$3.52 eye sight

[Ravenshead]

Okay, you guys are making me nervous. I built two site glasses out of broken racking canes and some brass plumbing fixtures. They've servived two brew sessions and a full length H2O checkout run (including one 10 gallon batch in 90 deg weather) without any apparent damage. The bottom of the racking cane on both of them is at about the 5 gallon mark so they may be protected from the heat. I also use a small (5X7) heat sheild for the BK.

Based on previous success shoul I be worried?

 

[Revvy]

Well, your racking canes are being contained in the copper. Have you actually touched the plastic part of it during a long boil to see if it's softened? My buddie's was free standing and being held at the top by and eyelet, and it wasn't encased in metal.

His started to flop like a wet noodle. Yours may be as soft as his got, but it's being held into place. I would seriously finger the plastic during the boil to see how soft it is getting in there.

 

[Ravenshead]

I haven't actually touched them but I have taken them apart and saw no deformation. I'll probably buy a Bobby M special eventually. I built these because it was fun not really to save cost. In the meantime, these will see at least one more brew--The Little Sumpin Sumpin recipe is out and I'm not waitin' on the mail.

 

[samc]

The Little Sumpin Sumpin recipe is out and I'm not waitin' on the mail.

How close are you sticking to that recipe? And if you are sticking to it where are you getting your hops? Thanks.

btw - Bargain fittings sightglass or Bobby's are worth the $$$. - just to get back on topic!

 

[JuanMoore]

I haven't actually touched them but I have taken them apart and saw no deformation. I'll probably buy a Bobby M special eventually. I built these because it was fun not really to save cost. In the meantime, these will see at least one more brew--The Little Sumpin Sumpin recipe is out and I'm not waitin' on the mail.

Bobby's fittings are great, but you could also just replace the racking cane with polcarb tubing like was linked at the start of this thread. I can't tell what type of plastic you have connected to the brass, but it could probably be replaced with a brass fitting if you're worried about it.

 

[Ravenshead]

As far as the plastic fittings go, I think they are just plain old NSF 61 PVC. I don't know what the heat rating is on them, that's why I did a full scale boil test before brewing.

Also, I used plain-old black o-rings that don't seem to be giving me any trouble either. I assume I shoud have used red ones for high temp. I may take the BK apart this afternoon and inspect them for damage.

samc: I will be sticking to the recipe and since I'm in a hurry I'm going to pony up and buy everything from the LBHS. I just started brewing last feb and I haven't built up a stock of bulk supplies yet. That will change soon.

EDIT: Looks like CPVC is rated to about 180 deg.

EDIT 2: They're polypropylene apparently good over 250 deg. The Acrylic racking canes are still an issue though.

 

[Bobby_M]

Racking canes are almost always made of Acrylic rather than Polycarbonate.

Heat Resistance - The maximum "continuous service temperature" of acrylic is between 180 degrees F and 200 degrees F depending on the particular use. This means that while the material can withstand higher temperatures for very short periods of time, it will soften and lose its form or shape if subjected to these higher temperatures for any period of time.

 

[Ravenshead]

Bobby M

I just saw this at your store "Sightglass with Threaded Bushing". I forsee you shipping two of these to Houston soon.