MalFet's bottle washer for lazy homebrewers

[MrSaLTy]

Awesome. Ladder, is that 1/2 inch copper? and also what diameter holes did you drill? So doing this.

 

[jbnla]

Great Ladder23Brewing. Could you please post a pic of the water stream height you can achieve with this simple method. This would be a great addition but it almost looks too easy.

 

[Ladder23Brewing]

Hey guys, thanks. I will try and post a video of the water height but I'm achieving the same as Malfet and nameless. Approx 2-3 feet.

Yes that is 1/2 pipe and it seems to be perfect.

 

[Brewitt]

Just tried the Malfet's bottle washer for the first time. Washed and sanitized 48 bottles in less time than it normally tales to wash 24. Great! Just put it over the sink, fill with warm oxyclean, pump for a few minutes, fill sink with hot water, pump for a few minutes, fill with room temp sanitizer, pump for a few minutes, drain and set aside to dry. Refill and repeat. Wonderful.

 

[Brewitt]

This time I used it outside mounted on my ice chest. Great!

 

[Mikko]

I made same kind of washer than ladder, model with only holes. Did not work for me, spray expanded too much too early and there is no possibility to tweak nozzle , I made 2.5mm holes to 12mm (1/2") tubes. There was stubborn ring of dirt between bottom and side of bottle.

I know my pump is too weak , head is only 5meters. But I believe that even more powerful pump (AND one I can afford) does not solve problem, so Iam adding individual 6mm (1/4") "bottle tubes" , I just expand those 2.5mm holes to 6mm (1/4") and braze individual tubes to holes. 12 tubes brazed so far, will add rest tomorrow.

 

[gueykewl]

This is super easy if you have the pump. Here's what you'll need: (1) 1-1/4" Lead Free Brass or SS Coupler (1) 1-1/4" to 1" Lead Free Brass or SS Reducer Bushing (1) 1" MIPS to Slip CPVC Adapter (Note, the three above parts can be replaced if you can find a CPVC 1-1/4" FIPS x 1" Slip Adapter, I haven't found any personally.

Was this the 1-1/4" FIPS x 1" Slip adapter ($1.60 ea) you were looking for?

Click on Female Adapters and scroll down to Reducing Female Adapters - S x Fips - #435
http://www.plumbingsupply.com/pvc.html

 

[Huaco]

Hey man, I just built this unit but out of PVC. What size holes did you use in your copper?

So I was able to make this finally and it works great!



I followed Nameless's version of this bottle washer as I use the fastrack. I must say it makes this process even easier when you use the fastrack. I did not make posts like you design did but surprisingly enough the posts are not necessary. water still makes contact with the bottom of the bottle at all times. I used the same pump that you recommended and instead of placing the bottles inside the crate, I put them on top of the crate to elevate them.











I cut notches into the fastrack feet so the rack literally just fits into place and does not move. It only takes a few minutes and all 24 bottles are fresh and clean!

Thanks for the great ideas, Ill post later if I have any updates.

 

[its_manbearpig]

Thanks for this how-to!

I was inspired to build a bottle washer for myself, too. I went with a 3/4in copper manifold with 1/4 soft copper for the outlets. I'm using a rectangular milk crate as well. I could have squeezed in 24 12oz bottles, but I decided to go with only 20 to leave some extra room in case I need to wash bombers. Pump is the 1/3HP version of the one mentioned by the OP. Just started working on it tonight, but I will share some pictures when I'm done.

Oh, and one question for those who made one of these. Has anyone ever done a cleaning cycle with dish soap instead of Oxy or PBW? I bet it foams like crazy. Just curious...

 

[Brewitt]

Detergent is not a good for washing. Residual detergent kill head on beers. Yes, it will foam like mad. I do use StarSan and even that creates a fair amount of foam. I cycle from Oxyclean to clean water to StarSan. Then drip dry.

 

[its_manbearpig]

I cycle from Oxyclean to clean water to StarSan.

Yup, that's the route I'm going to take. Thanks.

I did some soldering today (my manifold is all copper) and used Mapp gas for the first time. So much better than propane - I'm never going back. Everything's coming out nicely and I'll share some pics when I'm finished.

 

[its_manbearpig]

OK, as promised I attached some pictures of my completed bottle washer.

The manifold was made of 3/4'' copper and 1/4'' soft copper tubing. It's adapted to a regular garden hose thread. I can fit 20 bottles and I can always add 4 more if necessary.

I rigged up a holder with some scrap pipes and pink foam insulation for now, but I"ll probably switch to plywood later. The pump will be the 1/3 HP version of the pump mentioned by the OP, I'm waiting for it to be shipped.

This was a fun project to do and I can't wait to join the "I'm never scrubbing another bottle" club.

 

[its_manbearpig]

....Aaaand one more post with pics

I'll do one more later with a video of the washer in action.

 

[its_manbearpig]

Got my pump in the mail today, so I took 'er for a spin.

Test run went great. I get plenty of pressure from the pump. The connecting hose was built on the fly at the hardware store. It's just clear pipe and some adapters to reduce the pump output to a normal garden hose thread.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZnKmlzt7_8&feature=youtu.be

 

[robf300]

Had to get a post on here, inspired by this particular post I had to have a go:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSQvC226K7Y
Using a 750W ebay dirty water pump $50AUD delivered
25mm garden irrigation fittings and piping
4mm rigid risers
I thought the risers may not handle the pressure since they simply jam into the 25mm PVC pipe but they seem to hold up OK..
I still need to organise a tub and a system to hold the bottles in place but everything is looking sweet so far and kept under $85 budget.
Ill try reply once i run a few bottles through when complete.

Cheers!

Rob

 

[jbnla]

Hey man, I just built this unit but out of PVC. What size holes did you use in your copper?

