DIY weldless thermometer for $15!!??

The Pol · 02-21-2007, 02:37 PM

Here is my idea, please chime in. Use a 3/8" brass nipple that is 1-1/2" in length to go through the cooler wall, seal with a brass or SS nut, washer and rubber grommet INSIDE the cooler. Tighten from the outside with another brass or SS nut. Purchase a simple $10 meat thermometer and pack say, 5 small rubber grommets onto the stem, insert stem and grommets INTO the brass nipple for a snug fit! 4-5 grommets, fitting snugly, should seal it up tight... anyone done this? Built your own? Beats $50 for a threaded brew thermometer and bulkhead.

**olllllo** · 02-21-2007, 02:54 PM

There's a Bobby_M post with a similar idea.

ETA Here:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f11/probe-thermometers-keggle-22133/

**Dude** · 02-21-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by olllllo

There's a Bobby_M post with a similar idea.

ETA Here:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22133

Man...you are like the GURU of archived posts.

fifelee · 02-21-2007, 08:17 PM

Instead of the nut on the outside use a coupling or even better a compression fitting (that fits your thermometer) with a female 3/8 NPT (page 158 & 159 in McMaster). Then you have that same connection style Bobby_M has in the above link.

The Pol · 02-22-2007, 04:21 AM

Will do, sounds like a good idea and a more frugal alternative to the mass produced bulkheads.

fifelee · 02-22-2007, 10:01 AM

Now that I think about it, putting the fitting on the inside might be better for a mash tun. Won't fill the nipple with grain you'll have to dig out. Also, I was cruising McMaster and found cheaper female NPT fittings on pg 147. Might find them at the hardware store to. You could probably even go down to an 1/8 inch nipple so you can get a smaller (and cheaper) compression fitting and drill a smaller hole in your cooler.

The Pol · 02-22-2007, 02:44 PM

Thanks I was looking at McMAster-Carr too. I will be home on Saturday and will hit up the hardware stores too. I have the bulkheads and ballvalves designed for $17 each and built, I just need the therms. THANKS

Nwcw2001 · 03-01-2007, 08:12 PM

here ya go guys!

this bad boy is no on my wish list!

http://breweryparts.com/detail.asp?n=853&market_id=2&category_id=187

It comes in 5" and 9" lengths!

John

mebugboy · 03-21-2007, 04:38 AM

I had the same frugal thought process.
My conclusion was to insert a male nipple (close) into the 1/2 inch FPT on the keg. I then carefully shaved down a # 2 (I think) stopper, so it was almost too tight to go into the inside of the nipple. I lubed with water and inserted it, then I capped all of this off with a 1/2 # brass cap that I had drilled a hole in the end just slightly bigger than needed for the thermometer. To insert the thermometer, drill a small hole into the stopper and insert the thermometer. No leaks after 6 mos. When it does start leaking, I'll replace the 29 cent stopper. To keep from hitting the probe, I drilled a bunch of holes into a 1/2 inch copper pipe and soldered to a nipple that threads into the inside of the nipple (hand tight for ease of cleaning)
FWIW

The Pol · 03-21-2007, 06:42 AM

Here it is, spent alot of time in a quandry over just how to do this simply and efficiently. What you see here is a 10 gallon tun, in which I drilled a 1" hole with a hole saw. I purchased some #5 1/2 SOLID stoppers, drilled them with a 3/16" drill (just so I could squeak the probe through) The stopper is installed on the inside so that water pressure only makes the seal stronger. Tested today with 10 gallons of head pressure and no sign of any leaks. $10 per tun baby.

http://s168.photobucket.com/albums/u189/PolTavern/

Pol