Blow-off tubing: Junk or clean?

[JohnIA]

Hi all - I made a Dark Truth clone with starter that is usually very active. The first time I brewed it I used a bucket with a stopper with a steel blowoff cane. This last time that bucket was in-use and the only bucket I had had a 'tiny' standard-sized hole. Knowing that this beer would blow the heck out of an S airlock I jury-rigged a solution: I cut the tip off an S airlock and fit it into some 3/8" hosing to a blow-off jar of sanitizer. Sure enough it was a very vigorous fermentation and that hose is very, very 'mungy'. I have another week left of primary but was wondering how I can clean that tubing. With the cheap plastic of an S airlock I don't think I could get that tip out without destroying it. That being said:

1. Is there a way I can clean / sanitize the tubing with S-airlock "stub" reliably and without taking that stub out?

2. Going forward is there a standard piece I could use to attach my tubing to the small 3/8" hole without having to cut an airlock?

3. (Bonus) What's the best way to clean a metal blowoff cane? Dip each side in ABW for a few hours to let it kill anything inside? Should I not be concerned about it?

Thanks all! I'm new to this hobby but have definitely been bitten by the bug. All replies appreciated!

 

[Sailingeric]

I would recommend getting a big bucket. I use an 8 gallon brewcraft bucket and it has plenty of headroom to not have to worry about blow out with a 5 gallon batch.

As for cleaning, I usually keep my stuff with to water and then a good soak in Starsans and when I am ready to use again, another soak in Starsans. I have never used ABW so I am not sure how well it would sanitize.

 

[kh54s10]

Use a one piece airlock. The right size vinyl tubing fits right over the center part. Be sure to cut of the x on the tip that goes into the bung. I suggest the sanitation container be smaller with just enough to cover the end of the tube and put that in a pot that will catch any overflow.

 

[IslandLizard]

Blow off hoses can be cleaned, but you'd really need a 2' or 3' long (draw) brush. Now those are not easy to obtain in larger diameters other than 1/4" and 3/16".

I used to tie a wad of fabric on a thick fishing line and pull it through a few times back and forth in a sink with water and some detergent. Rinse and repeat if necessary.

Use a 3 piece airlock instead. A 1/2" ID hose slips right over the inner stem. If you happen to buy an older model, it may still have a star shaped restrictor molded into the bottom, which you'll need to cut off, or boom! When the fermentation subsides, replace tubing with the shuttle and the plastic lid.

What is ABW?

 

[NeoBrew]

I believe ABW would be alkaline brewery was. I don’t know much about it. They passed out packets of it last year at HomebrewCon. I assume it is a different brand of PBW.

I use the 3piece airlock shown above. I use a silicone hose. It is less susceptible to scratching. More importantly I can throw it in the pressure cooker after a few brews to sanitize it. It still won’t last forever, but I feel like it’s a better bet than the vinyl.

 

[Louz]

Why not just get the right size hose to fit in the bung and run it directly into the sanitation container without using a plastic airlock?

 

[kh54s10]

Why not just get the right size hose to fit in the bung and run it directly into the sanitation container without using a plastic airlock?

If the hole is the right size for an airlock the hose that will fit is too small and you risk having it clog up. If it is a bucket lid you could remove the rubber grommet then the tubing is larger but still a pain to remove the grommet then reinstall it.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

View attachment 564635 View attachment 564636 Use a one piece airlock. The right size vinyl tubing fits right over the center part. Be sure to cut of the x on the tip that goes into the bung. I suggest the sanitation container be smaller with just enough to cover the end of the tube and put that in a pot that will catch any overflow.

I do this too. As far as cleaning, I soaked my hose in water/oxyclean for about 30 minutes and it looked clean. To be sure, I tied a small nut onto one end of a string and a swatch of fabric to the other end. Drop the nut down through the hose, grab it at the other end and pull the fabric through to clean and/or dry. That may not work with the s-type nub in place, but you could switch to the 3 piece solution shown in the message I quoted.

