DIY Blichmann autosparge

[ethan44]

Hi team,
I've recently found that the Blichmann Autosparge is the perfect solution to a couple of issues I'm having. Only problem is I can't buy it in New Zealand and international shipping is prohibitively expensive. So I am looking to see if there is a DIY solution that does the same thing.

The issue I am currently running into is that all the stainless steel float valves that I can find on Aliexpress do not seem to have a way to connect tubing on the outlet side as the Blichmann does.

Any one know how I could make a similar thing that utilises a float valve? I'd love to be able to connect some tubing like the Blichmann or potentially a locline manifold.

Cheers, Ethan

 

[day_trippr]

I'm a huge fan of the Blichmann autosparge. Too bad it's so precious in NZ!

This is an example of a stainless steel float valve found at the e-commerce USA company McMaster-Carr.
https://www.mcmaster.com/4634K31/

The goes-in-to and comes-out-of ports are 1/2" NPT. It would be trivial to obtain a stainless steel 1/2" NPT to 3/8" barb for the comes-out-of side, and the goes-in-to port would presumably mate with a 1/2" NPT bulkhead.

Do you have access to anything similar in NZ?

Cheers!

 

[ethan44]

I'm a huge fan of the Blichmann autosparge. Too bad it's so precious in NZ!

This is an example of a stainless steel float valve found at the e-commerce USA company McMaster-Carr.
https://www.mcmaster.com/4634K31/

View attachment 866721


The goes-in-to and comes-out-of ports are 1/2" NPT. It would be trivial to obtain a stainless steel 1/2" NPT to 3/8" barb for the comes-out-of side, and the goes-in-to port would presumably mate with a 1/2" NPT bulkhead.

Do you have access to anything similar in NZ?

Cheers!

Yup I found similar ones on Aliexpress, which I am fine buying off. Just press the 3/8" barb into the outlet hole? Or would I need to solder it in?

 

[sibelman]

It's threaded.

 

[ethan44]

It's threaded.

Sorry I don't think I was clear. I wasn't sure what the deal was with the outlet hole on the float valve. Most of them just looked like a round opening, so I wasn't sure if I could attach anything to the outlet side.

 

[day_trippr]

Definitely threaded, as shown in the specifications on the page I linked.
Should be cake, really, if you can lay hands on an equivalent float valve

Cheers!

 

[Cameronl]

I'm a huge fan of the Blichmann autosparge. Too bad it's so precious in NZ!

This is an example of a stainless steel float valve found at the e-commerce USA company McMaster-Carr.
https://www.mcmaster.com/4634K31/

View attachment 866721


The goes-in-to and comes-out-of ports are 1/2" NPT. It would be trivial to obtain a stainless steel 1/2" NPT to 3/8" barb for the comes-out-of side, and the goes-in-to port would presumably mate with a 1/2" NPT bulkhead.

Do you have access to anything similar in NZ?

Cheers!

$987.26 Each​

Am I just reading that wrong?

 

[day_trippr]

Wow - I wasn't looking at cost, just fitment.
That's crazy! And it doesn't look like a listing error, either

 

[sibelman]

This one on Amazon is twenty bucks and says its outlet is threaded.

 

[day_trippr]

The outlet does not appear to be threaded. Reviews are sketchy AF as well...

Cheers!

 

[Broken Crow]

Sorry I don't think I was clear. I wasn't sure what the deal was with the outlet hole on the float valve. Most of them just looked like a round opening, so I wasn't sure if I could attach anything to the outlet side.

Can you post a link to the aliexpress one you're looking at?

 

[sibelman]

The outlet does not appear to be threaded. Reviews are sketchy AF as well...

Cheers!

Yes, perhaps not the best choice though the accompanying text claims the output is "MNPT" -- which can't be right, of course. But it highlights that one may be able to find a decent DIY alternative to the beloved AutoSparge™ for not much money.

As @day_trippr indicates, it's also easy to "find" the wrong part. Sorry if I've misled.

 

[Deadalus]

I have spent much time in the past looking for a SS float valve with a threaded output but no luck. There are lead free brass versions, also a bit difficult to find. It is also alleged that one can remove potential surface lead in brass using I think it is a hydrogen peroxide solution.

The problem as I see it with finding the potable/lead free (LF) brass ones is that these float valves are used for watering livestock. So no one seems to care. And then anyone needing SS needs it for some industrial application so they charge high dollar. It would be beyond easy to put threads on the available SS ones but the fluid drains into the tank, so they don't seem to care about threads for fittings.

I have a brass one on my mash tun with threads that was listed as lead free. However, I deleaded the surface too. I use a QD on it to switch between a recirculation manifold and a rotating sparge arm.

 

[Deadalus]

Let me add some additional concerns. It is also extremely difficult to find the float in stainless steel. I have one but don't remember if I got it from Blichmann. I think so. And maybe the arm. But then you need to match the threads of the arm and ball to the threaded lever. And if they are different then the threaded adapter you will need will probably only be available from McMaster, for $10-20 plus shipping. Which they won't give you a break on for the part being so small. Don't make the mistake of not being 100% careful in determining the threads either, or they will get you twice. Like screw the reference thread in far enough to be 100% sure.

It's a real headache all around if you go the DIY route on this one.

 

[day_trippr]

I bet a good quality thread tap with cutting oil and patience could put internal threads on the output port of the Amazon-linked stainless steel valve. If there's a similar but better performing one being sold somewhere, that might be worth pursuing...

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

I bet a good quality thread tap with cutting oil and patience could put internal threads on the output port of the Amazon-linked stainless steel valve. If there's a similar but better performing one being sold somewhere, that might be worth pursuing...

Cheers!

Trouble is we don't have Amazon here in NZ. They do have it in Australia though so might be an option from there.

 

[day_trippr]

Do you have Aliexpress? This page is loaded with stainless steel float valves - of unknown-to-me quality...

Cheers!

 

[DuncB]

Do you have Aliexpress? This page is loaded with stainless steel float valves - of unknown-to-me quality...

Cheers!

Yes we do, constant stream of deliveries of various bits and bobs for raspberry pints, brewpiless and fly fishing supplies in my letterbox. I'll look at these for myself as well.

 

[ethan44]

None of the stainless steel float valve on AliExpress have a threaded/barbed output. I though all hope was lost when I sent the largest brewing equipment retailer in NZ (www.brewshop.co.nz) a message and they just happened to have a new in box autosparge leftover from when they use to stock Blichmann 6 years ago. They let it go to me for a pretty good deal too!

 

[day_trippr]

That's awesome! You're gonna love working with the autosparge, it makes fly sparging so much easier than twiddling ball valves

Cheers!