EVABarrier 3mm ID?

[eulipion2]

I'm rebuilding my keezer. Previously I used Bev Seal Ultra, which required a long length of tube to balance out, even with flow control faucets. In an 8 tap keezer it's a bit challenging to work around! Now that I'm rebuilding I'm looking at EVABarrier. The 4mm ID only needs about 5.5 feet, which is a vast improvement, but I just redid my portable kegerator with 3 feet of 3mm ID tube per tap, and had the smoothest pours I've ever had on the thing! A 3-foot line is long enough to connect everything properly in my keezer, and the reduction in extra material inside the chest would be so nice.

So, is there any reason NOT to go with 3mm ID tubing? I know fittings for the the 6.35mm OD are harder to come by, but assuming I can source the parts -- still looking for flare adapters for my disconnects rather than swapping in DuoTight disconnects -- are there any downsides to 3mm?

 

[Broken Crow]

Well,
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...mm-monotight-connector-duotight-shank.730515/
...I haven't looked back. I love not having hanging coils of line in my kegerator. Mind you; at the time I did mine, there were not yet any available 6.35mm duotight disconnects, but I swear by genuine CM Beckers anyway. The swaging is easy and takes seconds: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/threads/eva-barrier-line-conversion.733937/page-2#post-10406957

 

[Bobby_M]

That main issue is that there is a deficiency in available duotight fitting variety in that size. The one main missing piece is the Female Beer Thread x 6.35mm Push.

I've looked for it in all the brands and can't find it.

An alternative is to use tailpieces with 3/16 barbs and heat stretch the 3mm ID tubing over it.

 

[eulipion2]

That main issue is that there is a deficiency in available duotight fitting variety in that size. The one main missing piece is the Female Beer Thread x 6.35mm Push.

I've looked for it in all the brands and can't find it.

An alternative is to use tailpieces with 3/16 barbs and heat stretch the 3mm ID tubing over it.

How about THESE?

 

[eulipion2]

How about THESE?

Crap. Standard beer thread is 29/32", isn't it? What a stupid size.

Edit: Or is it 5/8"? Either way, not 3/4".

 

[day_trippr]

29/32x14. But BSP 5/8 is "near 'nuff" for PTC fittings. I have DMfit 5/8 BSP to 8mm tubing tail pieces on my tower...

Cheers!

 

[day_trippr]

You may need to find a 5/8 BSP female to female tubing adapter then find a push-in that fits the adapter and takes 1/4" tubing. I did something similar to get my flow meters to work with 7/16" OD Bevlex 200 many years before EVABarrier came out...

Cheers!

 

[eulipion2]

I found this:

6.35mm female to 8mm male. Shipping is a bit high, making it about $30/10 pieces. I've paid more for less I suppose, but I'm sure I can find a better price.

 

[Bobby_M]

If it has to make a bunch of jumps in bore size between the tubing and the faucet, the added turbulence created will likely negate the use of 3mm ID in the first place.

 

[Bobby_M]

Crap. Standard beer thread is 29/32", isn't it? What a stupid size.

Edit: Or is it 5/8"? Either way, not 3/4".

Yeah, we used to use John Guest 5/8" BSP x 5/16" push before the duotights became available.

 

[Broken Crow]

I found this:
View attachment 881516
6.35mm female to 8mm male. Shipping is a bit high, making it about $30/10 pieces. I've paid more for less I suppose, but I'm sure I can find a better price.

What size are your tailpieces? Are you hesitant to swag the 3mm? (I've noticed a lot of folk on here shy away from it, but it really is super easy and effective..just watch the video I linked to above.)
Here's a pic of the 3mm EVABarrier on a 1/4" barb:

^That has been in regular use in my kegerator with 0 issues for the last year or so.... Here's some 1/4" tailpieces if you need them:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpieceelbow14ss.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpiece14ss.htm
there's no need to overcomplicate it with risky multiple adapters when one crimped connection works flawlessly.
..just my 2-cents.

 

[eulipion2]

What size are your tailpieces? Are you hesitant to swag the 3mm? (I've noticed a lot of folk on here shy away from it, but it really is super easy and effective..just watch the video I linked to above.)
Here's a pic of the 3mm EVABarrier on a 1/4" barb:
View attachment 881539
^That has been in regular use in my kegerator with 0 issues for the last year or so.... Here's some 1/4" tailpieces if you need them:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpieceelbow14ss.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpiece14ss.htm
there's no need to overcomplicate it with risky multiple adapters when one crimped connection works flawlessly.
..just my 2-cents.

