scruffymmh
Well-Known Member
This post relates to racking, for instance from carboy to keg. I have an autosiphon and usually use this. However, I tend to get what I think is a lot of air entering the stream of beer where the top of the cane slides into the tubing. As a result, I believe i'm getting some oxidation by the end of 2-week conditioning. I've read many forums about racking and similar issues but have not been convinced of a solid way to rack, either with autosiphon or otherwise.
I've tried using only a tube and creating the suction by filling with sanitizer, placing one end into the beer and then releasing the other end below the carboy to begin the siphon. While this works, I find it tough to keep the tube airtight and the liquid in the tube while I maneuver the end into the carboy. Plus, my tube tends to coil a little inside the carboy which makes it hard to position the end of the tube where I want it in the beer. I've read about using only the racking cane with a tube and then starting the siphon with liquid in the tube, but I believe I'll have the same problem with air entering the cane-tube junction that I get when I use the cane with the autosiphon.
I know there is a setup using a cane through a carboy hood and blowing air into the top of the carboy through an online air filter connected to the hood, but I don't have that setup and it seems like here should be an easier way.
Obviously there are configurations involving a pump,but I don't have one yet.
So, I'm wondering if you have suggestions about a good way to accomplish a rack from carboy to keg that doesn't require additional hands. Ideally, I'd like to have a tube long enough to extend down into the keg completely, that sits there, while I do whatever I need to do when starting the siphon. If I can solve the air problem at the cane-tubing junction, i think i'd be set. perhaps my tubing is a 1/16" too large in diameter? Can anyone provide me the tried and true Inner diameter of their tubing for use with a racking cane? Any other suggestions, tips, etc. are very much appreciated. Thanks.
I've tried using only a tube and creating the suction by filling with sanitizer, placing one end into the beer and then releasing the other end below the carboy to begin the siphon. While this works, I find it tough to keep the tube airtight and the liquid in the tube while I maneuver the end into the carboy. Plus, my tube tends to coil a little inside the carboy which makes it hard to position the end of the tube where I want it in the beer. I've read about using only the racking cane with a tube and then starting the siphon with liquid in the tube, but I believe I'll have the same problem with air entering the cane-tube junction that I get when I use the cane with the autosiphon.
I know there is a setup using a cane through a carboy hood and blowing air into the top of the carboy through an online air filter connected to the hood, but I don't have that setup and it seems like here should be an easier way.
Obviously there are configurations involving a pump,but I don't have one yet.
So, I'm wondering if you have suggestions about a good way to accomplish a rack from carboy to keg that doesn't require additional hands. Ideally, I'd like to have a tube long enough to extend down into the keg completely, that sits there, while I do whatever I need to do when starting the siphon. If I can solve the air problem at the cane-tubing junction, i think i'd be set. perhaps my tubing is a 1/16" too large in diameter? Can anyone provide me the tried and true Inner diameter of their tubing for use with a racking cane? Any other suggestions, tips, etc. are very much appreciated. Thanks.