POLS $10 HLT Sight Gauge!

[Dog House Brew]

I've drilled a few stoppers, it's not perfect, but works.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

Yes, a #2. I drill the hole a size smaller, and a little keg lube to get through. I did this with my previous temp sensor and it held 10 gal for 48 hours without a drop leaked.

 

[The Pol]

Wow, I am surprised... last time I attempted to drill a hole in one the rubber just twisted and mangled, it was an ugly scene. No bother... I hav 1/2" polycarb coming now. SUX I wanted to use the FREE stuff you sent me.

 

[The Pol]

Tried baking the polycarb to bend it... ran into a problem. The entire length becomes soft and gets distorted when I take it out of the oven. SO, I found another way.

DEEP FRYER! Set it at 375F... insert only the end of the tube that you wish to bend, it will get pliable like a noodle. Take it out of the oil, bend the end at a 90 degree angle on a .5" radius or so. Keeps the length of the tubing cool and straight, only heating and bending the end where you want to bend it. Worked like a charm!

 

[Bobby_M]

Did you try heating it with a propane torch from a few inches away? I know the guys that bend up glass tubing for neon signs do something similar with a mapp torch. They also plug one end a blow into the other end to bulge out any kinked spots in the bend while it's still pliable.

 

[The Pol]

See, then Id have to buy a torch... I already have the deep fryer

 

[Bobby_M]

Everyone needs a torch AND a deep fryer, but I don't have a fryer so I guess we're even.

 

[The Pol]

I dont deal much in propane anymore... if I had a torch Id burn something down, probably my residence. HA

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

Mmmm. Deep Fried Plastic. If you get a run to Huntsville, I'll bet you can sell that idea.

 

[The Pol]

I tell ya, worked like a charm! When I heated the entire tube, it got all limp and crooked. This way I can heat just the end I want to bend.... and hot oil does it fast.

I am sure there is a market for deep fried plastic!

I bought some .25" ID, .50" OD tubing, 8' of it...

One will be on the HLT, one on the MLT... bought a label maker to make labels for the water qtys. I am excited to get this improvement complete along with my silicone hoses.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

Yeah, I got everything together, but have some kind of PID issue I've tried all the settings, so I'll call Auber tomorrow.

 

[The Pol]

Yeah, I got everything together, but have some kind of PID issue I've tried all the settings, so I'll call Auber tomorrow.

Dude, I had an issue too, why arent you asking me?

 

[The Pol]

Sight gauges are coming together!!

Need to plug them in and calibrate is all!!!

Calibrating now and labeling, this is sorta fun!

 

[The Pol]

Here is the MLT... so sweet. Total cost per sight gauge $3.13

YES, under $4 each

 

[gsutton]

That is Awesome! I will copy....once again

 

[The Pol]

"its a Cinderella story....."

It works awesome... it is sweet. Seals without a leak, looks sexxy and actually has a function!

 

[Jif]

When I build my MLT and HLT, you bet I'll make some of these!

 

[The Pol]

When I build my MLT and HLT, you bet I'll make some of these!

Build on beer brother...

 

[G-E-R-M-A-N]

That is Awesome! I will copy....once again

We are loyal to our beer leader! All hail Pol! All hail Pol!


Joking aside, will you be using this for sparge monitoring?

Where did you get the snazzy labels?

 

[G-E-R-M-A-N]

I've drilled a few stoppers, it's not perfect, but works.

I have found if you have a drill press these stoppers drill pretty easy. If your on the fence about getting a press its just another reason.

See, then Id have to buy a torch... I already have the deep fryer

Your nuts man!

 

[The Pol]

We are loyal to our beer leader! All hail Pol! All hail Pol!


Joking aside, will you be using this for sparge monitoring?

Where did you get the snazzy labels?

I am using the MLT gauge to meausure strike water, monitor the fly sparge flow etc. The HLT is just to monitor the ammount of water in the HLT... not REAL necessary, but for $3... why not?

The labels came from my NEW PT-80 label maker from Amazon, $11

By the way, the deep fryer is AWESOME for bending polycarbonate!

 

[The Pol]

I have found if you have a drill press these stoppers drill pretty easy. If your on the fence about getting a press its just another reason.





Your nuts man!

No need to drill a stopper, just get 1/2" OD polycarb and use a standard drilled stopper, nice and tight.

 

[G-E-R-M-A-N]

I am using the MLT gauge to meausure strike water, monitor the fly sparge flow etc. The HLT is just to monitor the ammount of water in the HLT... not REAL necessary, but for $3... why not?

The labels came from my NEW PT-80 label maker from Amazon, $11

By the way, the deep fryer is AWESOME for bending polycarbonate!

Might be a dumb question, but will the grains run up into your sight tube and affect readings?

 

[The Pol]

Oh, they may run up there to a degree... but the readings should not be affected. It is all based on pressure, and grains or no grains, the pressure will be the same. The ID is .25"... so fairly large. We will know VERY soon.

 

[egurney]

What size stopper did you use, and what size hole did you drill in the cooler?

 

[The Pol]

What size stopper did you use, and what size hole did you drill in the cooler?

The DIY article should be published at Brewer's Friend, home brewing resources very soon.

 

[egurney]

Patience Eric, Patience

 

[The Pol]

Sorry, I am under contract there, providing content and some of my DIY stuff is part of that. It has been submitted, so it should be SOOON!

 

[egurney]

No problem. I was just telling myself to have some patience!
I'll be looking for the article.
You should really write a book on brewing equipment.

 

[The Pol]

No problem. I was just telling myself to have some patience!
I'll be looking for the article.
You should really write a book on brewing equipment.

Dont give me any more ideas than I already have!!

Between my "hobby", my job and my OTHER "hobby job" I am pretty busy. I seem to be getting myself deeper as the time goes by though... you never know?