Blichmann Beer Gun or is it?

[mbbransc]

@Gnomebrewer - do you have all your threads taped? I figured I'd take it apart and tape all the connections before hooking up CO2.

 

[Gnomebrewer]

It's not the thread that leaks. It's where the liquid tube goes through the elbow.

 

[augiedoggy]

@Gnomebrewer - do you have all your threads taped? I figured I'd take it apart and tape all the connections before hooking up CO2.

there are no threads where he is talking about... Thats good info though. I will have to fix mine up with some teflon tape first.

 

[mbbransc]

@augiedoggy - O-Ring then? Or truly just a built-in right angle and no way to seal it? If that's the case, maybe I can find a comparable piece locally to replace it.

I'll just wait and see what I get.

 

[augiedoggy]

@augiedoggy - O-Ring then? Or truly just a built-in right angle and no way to seal it? If that's the case, maybe I can find a comparable piece locally to replace it.

I'll just wait and see what I get.

well I plan on just wrapping some teflon tape around the tube to make the seal better... it doesnt have to be air tight since most of the co2 will take the easy path to the end of the gun.

 

[DurtyChemist]

well I plan on just wrapping some teflon tape around the tube to make the seal better... it doesnt have to be air tight since most of the co2 will take the easy path to the end of the gun.

Blichmann actually says CO2 leaking from the brass fitting is common. Beer shouldn't leak from the hose connected on the top. I'd say that would be the difference of metric and SAE sizing more than a design flaw.

 

[mbbransc]

Boy, don't order from China if you're in any hurry at all. Ordered OCT 15. Nearly 7 wks later, I finally received it.

 

[augiedoggy]

Boy, don't order from China if you're in any hurry at all. Ordered OCT 15. Nearly 7 wks later, I finally received it.

I dont think its fair to sterotype all the sellers in china as the same. I think it would be more helpful if you posted the name of the seller or post a link so those in a hurry can avoid them.

I know the seller I posted a link to on the first page of this thread shipped the item very quickly and I received it in less than two weeks if it helps anyone in a hurry to get it.

 

[mbbransc]

ISIS blowing stuff up everywhere probably doesn't help.

 

[1977Brewer]

ISIS blowing stuff up everywhere probably doesn't help.

Not really tho.

 

[mbbransc]

Really? You don't think Customs is a bit more thorough these days? That's what I attribute the delay to. 3days after ordering is got shipping notice. My original comment was a wide brush about ordering from China because of delays I consider the product of the current terrorists threatening every country in the world, including USA specifically.

 

[augiedoggy]

ISIS blowing stuff up everywhere probably doesn't help.

Dont get me started... I have to travel to Belgium Saturday for a couple weeks for work... Normally I would be thrilled but all this crap going on is really raining on my parade.

 

[mbbransc]

Here is a link to the beergun I ordered. Be warned, mine did not come with the extra rubber tip as shown here.

I'm making an assumption that the Blichmann tips will fit and will pick up a couple spares. In just handling it, it feels very secure.

 

[augiedoggy]

Really? You don't think Customs is a bit more thorough these days? That's what I attribute the delay to. 3days after ordering is got shipping notice. My original comment was a wide brush about ordering from China because of delays I consider the product of the current terrorists threatening every country in the world, including USA specifically.

Well I did order mine a couple months ago... I get stuff from overseas delivered to me like every other day... I just received some led lightbulbs I ordered 18 days earlier and I got a new amp,volt,watt meter Saturday that took less than 2 weeks to get to me.

So customs may be holding up more packages but it seems some still go through in a timely fashion.

I just learned something that really surprised me. Aliexpess had an early "black friday" sale when I ordered my bulbs and according to a news broadcast on the radio they did like 8 times more revenue in sales than amazon or ebay did with thier sales.... In this day and age I estimate around 80% of all products we Americans use originate in china regardless if we buy direct or not. customs has their hands full

 

[augiedoggy]

Here is a link to the beergun I ordered. Be warned, mine did not come with the extra rubber tip as shown here.

I'm making an assumption that the Blichmann tips will fit and will pick up a couple spares. In just handling it, it feels very secure.

Mine didnt come with the cleaning brush but it came with the beer and air line and an extra tip which I almost tossed not seeing them all taped up in the bubble wrap so well they were hidden.
http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-...-Free-shipping-by-ePACKAT-to/32294349177.html

 

[mbbransc]

I got the cleaning brush, but no hoses or extra tips.

 

[Rivenin]

Don't know if ti matters... but thought i'd throw this out there.

the CO2 area on the back (at least on the blichmann) is a 1/4 thread.

I just use a 1/4"x1/4" barb and connect it to my CO2 lines instead of trying to hook up anything crazy. Takes a few seconds to take out the barb to the QD on the pinlock and shove that in and tighten it down.

 

[augiedoggy]

Don't know if ti matters... but thought i'd throw this out there.

the CO2 area on the back (at least on the blichmann) is a 1/4 thread.

I just use a 1/4"x1/4" barb and connect it to my CO2 lines instead of trying to hook up anything crazy. Takes a few seconds to take out the barb to the QD on the pinlock and shove that in and tighten it down.

I think you mean the bottom right? The co2 fitting is the 1/4" fitting at the bottom base below the trigger.... The fitting at the back (rear)of the gun is the liquid beer line fitting?

