Lowes tubing adequate?

[hukdizzle]

Friend of mine let me borrow an entire kegging setup but the lines have been dirty with old beer for almost a year now, I'm just gonna toss them and get new stuff. I was wondering if the vinyl tubing at Lowes is adequate for the purpose and if anyone had any experience with it. I doubt it's NSF rated and I have no idea if the line can handle the 20-30 PSI of the reg but I guess that's why I am asking.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

There is a very funny picture of an inflated vinyl skinned beer sausage on this forum somewhere. I wish I could find it!!

The keggers will be along shortly, but I think the answer is no.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

Nope. Get the beer line. Keep it clean and it'll last long enough to justify the added expense.

 

[Coastarine]

I've used a few types of tubing and I think you saw in my keezer how much easier the vinyl is to work with than the reinforced stuff. I've been really happy with the 3/16 foam free from NB on the beer lines and one of these days I'm going to rebuild my gas side with it.

 

[HairyDogBrewing]

I'm using 10ft of 3/16 vinyl icemaker tubing on each tap.
Needs a soak in boiling water to go over the barbs and no need for clamps.
Works for me, YMMV.

There is a very funny picture of an inflated vinyl skinned beer sausage on this forum somewhere. I wish I could find it!!

BTW, IIRC, the beer sausage was silicone, not vinyl.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

BTW, IIRC, the beer sausage was silicone, not vinyl.

Ah, OK, Fair enough. I'd sure like to see that pic again though!....For educational purposes of course.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Since a Lowe's is about 3 minutes from my house, I get a lot of stuff from there.

I am using both 3/8in vinyl for my CO2 and 3/16in vinyl (both ID) for my beer line (10ft), both from Lowe's.

So far, no issues. Using the 3/16 in a 10 foot coil, I get near perfect pours at about 12-14psi. AND, it cost less than 20 cents a foot.

YMMV.

 

[McKBrew]

I have used the same style drink tubing (it's probably made by Watts right?) from Home Depot. Some people say they have issues with off flavors, etc.., but from several months of using it, I can find no issues.

Eventually I'll upgrade to something a bit higher quality and more flexible, but for now it works out OK.

Definitely soak the end in a cup of very hot water to get it to slide on barbed fittings, otherwise you'll never do it.

 

[JesseRC]

The only issue I have seen is the watts tubing says its not to be used on ice makers and that its not intended for constant high pressures, even if it is within its rated capabilities. I am talking about the vinyl tubing, the white ice make tubing should be fine if you can fit it on the barb. It might not be as flexible, but its cheap enough to try.

 

[ChshreCat]

I believe the silicone beer sausage you are looking for is here...
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/no-silicone-tubing-beer-lines-74072/

 

[harley03]

You can use vinyl tubing from Lowes. A lot of people do with no issues including myself. If you are really worried about it you could always use vinyl on the gas side and then get some food grade vinyl from an online source such as McMaster of Us Plastics.