Elbows and fittings on wort chiller??

[J187]

I really like the idea of being able to use sweat-on elbows and fittings on my wort chiller build. I'm planning a 3/8 50' soft copper design. Would I be relegated to using 1/2"? What size elbows and fittings would fit on 3/8? Is it 3/8 like it sounds? I don't see any 3/8 size at the big box stores.

 

[J187]

Just to clarify, I know the general rule is fitting + 1/8 = OD pipe size, but what I'm not sure of, is does soft copper coil still have that same principal? If so, then 1/4" fitting + 1/8 would be 3/8" OD. That would mean I'm looking for 1/4" elbows, but I'm not even sure if the tubing is sized nominally.

 

[LandoLincoln]

You can use 3/8" for the inside tube, but typically most soldering is done on the outside tube, and that's usually 1/2".

I think I had to find a 1/2" to 1/4" reducer to connect the 3/8" inside pipe to the 1/2" outside pipe. Doesn't make any sense, I know, but the 1/2" to 3/8" reducer was too big.

You won't need any elbows, just some T fittings and some length of 1/2" rigid copper.

 

[J187]

Thanks but I'm not sure what you mean by inside and outside tube... I'm making a standard immersion chiller, nothing counterflow or anything like that here. I wanted to use elbows because I like the idea of a clean, no hose clamp, rigid build.

 

[LandoLincoln]

Thanks but I'm not sure what you mean by inside and outside tube... I'm making a standard immersion chiller, nothing counterflow or anything like that here. I wanted to use elbows because I like the idea of a clean, no hose clamp, rigid build.

Sorry, I thought you were making a counterflow.