Huaco did this work out for you with the PVC ? Did it work without tubes ? What size holes did you wind up with ?

 

[jleiii]

I scanned this entire thread for sources for the CPVC CROSS fittings, and found several people asking but no answers. Has anyone found these?

This thread inspired me to build a similar unit, but I used copper and that cross was easy to find (brass). I want the CPVC cross for a RIMS drip manifold.

 

[dcrog]

I built on of these a while back from looking at this thread. Thanks Malfet. And others of course for their input.
I went a slightly different route so I could just load cases of bottles and move to the next one.

The racks are just the things that 20 oz. plastic sodas come in. I just hole sawed a hole through the bottom, 1 1/4" I think, and they make great draining trays. I actually had them before the washer. They will also hold any size bottle I've tried putting in them as you can see the wine bottles in the pic.

 

[dcrog]

I have a 1/3 hp pump from Lowes I believe. Utilitech if I'm remembering right.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=210935&stc=1&d=1405285374

It does a pretty good job.
I used all copper because that's what I had here. And the ends I just crimped around an 1/8" drill bit to increase pressure.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=210936&stc=1&d=1405285374

 

[number40fan]

Awesome thread here. I have some stainless tubing I might try to make into one of these.

 

[emersonc]

awesome work! and awesome thread. Im gonna work on my 24 bottle washer once the next paycheck comes in.

I want to get the outside of the bottles washed as well so it will be in an enclosed bin with 2 extra spayers that just shout sanitizer everywhere

 

[kitemanks]

Where is everyone getting the cross cpvc fitting?? I can find the pvc cross fitting all day no problem, but not cpvc.

 

[MalFet]

Where is everyone getting the cross cpvc fitting?? I can find the pvc cross fitting all day no problem, but not cpvc.

I've had a few people ask me this, so I think you're not alone. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of insight to offer. I got all my parts at a very small neighborhood hardware store in upper-Manhattan.

(Speaking only for myself, if I could find all the other parts in CPVC, I'd probably just go ahead and use a PVC cross-tee if necessary. I know there's some concern about leaching, but (a) we're talking about a very small area of contact, (b) after a hot wash I always do a long rinse with cold starsan and then drain completely, and (3) ...I can't remember what 3 was because polymer toxins have rotted my brain.)

 

[revco]

I've had a few people ask me this, so I think you're not alone. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of insight to offer. I got all my parts at a very small neighborhood hardware store in upper-Manhattan.

I was able to find a few via Fire Suppression type businesses. These are usually a different color as they're used specifically for fire suppression, but it should be same/same as far as I know as they follow the schedule 40/80 dimensions.

Here's a couple examples out there:

http://www.plumbingandfire.com/cpvc-plastic-fittings/cpvc-cross.html

http://www.platinumfiresupply.com/products/CPVC/CPVCSLIPFTG/CPVCCROSS.aspx

I'd also be inclined to agree that one single non-CPVC part probably isn't going to ruin anything, unless you're using really hot water. You'll be rinsing things out anyway, usually.

 

[kitemanks]

Yeah but I'm planning on not only using this as a washer, and I want the corrosion resistance of the cpvc, which can be used with chemicals. I ended up getting a stainless cross, which is just about the same price it looks like.

The main reason I don't bottle much anymore is it takes a while and is a pain. I'm wanting to take more homebrew to the lake in bottles now. To that end I recently made a pneumatic foot actuated single bottle caper, that I may double to 2 bottles. Being able to wash and sanitize 25 bottles (for me) at a time is great, but I'm making mine stainless so I can use it as a bottle filler too. I plan to get one worked out and then make another so I can bottle, and cap
5 gallons in 10-15 minutes.

 

[kitemanks]

FYI don't bother ordering the cpvc crosses for fire supply. They're a different size SOB!

 

[revco]

Good to know. Before I made my recommendation, I verified that the fire suppresion CPVC followed Sch. 40/80 dimensions. Interesting to find out that it doesn't...or maybe it's because it's Sch. 80 and we're typically using Sch. 40. Hope you didn't have to spend money on that!

A worst case option, you could use two T's to create a funky cross (really just two T's, but you could cement them in opposite directions like a cross). Essentially you'd have one T on top of the other for your keg line feeds and the mainline going up into the keg to wash the main part. A bit kludgy, but it would probably get the job done. Something like this, just line up the vertical posts.

-|
|-

As long as there were sufficient back pressure on the main riser, you should get good feeds out of the two T's.

 

[kitemanks]

I have a disk sander and I'm sanding down the tips and then using a stainless cross as a die and threading them in, and then backing them out. A little primer and cpvc glue and presto.

 

[rbmarliere]

So, you use hot water with PBW to wash and then cold water with starsan to sanitize, right? I'm looking forward in building this using PVC only. But the maximum temperature it can take is about 120F...

 

[j_ettar]

I have ordered pieces for building my manifold all in stainless steel. I already have the pump and the bucket.

Here's my part list:

1/2" stainless fittings :

3 x tee 9$
6 x 75mm nipple 12$
1 stainless cross 6$
4 elbow 90 degrees 10$
8 female coupler 8$
12 x 150mm nipple 42$

Risers:

24 x 3/8 stainless straight tube 7" length ( around 50$, waiting for the quote)

JB weld marine 10$

24 x #6 countersunk 3$


I will apply jb weld in the inside of the countersunk and "weld" it to the riser. Then i will drill the manifold and try to jbweld the risers. If it isnt strong enough, i think i might ask my neighbor if he can weld my 24 risers :S

Total price around 150$! I will edit the post when ill get the manifold built.

Here's the link for the countersunk.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Stainless-S...141?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item27d26d93b5