 

[mbbransc]

Finally got to use this thing Friday night. Bottled 4-cases and the thing was near flawless. I wrapped tape a little thicker than I normally do to get rid of a persistent CO2 leak but it was fine after that. I had my pressure set to 4-5psi with a 10' beverage line. About 5 bottles total had some foaming issues and ended up under filled. A couple bottles I got too full. But over all, a huge success. It doesn't go as fast as I would have thought though. And setup take some time.

 

[augiedoggy]

I plan on filling a few 6 packs to give out on Christmas so mine will get used then...

 

[DurtyChemist]

I think you mean the bottom right? The co2 fitting is the 1/4" fitting at the bottom base below the trigger.... The fitting at the back (rear)of the gun is the liquid beer line fitting?

I'd say the air connection is the back of the beer gun and the liquid is the top because I'm looking at it as the bottle is being filled not sitting in the box. Depending how you fill the gas line is front/back and liquid will always be top. I'd never tell someone to hook up the liquid line to the back of the beer gun but I think it's just how you orient yourself. Similar to saying "driver/passenger side" of a vehicle. It changes if you're looking at the ending or in the driver seat.

 

[augiedoggy]

I'd say the air connection is the back of the beer gun and the liquid is the top because I'm looking at it as the bottle is being filled not sitting in the box. Depending how you fill the gas line is front/back and liquid will always be top. I'd never tell someone to hook up the liquid line to the back of the beer gun but I think it's just how you orient yourself. Similar to saying "driver/passenger side" of a vehicle. It changes if you're looking at the ending or in the driver seat.

I see... im looking as being held in your hand regardless of orientation. Just as many would any other gun .. back would be behind your hand and the base/ bottom would be the bottom of your hand...

 

[ccfoo242]

At least part of the beer gun is patented by Blichmann so to those claiming he just buys someone else's stuff I think you're wrong. It's more likely that the product was copied. Aliexpress has all sorts of bootleg items.

 

[augiedoggy]

At least part of the beer gun is patented by Blichmann so to those claiming he just buys someone else's stuff I think you're wrong. It's more likely that the product was copied. Aliexpress has all sorts of bootleg items.

I didnt say he always has others manufactuer things for him myself...I didnt think he invented it however he may have made improvements. It doesnt mean that he didnt have them made in china. just because he designed something doesnt mean he makes it right? He does source elsewhere with a lot of his stuff... like this "therminator" which I have yet to figure out why its an extra $100 in cost over other comparable plate chillers... Theres also nothing special about the conicals that toledo metal spinning makes for him or his kettles which he sources from china... they are all good quality yes but at a very high cost too.

The truth is when any inventor takes any idea to china to be manufactured you can bet that product will end up being sold direct as well. (china doesnt honor patents it seems) and in some cases it gives a good indication of how much things are marked up over where they need to be to make a decent profit. when you break down something as simple as a beergun $80 is really a lot of money to be charging for its components. afterall the manufacturers in china are not giving them away at $40 without profit right?

 

[AnOldUR]

If Blichmann didn't spend money on sales and marketing, you wouldn't have thought to google it for another source.

 

[augiedoggy]

If Blichmann didn't spend money on sales and marketing, you wouldn't have thought to google it for another source.

I suppose, except the beer gun is the only thing they had any part in inventing right?

I would have googled bottle filler myself..

The rest like the boil coil and tower of power are just expensive versions or what people have been using for years... the boil coil is just a glorifed electric smoker element sold for like 10 times the manufacturing price.

 

[XPLSV]

At least part of the beer gun is patented by Blichmann so to those claiming he just buys someone else's stuff I think you're wrong. It's more likely that the product was copied. Aliexpress has all sorts of bootleg items.

Last Christmas, I bought my son a Spyderco Para-Military2 for roughly $125. I had read about counterfeit versions being sold on Aliexprss and bought one of those for $15 (shipped) just for comparison. The counterfeit one is not marked or advertised as such, comes in an identical box, and has nearly identical paperwork...one grammar error on the counterfeit paperwork. Had the same Spyderco markings on the blade. I don't know that I could tell them apart if given a single one of them to view. Side by side, the true Spyderco has a smoother closing function. I'm sure the steel is crap on the knockoff. I'm willing to bet a lot of people buy this stuff of Aliexpress and then resell on ebay as genuine items. That said, I don't think you can make a steadfast rule on a generic or a knockoff item quality until you actually get it in your hands. Sometimes, only the packaging is changed. Other times, the quality may not be there, be it in fit/finish or in materials.

 

[augiedoggy]

I would like to add that if you buy a new Blichmann beer gun today you will not get the same style gun as a year ago... you will get the Kegking style gun which blichmann either copied or just switched suppliers to buy from the same company selling these guns for as little as $19.99 now on ali.
In short, Blichmanns guns used to have a different tip than the clones now they sell the exact same gun as clones, same tip and all. (because the tip design on the clones was a better design) just at the same old much higher prices, why? they were always cheaply made in china so... at least before it wasnt so transparent how much they were really overcharging.

My $40 Australian kegking brand beergun still works as good now as when I bought it... It took a couple times before I learned how to use it better so the bottles didnt go flat though.

Thier ideas or not they just charge too much for the stuff... I recently bought all the components and built my own quick carb unit for $65... this is with paying the higher retail prices for all the components... I know they are likely making at least $80- 100 profit off each one they sell. you cant criticize someone else who decides to offer something comparable or similiar for much more reasonable prices...

Do you see people complaining when the generic version of the overpriced medicines they have to pay for complain when they come out and everyone including the original developer of the drug lower their prices now that they dont have a monopoly?