FlyGuy's T-siphon: a $3 replacement for an autosiphon

[FlyGuy]

As much as I like my autosiphon, I find it clumsy and a pain to clean. I also really prefer a narrow racking cane when siphoning from carboys because the autosiphon is too wide to fit down into the bottom 'corner' of the carboy.

So, I came up with a different design for a siphon hose that doesn't require an autosiphon. I call it the T-siphon. Here are the parts:

1 x nylon barb tee (whatever size fits your siphon hose): $1.99
1 x cheap hose clamp: $0.99
siphon hose (I assume you have that for your autosiphon already - so no cost)

Basically, all I did was cut my hose in half and insert the T. Get another piece of hose as long as the top piece (i.e., the half that will go up to the vessel you are racking from) and attach it to the middle barb on the tee. Put the hose clamp on this piece of hose.

Just make sure that the top piece of hose is long enough that the tee can hang LOWER than the vessel you are racking from. Here is what it should look like.

Now to siphon -- this part works so well and it is so easy, you may never use your autosiphon again (I sure won't!).

Insert your hoses/racking cane(s) into your vessels. Make sure the tee is below the height of the top vessel. Now stand up and give one good quick suck on the third hose (middle tee) to get the liquid flowing. As soon as you see the liquid reach the tee, clamp down with the hose clamp near your mouth. The liquid will go right by the tee and into your second vessel! Too easy.

Oh, to ensure that you don't get a mouthfull of beer (or worse yet, contaminate it), try to get the tube that you suck on above the height of your top vessel.

If you try it, let me know if it worked for you! I wish I had figured this out years ago!

-- FlyGuy

 

[fshnne1]

love that idea should work great, I will build one this weekend

 

[kornkob]

Very neat.

I'll keep my autosiphon though as it also doubles as a wine thief for taking samples.

 

[JayMckeever]

I never got around to getting an auto syphon, and now it looks like I won't have to. Thanks for the idea!

 

[The Pol]

That is sweet... why didnt I think of that!

 

[Yuri_Rage]

This makes entirely too much sense. I like it!

If you wanted to get REALLY excited about sanitation, a turkey baster could be used to start the siphon. I used to use one at the bottom of my siphon hose, and it was always a bit of a mess. There is no mess with your design.

Kudos!

 

[cweston]

Yup--that's the same basic principle as siphoning w/ the carboy cap: create a pressure differential, and the siphon will flow from positive to negative pressure.

The thing I like about the carboy cap, though, is that it holds the racking cane in place so it can be left unattended. (Of course you could still use a carboy cap for that purpose with your setup, as long as the vessel you're siphoning from is a carboy.)

 

[cweston]

This makes entirely too much sense. I like it!

If you wanted to get REALLY excited about sanitation, a turkey baster could be used to start the siphon.

Or use a sanitary filter (like what's used in an aquarium pump aeration system).

 

[FlyGuy]

I don't think sanitation is much of an issue because you are only creating suction (not blowing into the tube), and the parts your mouth touches never touch beer.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I don't think sanitation is much of an issue because you are only creating suction (not blowing into the tube), and the parts your mouth touches never touch beer.

I know...hence the REALLY in caps...

 

[FlyGuy]

I know...hence the REALLY in caps...

Ah, sorry.


[Postcount +1]

 

[EdWort]

To to be safe, just before you siphon, gargle with a fine Scotch or Bourbon and be sure to swallow it. To be doubly safe, do it twice...And if you want Triple Safety, well, you know the drill.

 

[abracadabra]

Fantastic idea ! You should apply for a patent. Thanks for posting it

 

[Bobby_M]

That thing sucks, literally ;-)

Looks like a good solution for anyone who already has racking canes. For anyone starting out though, I'd still give the autosiphon a leg up. Why? Well, first it allows you to pump sanizer through your tubing which is a neat little trick. Also, it's only 9 bucks which is pretty close to a racking cane + the Tee and clamp. Very innovative nonetheless, keep it up.

 

[brewman !]

If a guy wasn't careful he could learn a few neat tricks on this board

Nice job, Flyguy.

 

[krispy d]

nice set up! I just might build one of those. but then how would I get a big mouthfull of still beer when I'm racking into my keg? Uh Oh...

 

[Erbium:YAG]

To put it simply, well thought out and thanks for contributing to the forum by sharing. Well done!

 

[magno]

Thats awesome.

If and when I break my autosiphon, that will definitely be the replacement.

- magno

 

[Chairman Cheyco]

I ba-zillionate the awesome-ness! Nice work.

Also kudos to EdWort for making sure safety comes first!

 

[zoebisch01]

Ahh sweet and simple and cheap! What's not to love. No more Turkey basting wort into the tube to fill it for me...!

 

[FlyGuy]

One note to add -- the t-siphon DOESN'T work as well with really long siphon hoses. I found I had to pinch below the tee and then suck to get the siphon action going with a longer (>5 foot) siphon length. Then it worked fine.

 

[Bobby_M]

That was one of the questions I was going to ask earlier. How do you create suction when the outflow hose is open to air. Obviously the quick pinch of the hose is an easy fix.

 

[FlyGuy]

That was one of the questions I was going to ask earlier. How do you create suction when the outflow hose is open to air. Obviously the quick pinch of the hose is an easy fix.

With shorter hoses (or presumably thinner diameter hoses), it wasn't an issue -- all it took was one quick suck on the hose to get the liquid moving. But with longer hoses, I couldn't do it. Had to pinch below the tee.

 

[abracadabra]

One note to add -- the t-siphon DOESN'T work as well with really long siphon hoses. I found I had to pinch below the tee and then suck to get the siphon action going with a longer (>5 foot) siphon length. Then it worked fine.

Not to belabor the point, but I kind of thought this part was a given.

 

[abt]

Should you be concerned about aerating the wort as it passes by the tee? Not sure I like that part. Maybe there's a cheap way to put a twist-off valve or something right at the tee.

 

[The Pol]

I have used this T method now for a while... but I just broke my racking cane, so I might as well get an autosyphon!

 

[GoatFarmersInternational]

Thats awesome.

If and when I break my autosiphon, that will definitely be the replacement.

- magno

That is almost verbatim what I was going to say... I already have the flyguy MLT, I can't wait for whatever is next!

Just now realizing this is an old thread... Perhaps there is a new invention out there already?

 

[BierMuncher]

I never had an autosiphon...but...I don't know.

It just won't be the same if I can't walk around the house with a racking cane & hose filled with tap water...dripping all over the floor...my SWMBO yelling at me...spilling it half the time, and starting over and then getting a mediocre "suck".

Yep. This definitely makes way too much sense for me.

 

[Orfy]

Looks good but I'll stick with the carboy cap method.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I congratulate you on your inginuity, but why do you find the autosyphon difficult to clean?

To clean/sanitize and autosyphon all you have to do is put it in a bucket of sanitizer and pump it once to get the hose filled up and let it sit.

I think your contraption (which is a variation of a simple sprayer) would be more difficult (with more parts) to clean/sanitize.