We no need no stinking beer gun... - Page 46

fezzman · 02-25-2010, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sea2summit3

Not sure if anyone has mentioned this yet... you can keep the racking cane from draining between fills by submerging the tip. You'll need a heavy/stable container (to prevent tipping from the weight of the beer gun). I used a 1 liter glass mug I got at a beer festival, and put a couple inches of Starsan solution in the bottom. If you transfer the cane fast enough, only a little beer drains out!

That's a great tip and I'll try that next time. I tried this for the first time Tuesday and would just balance the wand on the drip tray of my kegerator. I definitely have to fine tune my methods though. I filled a dozen bottles with little spillage but several near mishaps. I guess I should do it on a more sturdy surface than a small foot stool. lol

I sent 3 bottles off to a competition. I'm anxious to see if they mention my carbonation level and/or oxidation. I think I'm going to shorten my hose though. At 10 feet it was tedious to rinse afterwards.

thesanch · 03-02-2010, 07:14 AM

Not sure if others mentioned this previous or not, seeing as how I have not read through the entire thread. I used this method but instead of using a cut piece of racking cane, I just used the stopper along with a bottling wand. This made the process a little easier since you never had to worry about flipping the lever on the party tap faucet. Just pull the wand up and the flow stops.

Still hate bottling, but that's another thread.

Shaggyt · 03-08-2010, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesanch

I used this method but instead of using a cut piece of racking cane, I just used the stopper along with a bottling wand.

I tried this for the first time today and I used the bottling wand...worked pretty well though I could not compare it to the original method. Took a few bottles to get the hang of it...time will tell.

I also still hate bottling...mostly.

nostalgia · 03-19-2010, 12:42 AM

There have been some recent threads about folks having trouble with the BMBF, and I realized I've never posted this video in the thread.

This is my method, based on the BMBF. Instead of a picnic tap, I'm bottling right off my faucets. This is convenient for a few reasons: I can bottle at serving pressure, so no futzing with the regulator. I don't have to pull the kegs out of the kegerator or the quick-connects off the kegs, so it's quick. I also usually bottle 2-4 different beers at a time, so I'm not breaking and making a lot of connections.

The fitting for the Perlick taps came from Centerline Machining, but when I first started I just jammed a 1/2" hose over the end of the taps, which works too. Just don't forget the hose clamp!

[youtube]7IgVx3h5llA[/youtube]

I've had beers bottled around a year with this method and sent several of those to competitions, and none had bottle infection or carbonation issues.

If you get a few different sized stoppers it also works great for bottling in 1- and 2-liter soda bottles or growlers for bringing to parties. Or work.

-Joe

fezzman · 03-19-2010, 12:37 PM

Wow, I really like that fitting. I just fired off an email to find out on pricing. Brilliant.

**IrregularPulse** · 03-19-2010, 01:46 PM

So you don't have to do anything to your tank pressure??? I could leave it at my 10-12psi and use this bottle filler? This is gold.

nostalgia · 03-19-2010, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrregularPulse

So you don't have to do anything to your tank pressure??? I could leave it at my 10-12psi and use this bottle filler? This is gold.

That is exactly what I do, yes. You do have to be a little more vigilant about keeping good backpressure as you fill, but for me it's worth the convenience of not having to lower the pressure and vent the keg before filling. In my fridge setup it's very difficult to reach the kegs, especially at the back.

-Joe

fezzman · 03-19-2010, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostalgia

That is exactly what I do, yes. You do have to be a little more vigilant about keeping good backpressure as you fill, but for me it's worth the convenience of not having to lower the pressure and vent the keg before filling. In my fridge setup it's very difficult to reach the kegs, especially at the back.

-Joe

I wasn't able to watch the video because I'm at work and that link is blocked. Since there is already 10' of hose inside the kegerator, could I just use something short like 3' of hose for filling from the faucet?

**IrregularPulse** · 03-19-2010, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nostalgia

That is exactly what I do, yes. You do have to be a little more vigilant about keeping good backpressure as you fill, but for me it's worth the convenience of not having to lower the pressure and vent the keg before filling. In my fridge setup it's very difficult to reach the kegs, especially at the back.

-Joe

What do you mean by this? It's harder to hold stopper in or...?

**Yambor44** · 03-19-2010, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrregularPulse

What do you mean by this? It's harder to hold stopper in or...?

I think he means to just keep constant down pressure on the stopper. Then when the flow slows or stops you push in on the side/top to release a little pressure and it will flow again. Repeat until full. Usually 3-4 times. But always keep the stopper in and down.