Glycol got in beer

[Ohkee]

It's always funny to see how everyone becomes welding experts. What is a cavitated weld? Lol Also it's obvious this weld didn't use filler wire. You're welding a 1/4" chuck of stainless to tubing that is probably .035" wall thickness. It's called a fusion weld and you can push enough material from the large cap up onto the tubing.

Have you reached out to Spike? Is it possible the customer mistreated the equipment and they broke the weld? You guys are acting like an angry mob with pitchforks, jesus.

Fusion welding is a generic term, come on, what are you saying? Of course, it was TIG welded and under cut and obviously, their wasn't enough metal left to prevent a break.

 

[LedZeppelin]

Fusion welding is a generic term, come on, what are you saying? Of course, it was TIG welded and under cut and obviously, their wasn't enough metal left to prevent a break.

A fusion weld is pretty specific. It's a TIG weld with no addition of filler wire. I've been in the sanitary stainless steel welding industry for 15 years. A fusion weld is going to be undercut as you're not adding material to create a fillet. It's common and perfectly acceptable for this application.

Sounds like you might need a quick lesson on welding. Jody has an amazing channel and just put out a video on stainless steel welding. I've even timestamped it to the part where he talks about fusion welding for ya

​

 

[sibelman]

Knowing basically zero about welding, I gotta say the welds on my newer Spike gear are beautiful, and even better than the fine work they did on my custom HLT from their early days. It looks and sounds like the cooling coil welds pose additional challenges. I'm glad (and completely unsurprised) that Ben and the gang stand behind their products.

 

[oakbarn]

Propylene Glycol​

Propylene glycol is a drug that industries widely use in many cosmetics and hygiene products as a food additive or ingredient. In addition, the US and European health officials proclaim it as usually secure for food use.

However, as it is also an element in antifreeze, it has become contentious. This had resulted in health issues about the potential toxic impacts of eating products containing it. This paper examines what is propylene glycol, its uses, and whether it is harmful to health or not.

Structure of Propylene Glycol

It is a synthetic food additive belonging to the same category of chemicals as alcohol. It is a mildly syrupy liquid, colourless, odourless, a little thicker than water and has almost no flavour.

Also, it can also dissolve some materials better than water and is also useful for moisture retention. As a food additive, this makes it very beneficial, so it can be discovered in a broad range of processed ingredients and beverages.

Other designations that include is regarded as:

• Methyl ethyl glycol
• 1,2-propanediol
• 1,2-dihydroxy propane
• Trimethyl glycol

Sometimes people mistake propylene glycol with ethylene glycol because, owing to their small melting points, as industries use both of these in antifreeze. They’re not the same material, though.

Side Effect of Propylene Glycol​

Ethylene glycol is extremely toxic to individuals and we do not use it in food products. In addition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has “usually acknowledged as secure”. Besides, we can use it as an additive for immediate and indirect meals in the US.

In Europe, they use it in meat as the colours, emulsifiers, antioxidants, and enzymes, with up to 0.45 grams per pound (1 gram/kg) allowable in the ultimate meat item.

By contrast, one individual who acquired toxicity signs received 213 grams of propylene glycol per day. This is more than 100 times what we find in the median diet for an individual of 120 pounds (60-kg). There is only one recorded instance of food-borne toxicity.

A person who consumes very big quantities of propylene glycol-containing cinnamon whiskey and discovered himself unconscious. Although his symptoms link to alcohol as well, some may ascribe to propylene glycol.

Overall, we don’t find any other instances of adverse or toxic impacts of propylene glycol in ingredients apart from individuals with allergies and one instance of unnecessary consumption.

Since present intakes are predictable to be above the suggested rate. However, it may be important to decrease nutritional sources wherever possible, particularly as the primary sources are extremely processed products.

Propylene Glycol in Food​

Common foods include soft drinks, marinades, and dressings, cake mixing, frosting, popcorn, food colouring, quick foods, bread and milk goods.

Unfortunately, if we use propylene glycol instead of a direct component as a holder or solvent for another additive, such as taste or colour, it may not be mentioned on the food label.

 

[passedpawn]

I've seen huge tanks of propylene glycol at the airport. I believe it's what they spray on airplanes to de-ice them (that's a guess).

 

[Ohkee]

A fusion weld is pretty specific. It's a TIG weld with no addition of filler wire. I've been in the sanitary stainless steel welding industry for 15 years. A fusion weld is going to be undercut as you're not adding material to create a fillet. It's common and perfectly acceptable for this application.

Sounds like you might need a quick lesson on welding. Jody has an amazing channel and just put out a video on stainless steel welding. I've even timestamped it to the part where he talks about fusion welding for ya

​

Thanks for the heads up but you don't have to tell me the sky is blue, right undercut, just like I said. Should it have been? No. The manufacturer recognized that and replaced it with a more robustly welded system and it obviously wasn't the right decision to weld that part without filler rod.

 

[oakbarn]

I've seen huge tanks of propylene glycol at the airport. I believe it's what they spray on airplanes to de-ice them (that's a guess).

https://www.propylene-glycol.com/industrial-propylene-glycol/aircraft-de-icers

 

[SpikeBrewing]

Thanks for the heads up but you don't have to tell me the sky is blue, right undercut, just like I said. Should it have been? No. The manufacturer recognized that and replaced it with a more robustly welded system and it obviously wasn't the right decision to weld that part without filler rod.

We weld these parts with a fusion weld as stated. Been doing it for probably 5 years like that and this is the first broken weld we’ve seen. Who knows what caused the break but we replaced it for the customers.

 

[passedpawn]

We weld these parts with a fusion weld as stated. Been doing it for probably 5 years like that and this is the first broken weld we’ve seen. Who knows what caused the break but we replaced it for the customers.

Outstanding that you comment here.

 

[Ohkee]

We weld these parts with a fusion weld as stated. Been doing it for probably 5 years like that and this is the first broken weld we’ve seen. Who knows what caused the break but we replaced it for the customers.

Good on you! I will reconsider my position but welds break for a reason and the use of fusion welding (like its some sort of nuclear reaction weld) as a description muddies the water as a fusion weld can be done with TIG, oxy/acetylene, spot welder, friction, or even a laser. We can be precise and just cal a TIG weld a TIG weld.
BTW I agree with passes pawn and I commend Spike Brewing for dropping in on this forum and furthermore supporting our member Rob2010SS from Pratt Brewing with a replacement and displaying great customer service where some manufacturers might just blame the brewer for mishandling or differ the seller and pointing the finger.

 

[Rob2010SS]

We weld these parts with a fusion weld as stated. Been doing it for probably 5 years like that and this is the first broken weld we’ve seen. Who knows what caused the break but we replaced it for the customers.

There's no question here - you guys supported us in an outstanding way and my wife and I are super appreciative. Couldn't have done it without you guys.