Sanke Fermenter Conversion

[kcinpdx]

Question for you all:

It's been suggested that the blow-off port should be straight to make it easier to add an airlock for extended secondaries. I was thinking about making a modification of just cutting the bloe off tub and including a short piece of 3/8" tubing to connect it together. So you would be able to drop a bubbler on it or attach the included SS sweep to hook up a blow off tube....

I think that is a great idea and will likely push me over the edge to get one.

You mentioned in an earlier post that one could (at their own risk of course) take off the blow off tube and add a gas hose. I take it that this means the blow off tube is removeable?

never mind - I am an idiot. Simply add a clamp and hose.... Perhaps I am the guy who should not be trying that!

 

[samc]

Is a 3/8" tube wide enough for a blow off?

 

[smearex]

Will this work on a 7.5 gallon sanke? I just purchased a 1/2 barrel that I was planning on using as a mashtun. Would be awesome if I can use this on the 7.5 gallon tank as a fermintor which I already have.

Also would I be able to use it on either?

 

[Displaced MassHole]

Freaken awesome!!

Derrin-

How long are these going to be available? I cant fit one into the brewing budget right now as I'm in the process of closing on a house, but it would make a great B-day gift to myself in september.

 

[Brewers Hardware]

Is a 3/8" tube wide enough for a blow off?

When i fermented in carboys, I would remove the cap and cup fom a 3-piece airlock and place a 3/8" tube onto the stem during primary as a blow-off tube. So, in my experience it's worked fine even with vigorous wheat beers. Coupled with the fact that most people will be using it with a 15.5 gallon vessel, head space shouldn't be an issue. So, think it'll be fine.

Will this work on a 7.5 gallon sanke? I just purchased a 1/2 barrel that I was planning on using as a mashtun. Would be awesome if I can use this on the 7.5 gallon tank as a fermintor which I already have.

Also would I be able to use it on either?

As long as it has an American Sanke port, it should work fine. The thermowell is a fixed depth of 16" but since the racking arm is adjustable, you'll be able to compensate for a different vessel depth up to 16". If you figure out you really need one with a shorter or no thermowell that can be done too.

How long are these going to be available? I cant fit one into the brewing budget right now as I'm in the process of closing on a house, but it would make a great B-day gift to myself in september.

This is a permanent addition to my product line so as long as everything continues to go OK with this little venture, it'll be available for a very long time. The pre-sale will end on or about August 1st.

 

[smearex]

As long as it has an American Sanke port, it should work fine. The thermowell is a fixed depth of 16" but since the racking arm is adjustable, you'll be able to compensate for a different vessel depth up to 16". If you figure out you really need one with a shorter or no thermowell that can be done too.

The 7.5 is actually the same height as the 15.5 so it sounds like I am golden. This is pretty awesome and actually creates a much cheaper solution then say a 7 Gallon Conicle even the plastic ones.

So the tube that bends at an angle is the airlock?

Thanks

 

[smearex]

I guess they both bend. Sorry I am a noob at this but do I attach an airlock?

 

[Brewers Hardware]

I guess they both bend. Sorry I am a noob at this but do I attach an airlock?

In the prototype in the picture, there is no provision for an airlock, just a blow off tube, which left in a bucket of clean sanitizer is an airlock. That's the way I'd always done it when I fermented in cornies. But, popular demand seems to favor the ability to attach a bubbler so; I'll be cutting that tube so a bubbler can be attached. I'll include the cut/bent tube to make a nice sweep down to a bucket for blow-off.

I just found the caps I was looking for for the racking arm as well so there will be an FDA approved vinyl cap to keep the arm clean and sanitary during fermentation.

I'm about done with the first units in that configuration. I'll post new picts before I ship the first couple orders.

 

[kcinpdx]

I'd love to get my hands on a tall 1/4 - perfect for 5 gallon batches.

 

[Brewers Hardware]

OK, I finished the first 4 pre-production kits. A few new tools later and quite a learning curve on the order to weld things; I'm ready to roll into production I think. Here's a picture of the first one shipping. Missing from the picture is the 3/8" tubing for connecting the blow-off sweep to the blow-off port. The racking arm is shown removed from its' fitting as is the new silicone o-ring for sealing the whole thing.

Edit: I also added the option to purchase without a thermowell built-in. If anyone already ordered one with a thermowell and doesn't want one, let me know and I'll refund you the difference.

 

[springer]

OK, I finished the first 4 pre-production kits. A few new tools later and quite a learning curve on the order to weld things; I'm ready to roll into production I think. Here's a picture of the first one shipping. Missing from the picture is the 3/8" tubing for connecting the blow-off sweep to the blow-off port. The racking arm is shown removed from its' fitting as is the new silicone o-ring for sealing the whole thing.


Edit: I also added the option to purchase without a thermowell built-in. If anyone already ordered one with a thermowell and doesn't want one, let me know and I'll refund you the difference.

I hope its mine

 

[keelanfish]

This looks like a great product Derrin. I'm ordering one this weekend. If I'm happy with it, I'll be ordering at least two more. Cheers!

