Cutting barb off beer shank

[Rikk]

I’m setting up a portable keezer and have a few old shanks with barbs/nipples that I want to re-use. The problem is I moved to EVAbarrior/Duotight. Has anyone successfully removed the barb? If so how? I bought a dremel tool. Will that work? Any prep/post finishing that would need to be done? I don’t use power tools much (grain mill drill is the extent of my skill) so don’t assume I know how to use any tool. Thanks.

 

[day_trippr]

I used a Dremel with fiber cutoff wheel to lop the barbs off the ends of my tower shanks so I could then use 5/8 BSP x 8mm OD push-to-connect fittings as tailpieces. Helped to have a bench vise and some soft pine scraps to hold the shanks. I cleaned the cut ends up using a cone grinder (not shown)...

Cheers!

 

[auspiciousactivities]

I used a Dremel with fiber cutoff wheel to lop the barbs off the ends of my tower shanks so I could then use 5/8 BSP x 8mm OD push-to-connect fittings as tailpieces. Helped to have a bench vise and some soft pine scraps to hold the shanks. I cleaned the cut ends up using a cone grinder (not shown)...

View attachment 765642

Cheers!

Did you have any issues with this hack? Thinking I will do the same but I’m a bit concerned it will creat more turbulence and more foam. Thanks for the input.

 

[khannon]

I'm assuming these were SS shanks? I don't think you would want to this on the chrome coated ones.
I had thought about doing so on mine as well that are stainless, just haven't gotten to it yet. Good call on the pine scraps for the bench vice and the cone grinder.

 

[day_trippr]

I have had zero issues with my hacked off chrome-over-brass shanks. Always excellent pours

Cheers!

 

[auspiciousactivities]

I have had zero issues with my hacked off chrome-over-brass shanks. Always excellent pours

Cheers!

Thanks for the response. I’m going for it.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

I did the exact same thing for the exact same reason; wanted to use duotight beer nuts in a portable keezer. I just clamped the barb, (which was going to be tossed) tightly in my vise and my hacksaw went through it like a hot knife on butter. I just cleaned it up with a fine hand file and sand paper. A good cleaning afterwards and installed.
This was a chrome over brass that I will eventually replace (or maybe not, it’s only a occasional use item) with stainless, but it works fine.

 

[Dgallo]

I’m setting up a portable keezer and have a few old shanks with barbs/nipples that I want to re-use. The problem is I moved to EVAbarrior/Duotight. Has anyone successfully removed the barb? If so how? I bought a dremel tool. Will that work? Any prep/post finishing that would need to be done? I don’t use power tools much (grain mill drill is the extent of my skill) so don’t assume I know how to use any tool. Thanks.

Is your barb 1/4? I’d assume since it’s serving but if so the 4mm evabarier can go over it. Get your self some hot hot water/sterilizer. Dip the hose in and get it good and hot and the get needle nose pliers, put them in the hose and open them to flare the tip of the hose. Then put it on and clamp it. I did this to two of my draft lines and it works well

 

[JohnDBrewer]

Are there any doutight nuts with 90-degree angles

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Is your barb 1/4? I’d assume since it’s serving but if so the 4mm evabarier can go over it. Get your self some hot hot water/sterilizer. Dip the hose in and get it good and hot and the get needle nose pliers, put them in the hose and open them to flare the tip of the hose. Then put it on and clamp it. I did this to two of my draft lines and it works well

This will of course work. However, in my case, (and likely his as well), for the portable keezer, I needed to be able to get the beer line out of the way to load the keg, and take it back out. Having it on the barb was going to make this much more difficult than having the duotight fitting.

 

[Dgallo]

This will of course work. However, in my case, (and likely his as well), for the portable keezer, I needed to be able to get the beer line out of the way to load the keg, and take it back out. Having it on the barb was going to make this much more difficult than having the duotight fitting.

Yeah everything is about logistics. But you could just unhook the ballock from the keg and get the line out of the way to move kegs

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Yeah everything is about logistics. But you could just unhook the ballock from the keg and get the line out of the way to move kegs

No, it’s about the clearance from the back of the shank. I remove the line from both the shank and the keg.

I can resolve this somewhat with a shorter shank, but it was what I had, and was in a pinch.

 

[Closet Fermenter]

Are there any doutight nuts with 90-degree angles

Yes, they make 90° elbows. There’s also a tower shank available that has a stainless 90° duotight compatible barb on the back, if that helps.

Edit: You did say “nuts”, and I read “connectors” I have not seen a beer nut with a 90 on it.

 

[mac_1103]

Are there any doutight nuts with 90-degree angles

Assuming that you mean an elbow with beer nut on one end and PTC on the other, then I think the answer might be no. But like @Closet Fermenter said, you can stick a PTC elbow onto a straight beer nut to PTC adapater if you have room. If space is tight the duotight tower shank might be your best option.

 

[JohnDBrewer]

Assuming that you mean an elbow with beer nut on one end and PTC on the other, then I think the answer might be no. But like @Closet Fermenter said, you can stick a PTC elbow onto a straight beer nut to PTC adapater if you have room. If space is tight the duotight tower shank might be your best option.

Yeah I have a couple of these, but the shank isn't long enough for my collar. Just looking to get the beer lines out of the way. Thanks, I couldn't find anything either.