Faub007

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I had an idea to make an airlock that was clog proof. I get paranoid I am not cleaning my blowoff tubes well enough and wanted something I could scrub well inside and out. I really enjoy all of the discussion on this forum and read it daily.

I would be interested in what you guys think.

Cheers!

RScottyL

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Looks good! I would just want to make sure that the "floater" is not too heavy to not let out any gas!

I was about to make a comment before I saw where you are from because of the size of it, but I see that you ARE from Texas.

That is how we do things in Texas, make them bigger and better!

How funny!

day_trippr

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As far as "clog-ability", that 1/2" PCV would be a downgrade from the 1" ID vinyl tubing that is a press-fit inside my carboy necks. Otoh, those tubes are a bit of a pita to clean (it takes a soak and using a four foot long, stainless steel handled 1" tubing brush) where your short tubing would be a lot easier...

Cheers!

Hammy71

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Looks lik a neat idea. But, I guess it depends on what kinda blow off your getting. I've had some brews that would over fill that thing in a heartbeat. I clean my blow tubes with an old bottle brush. I cut off the 'bristle' part and crimped an old electrical cord to it. Soak the hose in hot water and Oxyclean, then snake the cord through the hose and pull. Voila!

Tiber_Brew

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Creative! Have you put it to use yet?

__________________
On tap:
1. Pilsner 2. Pale Ale 3. Porter 4. Saison 5.[Nitrogen] Dry Stout
Primary:
1. None 2. None 3. None 4. None 5. None
Secondary:
1. Lambic x2 2. Brett Ale 3. Thimbleberry Lambic x2
Bottled:
About 56 gallons of beer & 7.5 gallons of mead
Kegged & conditioning:
Porter, Saison, Pale Ale, Pilsner (lagering)


My 1/2 BBL electric HERMS build | Homemade hot sauce

Faub007

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I am making my pumpkin ale this weekend. I will post pics or a movie if I can.

wgb

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looks lovely, only suggestion/question i have is this: what about cutting some slits at the top or drilling some holes near the top of the 1" PVC so that if the blow-off is NOT super vigorous, it can still bubble out of your oversized bubbler without having to lift the bubbler... might solve RScottyL's concern.

would love to see pictures/video of it in action!

cheers,
Will

fluidmechanics

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Did you by a bung with a 3/4 inch hole or do you have a solution that is as creative as this airlock to connect to your carboy? Good work, cheers.

Faub007

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Hooked it up today. Not a real vigorous fermentation but seems to be working well.

I just cut out a regular instilled stopper. A bug would probably be a better idea though. Do you have any ideas on how to drill it out?

wgb

Recipes 

throw the bung in the freezer (may help to soak it first, not sure), hopefully being frozen will help it retain its shape better and make it easier to bore while reducing tearing.
I'd also make a pair of "jaws" for the vice so you dont deform the bung too much ( cut a bung-sized hole in a chunk of wood, cut the piece of wood in half so you end up with jaw pads that have nice half-circles, the blade kerf should be enough for grip pressure. )

(ideally you could just chuck the frozen bung in a lathe and bore out using drill chucked in the tail stock... but we dont all have a lathe lying around...)

i bet a coring bit would work better than a drill bit (less tearing of the rubber), but other than using a hole saw, not sure you could find one small enough.

hope thats helpful.