Quick, cheap & easy dip tube for bottling bucket

[jbb3]

Been getting my gear ready for my first 5 gal AG batch. With previous batches, it was always a pain to get most all the beer out of the bottling bucket. Precariously tilting the bucket in order to keep the beer covering the outlet hole...

Not any more! Problem solved with a wine cork and a 1/2" 90 deg pvc elbow.

First, cut off about 1/3 of the wine cork and drill a 7/16" hole in the middle.



Then shave down the tapered end of the cork so that it will fit into the spigot hole in the bucket.

Next, cut about 1/4" off one leg of the elbow and sand the edges smooth.

How much that is cut off will depend on the height of the spigot from the bottom of the bucket. Place the pre-cut elbow on the bottom next to the spigot hole to get an idea of how much to cut. You'll want about 1/8" space from the bottom of the elbow to the bottom of the bucket.



Push the cut/flat end of the cork into the elbow to make sure of a snug fit. It needs to seal fairly well in order to keep the siphon effect going when the beer gets down below the spigot hole.



Pushing the cork into the spigot hole will take a little more force and some wiggling so pull the cork back out of the elbow and push the tapered/shaved end of the cork into the spigot hole. The push the elbow over the cork.

And there you have it.



About 15 minutes worth of work to ensure you get every drop of goodness!

 

[dlaramie08]

Can you sanitize cork?


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[jbb3]

Can you sanitize cork?

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hmmm... I haven't done any research but ASSUMED since they sit in wine bottles for months and years, they should be fine. But of course, they don't drill a hole in them and expose the interior of the cork??

I did run star san through it but that's a good question.

The ABV in wine is a bit higher than beer but I hope it is enough?? I already bottled a 2-1/2 gal batch with it.

Guess I'll find out...

Maybe I should go to a synthetic cork??

 

[EJay]

A threaded 90 degree elbow will just screw on tail of the spigot, no cork needed. There's a thread about this somewhere (I think Revvy wrote it) and it works really well. I end up with maybe an ounce left over in the bucket.

 

[kh54s10]

I just got a threaded cpvc elbow. I had to shorten the in threaded end so it sits 1/16" above the bottom. It screws on the spigot in place of the nut.


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[dlaramie08]

hmmm... I haven't done any research but ASSUMED since they sit in wine bottles for months and years, they should be fine. But of course, they don't drill a hole in them and expose the interior of the cork??



I did run star san through it but that's a good question.



The ABV in wine is a bit higher than beer but I hope it is enough?? I already bottled a 2-1/2 gal batch with it.



Guess I'll find out...



Maybe I should go to a synthetic cork??

Not saying it won't work, just something to think about since ALL of the beer is going to be exposed to it.


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[jbb3]

Not saying it won't work, just something to think about since ALL of the beer is going to be exposed to it.

No I dig it. When you stop and think about it, it certainly could introduce an unnecessary risk to a good batch of beer. Glad you brought it up! Even though by doing so you shot down my handy work...

But to think it could ruin a batch of beer?? That cork is going in the garbage...

 

[hannibalmdq]

I just got a threaded cpvc elbow. I had to shorten the in threaded end so it sits 1/16" above the bottom. It screws on the spigot in place of the nut.


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What this guy said. Take your bottling spigot to Home Depot or Lowes or whatever hardware store is around you. Find a threaded PVC elbow and use it in place of the plastic nut. One of the best ways to spend 50 cents.