Really clear silicone tubing

[Gartywood]

I ordered it last week as I was too impatient to wait for the reply. I got it fast just like my last 2 orders (should have added it to my last order to save shipping. I'm not sure but It actually appears to be more clear than my purchase from a competitor and it might be slightly less "floppy" but will accept tight radius bends without collapsing. If there is a difference it's slight but Bobby's is better. if there isn't I must just be so happy with bobby that I'm slighted against the other companies. Now only if I hadn't forgotten/had realized that I needed more stuff before I placed this order.

 

[Chriso]

Damn - This looks nice - but my system is entirely set up for 3/8" tubing, not 1/2".

Is this worth switching out all of my fittings for? I'd need new nipples on mash tun + 2 boil kettles - but I would have to find some way to adapt my 3/8" CFC as well.

I currently use the braided vinyl Menards/Home Depot tubing (Wells brand) and it seems to work adequately. I guess I just don't notice the plastic off flavor?

 

[brewingmeister]

Silicone comes in 3/8 size, just to give you another option. Maybe not the clearer variety yet though.

 

[Chriso]

Yeah brewingmeister, I've always hesitated to deal with the "normal" silicone stuff, I never liked the opacity of it - just seeing this clearer stuff has me tempted to jump ship to the silicone side.

(Plus I wanted to buy it from Bobby. )


edit; now that i'm looking into whether to buy a plate chiller instead of an immersion, i might be switching out to 1/2" fittings anyways. BLARGH. Always something else I need to go spend a bunch of money on.

 

[ThreeDogsNE]

Is this stuff flexible enough to use in a peristaltic pump?

 

[Bobby_M]

It may be but i can't be sure. I know that true peristaltic rated tubing is softer.

 

[wantonsoup]

Any way to get this in 3/8 ? I'm a new homebrewer buying silicone for all the tubing to avoid phthalates, and every other part of the system I'm putting together is 3/8".

 

[Bobby_M]

I can't get the same kind of pricing on 3/8" because of the low volume I'd move. The demand for 3/8" is very low due to how incompatible it is in pumped systems.

 

[thebigt85]

It may be but i can't be sure. I know that true peristaltic rated tubing is softer.

I believe you're right, we use Cole Parmer Masterflex Platinum tubing at work on our peristaltic pumps, and it seems softer and slightly more translucent than the tubing I've seen is sold online at the major homebrew stores. YMMV though. On a side note, anyone know a good way to get rid of stains on tubing? After running a stout though my tubing recently it seems to be darker in color

 

[lactardjosh]

Any way to get this in 3/8 ? I'm a new homebrewer buying silicone for all the tubing to avoid phthalates, and every other part of the system I'm putting together is 3/8".

Amazonsupply.com has the clear silicone 3/8" tubing. Like Bobby said, it's more expensive than the 1/2".

 

[Irrenarzt]

I believe you're right, we use Cole Parmer Masterflex Platinum tubing at work on our peristaltic pumps, and it seems softer and slightly more translucent than the tubing I've seen is sold online at the major homebrew stores. YMMV though. On a side note, anyone know a good way to get rid of stains on tubing? After running a stout though my tubing recently it seems to be darker in color

These stains are permanent. I tried to flow fairly strong caustic through the lines at one point to try to abate this staining without luck. If caustic won't fix it, not much else will...

 

[barrooze]

That's awesome... I would use that for a "sight glass"...

Bobby, do you have any comment on stamandster's remark? I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Bobby_M]

I don't see any reason why not. To use silicone as a sight glass, you'd want to put a bulkhead in on the top and bottom probably based off my high flow elbarb. It would end up being more expensive than the WLSL kit due to the 1/2" NPT fitting sizes. It would be more manageable via 1/4" NPT parts but that would require smaller silicone tubing.

If I had to build this right now, it would be about $14 each for the top and bottom bulkhead, about $4 in silicone, and then $3 for the clamps.

 

[barrooze]

I don't see any reason why not. To use silicone as a sight glass, you'd want to put a bulkhead in on the top and bottom probably based off my high flow elbarb. It would end up being more expensive than the WLSL kit due to the 1/2" NPT fitting sizes. It would be more manageable via 1/4" NPT parts but that would require smaller silicone tubing.

If I had to build this right now, it would be about $14 each for the top and bottom bulkhead, about $4 in silicone, and then $3 for the clamps.

I was thinking of using the high flow elbarb as well, but just 1 and using an eyebolt on top like you do for your standard sightglass. Would there be enough thread on the elbarb for 2 locknuts, at least 1 SS washer, a silicone o-ring, and a 1.2 mm thick kettle wall? (I should probably just go with the WLSL kit, huh? )

 

[Bobby_M]

Silicone tubing isn't stiff enough for an eyebolt to hold it upright. It's basically got to be stretched between two barbs. The ELbarb has female threads so I'd make it weldless with a 1/2" to 3/8" hex bushing, SS washer and silicone gasket.