shortest weldless fitting (sticks into keggle least)?

nathan · 02-19-2009, 03:09 PM

Okay, my weldless fittings use a stainless coupler on the inside to receive a nipple from the outside (connected to the spigot).

The coupler is pretty long. I'd like to put on a few more spigots, but will want to have some elbowed copper pipes on the inside to make a whirlpool setup (permanent one).

I'd put these about halfway up the keggle, at the same height, spaced enough that their valve handles don't interfere with each other (or bend the one handle up). Looking into the keggle from the top, on the inside I'd like them to turn away from each other, using a short copper tube, copper elbow, and copper tube. One serves as outflow to the pump, one as return from pump, for making a whirlpool. To keep things neat, I wanted to have the shortest intrusion towards the center of the keg.

Anyone know maybe of a fitting that can jsut replace the coupler and have a compression fitting for the copper tubing on it?

mbird · 02-19-2009, 03:26 PM

I have valves with a 3/8" threaded compression. I don't use a coupling. I drilled a hole large enough for the threaded portion to go through the keg and use a compression nut on the inside to hold the copper tubing, on the outside of the keg is a rubber washer.
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nathan · 02-19-2009, 03:39 PM

Do you have a part number or a picture of it?

mbird · 02-19-2009, 05:49 PM

I'm sorry, I mis-led you. The valve has a 1/2" thread and it threads onto a 3/8 comp x 1/2 npt. adapter. So the adapter only has the threaded 3/8" portion going through the kettle. Both parts are standard at the hardware store. I can't give you a pic at this time as I am out of town.
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nathan · 02-19-2009, 05:56 PM

so you have the valve with a male thread on the kettle side? Or is it a nipple? Maybe a nipple welded in?

I'll go look at Lowe's this weekend and see what I can find. if I can get 1/2" npt female with 1/2" compression I should be set and just use it in place of the coupler.

**Bobby_M** · 02-19-2009, 07:31 PM

The cheapest way would be to use a copper male adapter with 1/2" NPT. Insert it NPT end first into a hole in the keg from the inside, use appropriate spacer washers to get the seals tight when you thread your valve on or use a locknut. You'd had to sweat your copper tubes in, but it's workable.

nathan · 02-19-2009, 07:34 PM

hrm, that might work, too, with a silicon washer behind the spacer washer. I wonder if the copper would be too soft for getting it really tight.

mbird · 02-19-2009, 08:10 PM

The adapter can be 1/2" male or female screwed onto the valve. a washer is pushed over the 3/8" compression threads then the 3/8" threads pushed thru the keg. Then on the inside of the keg attach the 3/8 compression nut. This nut pulls the adapter tight against the washer. If you attach a pick up tube, slide nut onto tube then slide on the ferrel on the tube, then screw nut to adapter. This will sinch up the tube and tighten the valve/adapter/washer to the outside of keg.
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Boerderij_Kabouter · 02-19-2009, 08:18 PM

For those reading this with a stainless adiction...

http://cgi.ebay.com/Swagelok-SS-810-8-8-1-2-Tube-OD-x-1-2-Female-Elbow_W0QQitemZ310038828474QQcmdZViewItemQQptZBI_L ab_Supplies

Stainless female to tube elbow. Great seller who is super easy to work with a shipping is combined and cheap. He has a bunch of other fittings in his store too.

nathan · 02-19-2009, 09:21 PM

SS-810-1-8 - SS Swagelok Tube Fitting, Male Connector, 1/2 in. Tube OD x 1/2 in. Male NPT

If I could find this in an elbow, it could thread directly into the female threaded spigot I have, and then just take a short section of straight cut 1/2" tubing. With a stainless washer and silicon washer on inside, should work... of course, if I can't find it in an elbow, I could just solder one up...