Wort chiller with press fitting

[Joesf35]

Ok, this addicting hobby is starting to dip into my son's diaper money! I have to wrap him in old tshirts.

Trying to make a wort chiller with a precooler, to take down the temp of the ground water. I can get 50ft of 3/8 copper tubing for $40.
Question is, does anyone know of a press fitting for cooper that will mate with a hose? I can't afford any brazing equipment. Thanks.

 

[zepolmot]

My LHBS sells a chiller that has regular tubing connecting the chiller to the water supply and a hose connect on the other end, seems like its a common item at a plumbing store. I imagine that would be a cheaper solution than trying to mate something directly to the copper piping. http://morebeer.com/view_product/19514/102205/Efficient_Wort_Chiller-_25_x_3_8%22_With_Tubing

 

[DeafSmith]

Ok, this addicting hobby is starting to dip into my son's diaper money! I have to wrap him in old tshirts.

Trying to make a wort chiller with a precooler, to take down the temp of the ground water. I can get 50ft of 3/8 copper tubing for $40.
Question is, does anyone know of a press fitting for cooper that will mate with a hose? I can't afford any brazing equipment. Thanks.

A lot of people use compression fittings, but IMO due to the small ID of the fitting they restrict the flow too much. I found some brass barb to garden hose fittings at Lowe's - slipped the barb end OVER the tubing and soldered it with a propane torch. I used lead free solder because I already had it, but I suppose it's not really needed if it never comes in contact with the wort. I used two male garden hose fittings because I connect to my faucet with a washing machine hose - if you want to use garden hoses on input and output you'll need one male and one female fitting.
I used to use a prechiller, but have found that after I get the wort down to 80 or 90 degrees F (depending on the season) with tap water, it's more effective to fill my mash tun with ice water and recirculate it through the chiller with my pump.

 

[Joesf35]

I think I'll give the tubing a try. Water pressure is pretty high here. Using a pump for the ice water would be ideal but it would add cost.
Thanks