Chopping off Morebeers Ultimate sparge arm and weld it together to shorten it?

[Smellyglove]

I have an ultimate sparge arm which I want to shorten, in the horizontal plane.

Is this a stupid idea? Chop off 1.5" and try to TIG it together again? Unless the cut is pretty even (Dremel) I know there would be a small gap inside it, which it either way will be, the size of it is just the result of how clean the cut and weld is. It will be impossible to inspect the result unless I show up at a hospital and steal a cameraprobe and use that.

As another question, which possible would render the first one as a no-issue: Reason I want to shorten it is that it will not be in the middle of a 10g Boilermaker, it will most probably be close to one of the sides, is this an issue? I want to perfect my mash-tun and if this is not optimal comparing to having the sparge water come from the center of the tun, I call that an issue.

 

[jpalarchio]

I have an ultimate sparge arm which I want to shorten, in the horizontal plane.

Is this a stupid idea? Chop off 1.5" and try to TIG it together again? Unless the cut is pretty even (Dremel) I know there would be a small gap inside it, which it either way will be, the size of it is just the result of how clean the cut and weld is. It will be impossible to inspect the result unless I show up at a hospital and steal a cameraprobe and use that.

As another question, which possible would render the first one as a no-issue: Reason I want to shorten it is that it will not be in the middle of a 10g Boilermaker, it will most probably be close to one of the sides, is this an issue? I want to perfect my mash-tun and if this is not optimal comparing to having the sparge water come from the center of the tun, I call that an issue.

I suppose depending on the tubing size, you might be able to just use a compression fitting union and avoid the welding.

Not sure I would say it's worth the effort though. The Boilermaker looks like it's about 14" in diameter and the sparge arm says 8.5" to the center.

I suspect that your sparge arm being 1.5" off center has zero impact on your beer quality.

 

[iplaydoc]

It's possible.... Time and or money, anything is possible!!! Two things I would consider,

1. Use a tube cutter. You will get the clean cut you need. Just be sure to debur the inside of the tube or it will mess up the flow.

2. To weld it you will need to "back gas" the tube to keep it from crystallizing on the inside. If you don't it can contaminate your brews. I also wouldn't use any rod, just fuse it together.

I was going to buy that same setup for my kegttel, but I knew it wouldn't center up well. That and the part that clamps on to the edge of the kettle wouldn't fit over the big lip of my keg. So I bent up a tube to make my own. 7" puts me to the center of the keg!!! Plus I'll only be into it for about $40!!!

Before trimming it up and welding it up!!!


"God is great, beer is good, & WOMEN are crazy!"
-Billy Currington
(modified by me)

 

[ong]

Or just cut it, find a 1" bit of stainless tubing whose ID is .003 or so larger than the other tube's ID, and use 56% silver to braze it together (flowing it under the lug). You could even get away with a propane torch for such a small job.

 

[Smellyglove]

I for some reason must have misread/read wrong spec sheet about either the sparge arm or the Boilermaker. It's not as much to the side as I pictured it to be. But again, thanks for all your replies. The solution to use compression fittings was excellent, didn't think about that.

But I'll just leave it at it is, its more towards one of the sides, but after studying it for a couple of minutes i conclude that it works and that sparge arm was well worth the money. Even I for some reason have had stuck mashes both at the start of the mash, both times I've used it now. But I've adapted.