I need to check them. I've been using John Guess fittings from the beginning, and really like them. I do have a small army of swivels, probably 1/4" barbs, but I'll have to check.

 

[Pennine]

What size are your tailpieces? Are you hesitant to swag the 3mm? (I've noticed a lot of folk on here shy away from it, but it really is super easy and effective..just watch the video I linked to above.)
Here's a pic of the 3mm EVABarrier on a 1/4" barb:
View attachment 881539
^That has been in regular use in my kegerator with 0 issues for the last year or so.... Here's some 1/4" tailpieces if you need them:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpieceelbow14ss.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpiece14ss.htm
there's no need to overcomplicate it with risky multiple adapters when one crimped connection works flawlessly.
..just my 2-cents.

I'm intrigued. Can I use it with this?

https://www.morebeer.com/products/t...a1_ZVPAGrMlJSLqL_HMqQ5b8yj3A7hgIaAkuqEALw_wcB

I mean could it be this simple?

 

[Broken Crow]

I'm intrigued. Can I use it with this?

As long as that's not a 3/8" barb on the disconnect...(I only use CM Beckers myself, and prefer the MFL fitting with swivel-nuts;
https://www.morebeer.com/products/komos-stainless-flare-fitting-14-swivel-nut-barb.html)

I mean could it be this simple?

Yes. Take a look at my the links I put up in post #2

 

[DuncB]

I found using the 2mm ID Williams warn beer line in my keg fridge for my 3.5 vol saison didn't work with the flowmeters on raspberry pints.
I think kegland do ball lock connection for the 6.35 external.
https://kegland.com.au/products/duotight-6-35mm-1-4-x-ball-lock-disconnect-black-yellow-liquid

 

[shoengine]

(I've noticed a lot of folk on here shy away from it, but it really is super easy and effective..just watch the video I linked to above.)

Who've you been talking to‽

 

[Pennine]

I found using the 2mm ID Williams warn beer line in my keg fridge for my 3.5 vol saison didn't work with the flowmeters on raspberry pints.
I think kegland do ball lock connection for the 6.35 external.
https://kegland.com.au/products/duotight-6-35mm-1-4-x-ball-lock-disconnect-black-yellow-liquid

I just picked this up from Bobby, with a picnic tap and 3mm to test it out.

Does the 2mm line pour highly carbonated saison well?

 

[Dgallo]

What size are your tailpieces? Are you hesitant to swag the 3mm? (I've noticed a lot of folk on here shy away from it, but it really is super easy and effective..just watch the video I linked to above.)
Here's a pic of the 3mm EVABarrier on a 1/4" barb:
View attachment 881539
^That has been in regular use in my kegerator with 0 issues for the last year or so.... Here's some 1/4" tailpieces if you need them:
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpieceelbow14ss.htm
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/tailpiece14ss.htm
there's no need to overcomplicate it with risky multiple adapters when one crimped connection works flawlessly.
..just my 2-cents.

I can’t believe you got 3 mm on a 1/4 barb. I had a b!t&h of a time getting 4mm on it. Had to use a heat gun and needle nose pliers to flair the edges. Can’t even begin to imagine how difficult 3mm ID was lol

 

[mac_1103]

I've never used the 3 mm, but 4 mm on a 1/4" barb was pretty easy - hot water and a nail set.

 

[Dgallo]

I've never used the 3 mm, but 4 mm on a 1/4" barb was pretty easy - hot water and a nail set.

That’s interesting. My 4mm was really difficult to get on the barb. Maybe it was because I was putting it in a shank that was cold but I really had a hard time opening it up enough to get over the 1/4 barb

 

[Broken Crow]

That’s interesting. My 4mm was really difficult to get on the barb. Maybe it was because I was putting it in a shank that was cold but I really had a hard time opening it up enough to get over the 1/4 barb

Sounds like you'd benefit from a proper swaging tool.....I know I have one somewhere but I haven't seen it in years so I ususally use a punch or whatever else is laying around... your wording has me wondering if you'd stretched it enough before putting it on the barb. Here's a quicky which was just for demo purposes with a chopstick showing 4mm ID EVA over a 3/8" barb;

...with a bit of keg lube I could have shoved it on further, but I only did it as a demo.
Stretching it with either a proper swaging tool or any taper you have on hand, to the size you want it before shoving it on is the key....check out the video I linked above.

