Any use for 50' of 1/4" copper tube

mattd2 · 02-25-2010, 08:31 PM

Hey,
I have 50' of 1/4" cooper tube that I scavaged, it is clean and unused. Also have a few comppression fittings to suit it. Is there anything that this could be usefull for or is it just too small to be of use?
Cheers

TopDog · 02-25-2010, 08:51 PM

It would make decent gas line for a multiple burner set up or for pilots. But 50' is a lot.

mattd2 · 02-25-2010, 09:09 PM

Yeah, I got 2 50' coils for running grease lines at work, only had a 2 hour shut to get the lines in so didn't want to have to try and find 3' of copper tube to finish the job (the plant was about $100k loss per hour if not running! for the $30 or whatever the tube cost it was good insurance!)
I was hoping to go electric if I ever get a brew rig started.
Might keep it if I ever try something with a fridge compressor to chill a fermenter ala Yuri

**bendavanza** · 02-26-2010, 11:08 AM

Maybe build a flash boiler using 4 1/4" coils that feed into a 1/2" in and out?

TheBeerNerd · 02-26-2010, 02:42 PM

Could throw together the DIY couterflow chiller from the project locator. Instructions call for 3/8 but a few have posted with good results using 1/4.

Or you could send it to me so I can build one

**djt17** · 02-26-2010, 03:15 PM

I made my wort chiller out of 1/4" tubing that I had laying around, about 25' I think. It works fine as long as I stir while chilling. I make smaller batches, (3.5 gal.), it takes about 25 min to go from boil to 70 deg.

**ReeseAllen** · 02-26-2010, 05:47 PM

If you choose to make it into a chiller, double up the coils. Most people use 3/8" tubing for chillers. Flow rate is partially dependent on the cross-sectional area of a tube, which increases proportional to the square of the diameter. 3/8" tubing has a cross-sectional area of 0.0351 in^2, neglecting wall thickness. 1/4" tubing is only 0.0156 in^2, again neglecting wall thickness. So going from 3/8" to 1/4" tubing, you reduce your diameter by 33% but your cross-sectional area drops by almost 50%.

**Bobby_M** · 02-26-2010, 05:59 PM

Yeah, two runs split at the input would be fine. It would require two compression tees or you can also drill two 1/4" holes in a 1/2" copper cap and solder them in. Then you can clamp your tubing to the cap.

**david_42** · 02-26-2010, 08:08 PM

My chiller is 50' of 1/4", single run. Although flow rate is important, I don't have any problem getting enough flow for a 15 minute chill.

**ReeseAllen** · 02-26-2010, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by david_42

My chiller is 50' of 1/4", single run. Although flow rate is important, I don't have any problem getting enough flow for a 15 minute chill.

Do you pump through the coil? I gravity feed wort through my CFC which has 25 feet of 3/8" tubing, and it takes a minimum of 15 minutes to get 5 gallons through. I'd imagine it'd take an hour if I was using smaller tubing and twice the length.