I hate my bottling bucket spigot....

Gremlyn · 07-09-2009, 03:25 PM

It dribbles and leaks when I have it open and there is seemingly nothing I can do about it! Would the plastic bucket be too curved or too thin to put a brass ball valve on there? Or is there a type/brand of bottling bucket spigot that doesn't suck?

r3dn3ckstyl3z · 07-09-2009, 03:26 PM

That's why i use a bottling wand and the end of my auto siphon

Arkador · 07-09-2009, 03:26 PM

I threw my bottling bucket away... I bottle using my autosiphon now. those spigots are hard to clean, and i was replacing it every 2-3 batches....

Gremlyn · 07-09-2009, 03:29 PM

I have the little wand dealy with the spring in it (just upgraded to that from the black one). That thing is great, but it just made my spigot leak more because the liquid could no longer leak out of the wand.

Found this on NB: Drum Tap - Buckets - Fermenting Equipment - Equipment

Anyone have any experience?

r3dn3ckstyl3z · 07-09-2009, 03:31 PM

I rack out of my secondary back into whatever empty primary i have. then from they siphon out of the bucket into my bottles via the bottling wand....

drunkatuw · 07-09-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gremlyn1

I have the little wand dealy with the spring in it (just upgraded to that from the black one). That thing is great, but it just made my spigot leak more because the liquid could no longer leak out of the wand.

Found this on NB: Drum Tap - Buckets - Fermenting Equipment - Equipment

Anyone have any experience?

I bought a couple bucket fermenters at midwest supplies that had drum taps. They don't leak, but I don't think they'd work for bottling. They require a 5/8" ID hose which is pretty big. When I would transfer my beer through the 5/8" hose, I would get a lot of splashing because the beer is moving so quickly and since it was moving so quick, a lot of trub was transfered to secondary.

If I could find a drum tap that took 3/8" hosing, I would definitely switch to that.

Gremlyn · 07-09-2009, 04:11 PM

I didn't even think about the tubing size, 5/8" would be way too big. So what about a brass ball valve then? Can always put a 90 degree bend right off the spigot and then the nipple to give the useful downward angle to the outlet. Hell, I could even put a pickup tube in there then to make sure I get it all out...

**IrregularPulse** · 07-09-2009, 04:31 PM

A brass ball valve would most likely be too heavy. Pick up a $15 Autpsiphon. IMO it's the best invention ever for brewing. Attach the bottling wand to the end of that. You have to have the BW pressed down to start the siphon, but thats not hard. This is how I did it when I used to bottle.

Gremlyn · 07-09-2009, 05:04 PM

Well that does seem to be the consensus for bottling around here, and it'd be helpful to have anyway. Thanks guys

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrregularPulse

A brass ball valve would most likely be too heavy. Pick up a $15 Autpsiphon. IMO it's the best invention ever for brewing. Attach the bottling wand to the end of that. You have to have the BW pressed down to start the siphon, but thats not hard. This is how I did it when I used to bottle.

BillyBeer · 07-09-2009, 07:51 PM

Ok so I am in the minority - I love my plastic spigot!!! I biggest thing I have learned is you just barely get it tight on the washer or it will leak. I use a small piece of tubing and put my bottling wand directly on the spigot. This has saved me tons of time and I no longer hate bottling. I also use a pvc 90 instead of a nut on the inside and it pulls all but a couple of ounces out of the bottle bucket.

I took most of this tips off of this thread:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/revvys-tips-bottler-first-time-otherwise-94812/

Go luck.