 

[Broken Crow]

That’s interesting. My 4mm was really difficult to get on the barb. Maybe it was because I was putting it in a shank that was cold but I really had a hard time opening it up enough to get over the 1/4 barb

Thanks for that... this isn't a double post... I"m trying to quit smoking right now and went a long time without nicotine so I'm very restless and hey; it's been a while since a post on here inspired me to run down to my workbench and try something out that might yeild share-worthy results to benefit the readers on here so: You got me wondering just how far I could stretch the 3mm EVABarrier.... I decided to start at the highest side and see if I could get it on a 3/8" barb. ....Definitely not! I tried to get it on a 5/16" barb; Nope, not happening!
While it easily goes on a 1/4" barb with appropriate heat and a dab of keg lube and fully streched on a tapered object (ideally a swaging tool, but in my case, a couple punches I had laying around), that extra 1/16" is just a bridge too far.
I had to put on gloves to shove it up the punch because it needed more heat to stretch it that far and I'm certain I comprimised the plastic. Here's the pics of this failure:

and it's sort of burned and just won't stretch as far as 5/16"... mind you this is with a heat gun which is far more aggressive than the pot of hot water method:

That's a mess and what hapeens trying to stretch it wider than 1/4"
..but really; on a 1/4" is fine..I've been using it in my kegerator that way since 2023 with no issues.
Hope this visual is useful to someone.

 

[Dgallo]

Thanks for that... this isn't a double post... I"m trying to quit smoking right now and went a long time without nicotine so I'm very restless and hey; it's been a while since a post on here inspired me to run down to my workbench and try something out that might yeild share-worthy results to benefit the readers on here so: You got me wondering just how far I could stretch the 3mm EVABarrier.... I decided to start at the highest side and see if I could get it on a 3/8" barb. ....Definitely not! I tried to get it on a 5/16" barb; Nope, not happening!
While it easily goes on a 1/4" barb with appropriate heat and a dab of keg lube and fully streched on a tapered object (ideally a swaging tool, but in my case, a couple punches I had laying around), that extra 1/16" is just a bridge too far.
I had to put on gloves to shove it up the punch because it needed more heat to stretch it that far and I'm certain I comprimised the plastic. Here's the pics of this failure:
View attachment 881597
and it's sort of burned and just won't stretch as far as 5/16"... mind you this is with a heat gun which is far more aggressive than the pot of hot water method:
View attachment 881598
That's a mess and what hapeens trying to stretch it wider than 1/4"
..but really; on a 1/4" is fine..I've been using it in my kegerator that way since 2023 with no issues.
Hope this visual is useful to someone.

I’ve just always been nervous about pushing anything into the tubing that would go further than the portion I’m clamping. The idea of making abrasions and giving any bacteria a place to harbor, just scares me

 

[DuncB]

I just picked this up from Bobby, with a picnic tap and 3mm to test it out.

Does the 2mm line pour highly carbonated saison well?

Yes it was fine until confounded by the flowmeter.
I had john guest adapters that fitted the 4mm external of the tubing.

 

[Pennine]

I'm rebuilding my keezer. Previously I used Bev Seal Ultra, which required a long length of tube to balance out, even with flow control faucets. In an 8 tap keezer it's a bit challenging to work around! Now that I'm rebuilding I'm looking at EVABarrier. The 4mm ID only needs about 5.5 feet, which is a vast improvement, but I just redid my portable kegerator with 3 feet of 3mm ID tube per tap, and had the smoothest pours I've ever had on the thing! A 3-foot line is long enough to connect everything properly in my keezer, and the reduction in extra material inside the chest would be so nice.

So, is there any reason NOT to go with 3mm ID tubing? I know fittings for the the 6.35mm OD are harder to come by, but assuming I can source the parts -- still looking for flare adapters for my disconnects rather than swapping in DuoTight disconnects -- are there any downsides to 3mm?

I am highly impressed with using a 3mm line, thanks to you and @Broken Crow for sharing this tip! The parts are inexpensive and I was able to find them from brew hardware. In fact I just set up the kegerator with two taps and I am going to get do the whole setup with 3mm.

I also tried a couple different pours with it, this was at 15psi. I am looking forward to going up to 20psi with the saison.