Where to get larger sight glass kits from?

[Kingy]

Im having trouble finding somewhere here in aus to buy a sight glass kit from. I can only find the biggest 16inch size which is only 400mm. My HLT is 600mm high. Anyone have any leads?
cheers

 

[Camo6]

You can make one pretty easily with a right angle 1/2" comp fitting, a piece of 1/2" polycarbonate tube and an flat strip of aluminium as a scale. That's how I've made mine in the past.

 

[MastersBrewery]

I'm doing what Camo6 has suggested; have the comp fitting, have found a source for the polycarb tubing though it only comes in 3m lengths so going to have to grab that. It costs around $20 a meter happy to share with any one and order more if people need. If we get a decent response might start a BB.

MB

 

[MHB]

Kingy
Specialised Wholesale in Verulam Rd Lambton sell Polycarbonate tube.
I think they cut to length.
Mark

 

[mofox1]

It's possible not all polycarbonate is made equal...

I got some from polycarb from a local plastics joint but after a couple of hot perc cycles in the kettle, I noticed lots of little cracks in the material near the base. I replaced with some ordered on amazon and it's still going strong.

I did a "bash" test by scientifically applying a hammer to a couple of pieced of off cuts from both (both unused), and repeated the test with a hot perc soak of the plastic before re-applying hammer.

The local polycarb fared the same in the initial test (basically just squished until the sides split) but was noticeably more brittle in the second. You may want to enquire about chemical/oxidising resistance prior to purchase.

It's a bit of a bummer, the one shipped from the US was cheaper and better quality than local

 

[Yob]

Why not just use silicone tube?

Swat mine is, couple of 90' barbs and you're there.. Can hit that **** with a hammer all night

 

[Camo6]

I only have a sight glass on my HLT so it never sees any strong cleaners but I remember reading that they can affect the plastic. The one on my HLT showed no signs of deterioration after a couple of years of 78c temps of adjusted water.

MB, if you can find a place locally they often have a scraps collection for unused offcuts.

 

[Mardoo]

Can't you use the same sight glass for largers or ales? :blink:

 

[Kingy]

After a long time thinking I decided to use some silicone hose to rig up a sight silicone lol. And some white tape for the increment markings. Came up a treatView attachment 85504

 

[Kingy]

 

[Mr B]

Thats actually very nice, good job...

What kind of tape did you use?

Did you go by ruler/calculated measurement (rather then filling a litre or two at a time)?

 

[Kingy]

I used a white electrical tape I found at bunnings and my 100 litre pot is 6mm a litre. So I filled the pot a bit and drained untill the small 3-500ml dead space was left then filled with 15litres so the water was over the element and visible on the silicon hose. Then layed the tape on my steel rule and marked it out. Then sat it back on the hose in the right position. Filled it up and drained off differant amounts to check the calibration and all was sweet. I'm pretty happy with it.

 

[mofox1]

That's a damn nice pot kingy... Perfect dimensions for brewing. Where did you get it?

Also kudos to the bang up job... came up a treat!

 

[Kingy]

There the 100litre craftbrewer pots, think I'm going to get another one, there bloody good value for money.

 

[breakbeer]

Keg King just started selling large polycarb sight glasses, I bought one coz they're cheap as but I haven't installed it yet