wanted a couple to try just give me a call as they didn't cost me anything and they are what I use on my HLT.

Regards Derrick

 

[mobrien]

The price of the elbow was from Midway

I'm thinking brass might be the go - I can't justify $55 for an elbow when the brass one is $5! And at the end of the day, how much of it will be in contact with the water? not much!

M

 

[warrenlw63]

Put it this way. It (the water) has to come through some forms of brass via the garden tap to the HLT. What's a bit more brass going to do?

S/S is a nice option. However the price a lot of the time scares me. I've used brass parts for years and they're more than fine. :beerbang:

Warren -

 

[mobrien]

Exactly - although the water out of the tap isn't normally boiling - however today it seems to be here!

On another note - anyone else able to dowload and view either of the two documents above - I've tried on three comps on two networks, and none work

M

 

[warrenlw63]

Matt.

Try this one. Still had it on my computer.

Warren -

View attachment BYO_BuildaSightGlass.pdf

 

[Bobby]

doesnt work either...

 

[mobrien]

I couldn't get that one to work either - but found the original here:
http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...&hl=sight+glass

apparently I should have searched for "Sight glass" not "Sight gauge" on the forum!

M

 

[markws]

last week I went to T&S Valves (NSW) for a couple of SS 1/2" valves.

I purchased a 316 SS 3/8" elbow with compresion fitting for around $20.

Definately not as cheap as brass but SS is nice!!!! - so I purchased 1 to test drive of course!!!!!!

regards

MWS

 

[mobrien]

Thanks for the info Mark. I rang T&S the other day, and the guy got back to me finally - going to end up around $35 landed in Brisbane.

Think I might go the brass route - entire sight glass ends up costing around $10 with polycarb tube and brass fitting!

Will post photos when I've done it.

To the couple of guys who PM'd me about the tube - jobs right, pick it up tommorrow.

Matt