DIY Hop Cannon

[brewmeister13]

So I may be a little obsessed with hops. I may also be a little obsessed with eliminating oxygen post fermentation. So on a whim, I decided I'd build a homebrewer's hop cannon. Without further ado, here is the beaut:

After building this, I realized why I hadn't seen anyone do anything quite like this before; it can be quite pricy and took a special kind of stupid to undertake it. Anyways, here is a part list for those interested and some observations on adjustments I'd make to improve the design and method of using it.

-Tri-clover butterfly valve:https://www.brewershardware.com/1_5-Tri-Clover-Butterfly-Valve-Squeeze-Trigger-TC10VBFVST1.html?category_id=274
-Tri-clover to NPT: https://www.brewershardware.com/1_5-Tri-Clover-X-1-Male-NPT.html?category_id=270
-Full port ball valve: https://www.brewershardware.com/1-full-port-ball-valve.html
-Tri-clover clamp x2:https://www.brewershardware.com/1_5-Tri-Clover-Clamp.html?category_id=323
-Tri-clover gasket x2:https://www.brewershardware.com/1_5-Tri-Clover-Gasket-Silicone.html?category_id=330
-Stainless pipe nipple:https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Fitting-Nipple-Schedule-Welded/dp/B003JQJR10/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1494047187&sr=8-7&keywords=stainless+pipe+nipple+1%22
-Stainless tee:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GSKXGY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Stainless bushing x2 (basically a reducer):https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003LSSLXQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Pressure relief valve:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081TJHXI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-1/4" MFL to 1/4" MPT:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064OJCBY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Corny plug adapter:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004I855H8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Gas ball lock post:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EEB082K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This setup holds just about 3 oz of hops.

Now I didn't specify sizes for a reason. I built mine using 1" fittings for everything. However, in the future I would increase everything from the tri-clover to npt fitting on up to 1.5". 1" is just a tad too small. For my setup to work you would have to crush up the pellet hops prior to putting them in. They get caught up on some of the fittings and stick otherwise due to the small sizing. Do not, however, create a bottle neck (i.e. go from 3" piping to a 1.5" butterfly valve) or the hops will stick. Heck, the hops may stick in the butterfly valve if not mashed or chopped prior anyways. I haven't gotten to take this bad boy for a test run yet, seeing as I don't have a conical yet (see there's that special kind of stupid for you), so I can't say for sure.

Also, I built this assuming that I'll be getting a Spike conical when they come out and using it on the 1.5" tri-clover port. If using another conical with a different size port you could use a reducer, that brewer's hardware sells (https://www.brewershardware.com/Sanitary-Fittings/Concentric-Reducers/), or simply increase the size of the fittings. Do not, however, create a bottle neck or the hops will stick.

Finally, the butterfly valve is not 100% necessary. I included it so I could seal off the fermenter while changing out fittings. I figured, why go through all the trouble of building a hop cannon if you're just going to expose the contents to oxygen every time you use it. I also used the pricy butterfly valve instead of simply using a tri-clover ball valve incase blowoff goes through it, basically to have something easy to sanitize, but you could go with ball valve to save some money.

Operation is fairly easy. Crush up your hops (I used a food processor), close the ball lock, hook up to the butterfly valve on the conical, open the ball valve, pressurize the cannon and relieve pressure a few times to vent out a majority of oxygen. Then open up the butterfly valve and hit it with a quick burst of co2 to blow out any stuck hops. When using the pressure relief valve with hops in the cannon you also have to go real slow or it will shoot them out the tiny holes and can get stuck.

Anyways, if you've made it this far you're probably as obsessed as I am. I'd love feedback and any suggestions for improvement or questions.

 

[DasBierBaron]

I was thinking of doing this with just a 1.5" butterfly valve, 1.5" TC tube, and TC to ball lock adapter. Add the hops, attach the ball lock adapter, pressurize, purge using a spare ball lock quick disconnect, etc. then open the butterfly valve to drop in the purged hops.

 

[brewmeister13]

Yup, that definitely sounds easier.:smack:

 

[Eric Bourlet]

So I may be a little obsessed with hops. I may also be a little obsessed with eliminating oxygen post fermentation. So on a whim, I decided I'd build a homebrewer's hop cannon. Without further ado, here is the beaut:

After building this, I realized why I hadn't seen anyone do anything quite like this before; it can be quite pricy and took a special kind of stupid to undertake it. Anyways, here is a part list for those interested and some observations on adjustments I'd make to improve the design and method of using it.

-Tri-clover butterfly valve:Brewers Hardware 1.5" Tri Clover Compatible Butterfly Valve - Squeeze Trigger
-Tri-clover to NPT: Brewers Hardware 1.5" Tri Clover Compatible X 1" Male NPT
-Full port ball valve: 1" Stainless Ball Valve from Brewers Hardware
-Tri-clover clamp x2:https://www.brewershardware.com/1_5-Tri-Clover-Clamp.html?category_id=323
-Tri-clover gasket x2:https://www.brewershardware.com/1_5-Tri-Clover-Gasket-Silicone.html?category_id=330
-Stainless pipe nipple:https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Fitting-Nipple-Schedule-Welded/dp/B003JQJR10/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1494047187&sr=8-7&keywords=stainless+pipe+nipple+1%22
-Stainless tee:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003GSKXGY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Stainless bushing x2 (basically a reducer):https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003LSSLXQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Pressure relief valve:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0081TJHXI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-1/4" MFL to 1/4" MPT:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0064OJCBY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Corny plug adapter:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004I855H8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-Gas ball lock post:https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01EEB082K/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This setup holds just about 3 oz of hops.

Now I didn't specify sizes for a reason. I built mine using 1" fittings for everything. However, in the future I would increase everything from the tri-clover to npt fitting on up to 1.5". 1" is just a tad too small. For my setup to work you would have to crush up the pellet hops prior to putting them in. They get caught up on some of the fittings and stick otherwise due to the small sizing. Do not, however, create a bottle neck (i.e. go from 3" piping to a 1.5" butterfly valve) or the hops will stick. Heck, the hops may stick in the butterfly valve if not mashed or chopped prior anyways. I haven't gotten to take this bad boy for a test run yet, seeing as I don't have a conical yet (see there's that special kind of stupid for you), so I can't say for sure.

Also, I built this assuming that I'll be getting a Spike conical when they come out and using it on the 1.5" tri-clover port. If using another conical with a different size port you could use a reducer, that brewer's hardware sells (https://www.brewershardware.com/Sanitary-Fittings/Concentric-Reducers/), or simply increase the size of the fittings. Do not, however, create a bottle neck or the hops will stick.

Finally, the butterfly valve is not 100% necessary. I included it so I could seal off the fermenter while changing out fittings. I figured, why go through all the trouble of building a hop cannon if you're just going to expose the contents to oxygen every time you use it. I also used the pricy butterfly valve instead of simply using a tri-clover ball valve incase blowoff goes through it, basically to have something easy to sanitize, but you could go with ball valve to save some money.

Operation is fairly easy. Crush up your hops (I used a food processor), close the ball lock, hook up to the butterfly valve on the conical, open the ball valve, pressurize the cannon and relieve pressure a few times to vent out a majority of oxygen. Then open up the butterfly valve and hit it with a quick burst of co2 to blow out any stuck hops. When using the pressure relief valve with hops in the cannon you also have to go real slow or it will shoot them out the tiny holes and can get stuck.

Anyways, if you've made it this far you're probably as obsessed as I am. I'd love feedback and any suggestions for improvement or questions.

Do you have a link to the photo?