 

[IslandLizard]

I believe ABW would be alkaline brewery was. I don’t know much about it. They passed out packets of it last year at HomebrewCon. I assume it is a different brand of PBW.

I use the 3piece airlock shown above. I use a silicone hose. It is less susceptible to scratching. More importantly I can throw it in the pressure cooker after a few brews to sanitize it. It still won’t last forever, but I feel like it’s a better bet than the vinyl.

Ah, someone trying to encroach onto Five Star's turf! Hope it's better priced and similar in performance.
$10-12 for a pound container of PBW is really pushing it, as is $8 a pound if bought in a 4# container. Come on! Even at our bulk grain buy, it runs a little under $4 a pound (buying a 50# bucket). I compound my own for about $2.50 a pound. 70% generic Oxiclean-free (or Sodium Percarbonate from Amazon, or so) and 30% TSP-90 (Ace, Amazon, etc.). Really, the ingredients are fairly cheap.

Silicone hose, wash clean, pressure cooker. Yup, makes sense!

Now since I've been keeping fermentation temps under tight control I haven't used a blow off in years. I've had one Belgian sputtering a little krausen out of the airlock. Some wheat yeasts can get aggressive too.

 

[Staticsouls]

+1 on silicon tubing not vinyl. I use a 3 piece airlock not s type, and remove the center and cap and slip 1/2 inch silicon tubing over to center part. No mods to airlock at all.

 

[kh54s10]

+1 on silicon tubing not vinyl. I use a 3 piece airlock not s type, and remove the center and cap and slip 1/2 inch silicon tubing over to center part. No mods to airlock at all.

I suggest you cut off the tip of the airlock where the molded in X is. If not, someday it will clog and you will blow the top, or bung, off your fermenter and have to clean the ceiling. This doesn't come from experience. I always use a blow off tube and have, on recommendation cut the x off my 3 piece airlocks.

 

[Staticsouls]

If you have the kind with that x molded into it, then yes.

 

[kh54s10]

If you have the kind with that x molded into it, then yes.

Sorry, I thought that they all had that. All of the ones that I have seen since 2011 when I started brewing have had the X. Several sources.

 

[Staticsouls]

Mine are branded "the vintage shop"

 

[Louz]

Mine are branded "the vintage shop"

Same here

 

[JohnIA]

I would recommend getting a big bucket. I use an 8 gallon brewcraft bucket and it has plenty of headroom to not have to worry about blow out with a 5 gallon batch.

As for cleaning, I usually keep my stuff with to water and then a good soak in Starsans and when I am ready to use again, another soak in Starsans. I have never used ABW so I am not sure how well it would sanitize.

Thank you! I have some bigger buckets but was hoping with those I could brew some higher volumes! Possible to get 6g safely into a 6.9g bucket?

 

[JohnIA]

Ah, someone trying to encroach onto Five Star's turf! Hope it's better priced and similar in performance.
$10-12 for a pound container of PBW is really pushing it, as is $8 a pound if bought in a 4# container. Come on! Even at our bulk grain buy, it runs a little under $4 a pound (buying a 50# bucket). I compound my own for about $2.50 a pound. 70% generic Oxiclean-free (or Sodium Percarbonate from Amazon, or so) and 30% TSP-90 (Ace, Amazon, etc.). Really, the ingredients are fairly cheap.

Silicone hose, wash clean, pressure cooker. Yup, makes sense!

Now since I've been keeping fermentation temps under tight control I haven't used a blow off in years. I've had one Belgian sputtering a little krausen out of the airlock. Some wheat yeasts can get aggressive too.

This was what the person who taught me how to brew a few months back told me to use: https://www.morebeer.com/products/craft-meister-alkaline-brewery-wash.html

 

[JohnIA]

View attachment 564635 View attachment 564636 Use a one piece airlock. The right size vinyl tubing fits right over the center part. Be sure to cut of the x on the tip that goes into the bung. I suggest the sanitation container be smaller with just enough to cover the end of the tube and put that in a pot that will catch any overflow.

Thank you for your help! This is perfect!