 

[keelanfish]

Another thought...my brother was driving by a local scrap yard a couple weeks ago and there were two kegs that he could see from the road. He stoped and inquired about them and the man working there said he had one more and was willing to sell them. My brother inspected and they all looked to be in decent condition and offered them $50 for all three. The price was accepted and we now have three sankes (two straight sided & one with the pot belly).

I'm 100% against theft, and I'd like to know if we now own these kegs legally? Is there anyway to find out?

Another reason I like this product is because it doesn't harm the keg in any way. At any time the spear could be reinstalled and the keg used again for its original intent.

 

[samc]

I'm 100% against theft, and I'd like to know if we now own these kegs legally? Is there anyway to find out?

Contacting the brewery that has its name on it would be about the only way I can think of to know for sure. You may have to spend a lot of time and energy on doing so but I applaud your honesty for the attempt. I can't imagine too many legit kegs wind up in the junk yard but it certainly can happen.


Please note this is not an attempt to turn this thread into a keg theft thread.

 

[keelanfish]

Please note this is not an attempt to turn this thread into a keg theft thread.

No, I don't want to take anything away from Derrin or his ingenuity.

 

[mmb]

Pulled the trigger on the non-thermowell option. It's awful having brewing money burning a hole in your pocket....

 

[Brewers Hardware]

No, I don't want to take anything away from Derrin or his ingenuity.

I really really appreciate that.

Since it started as my thread and it is my device, I'd just like to add my .02 If you'd like to debate me I'd appreciate a new thread or a PM as not to derail this thread but I feel like I should comment on this aspect only because I've created a device that could condone the theft of kegs....

This is my personal opinion and is probably very distant from any real legal opinion.

I view keg theft as entirely an intent crime....

If you go buy a keg of beer, pay the $30 and don't return the keg: Clearly theft. If you know the keg could be returned and you offer to buy it or otherwise take it: Clearly theft.

I look at it like this: If you know the keg has a good probability of making it back to its rightful owner and you choose to liberate it and use it for brewing: you stole it. If there is a good probability that the keg is NOT going to make it back to its rightful owner and will otherwise be destroyed anyway (ie rescued from a recycler): you didn't steal it. If I owned a brewery, I'd be pretty pissed to see my hard earned dollars and property turned into a keggle. I'd be a lot more upset to see it shredded and turned into a quart of shredded stainless steel.

Just my opinion.

 

[cashbrewing]

Just got home from work and there it was sittin on the front porch.
Derrin your work is excellent and I was so surprised to see it this quickly, I can't wait to put it to use. Now I'll probably have to buy another one for my second fermenter. Keep up the good work Derrin.
https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/IMG000691.jpg

 

[Brewers Hardware]

Just got home from work and there it was sittin on the front porch.
Derrin your work is excellent and I was so surprised to see it this quickly, I can't wait to put it to use. Now I'll probably have to buy another one for my second fermenter. Keep up the good work Derrin.
https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/IMG000691.jpg

Thanks so much for the compliment! The packaging is still a work in progress so make sure you check every fold. I had to stuff a box in a box and there are items packaged between the two to keep them safe. I'm looking into tubes, but since it has to ship Priority Mail I like to take advantage of my tax dollars and use Priority Mail containers provided they don't compromise the product.

 

[BorderBrewer]

Derrin,
Mine arrived yesterday in excellent condition. The workmanship is superb and I can't wait to use it. Thanks for a great product.

Regards,
BorderBrewer

 

[Bokonon]

Mine arrived today and look fantastic. Can't wait to try them out. Just need to find time to brew now. Might not be for a week or two

 

[caspio]

You're a bad bad man. How did you take control of my mouse and make it click "Add to Cart"? And then you added insult to injury by changing quantity to 2 and making me click update.

 

[Brewers Hardware]

You're a bad bad man. How did you take control of my mouse and make it click "Add to Cart"? And then you added insult to injury by changing quantity to 2 and making me click update.

LOL!

My machinist took last week off so I'm a little further behind than I was hoping to be. I hope to ship the balance of the the orders by mid week.

 

[lamarguy]

Just put in my order...Looks like a good solution.

 

[keelanfish]

Mine arrived today! Packaging was great and it all got here without damage. Is the second small o-ring a spare or are they both supposed to be used in the siphon fitting?

Gonna try it out for the first time on a pale ale, can't wait. Thanks for the HBT special.

 

[Brewers Hardware]

Mine arrived today! Packaging was great and it all got here without damage. Is the second small o-ring a spare or are they both supposed to be used in the siphon fitting?

Gonna try it out for the first time on a pale ale, can't wait. Thanks for the HBT special.

I know, sorry I haven't had time to writ eany instructions.

I use both o-rings in all applications. If you ever need to replace the o-rings let me know and I'll replace them no-charge.

 

[Bokonon]

I know, sorry I haven't had time to writ eany instructions.

I use both o-rings in all applications. If you ever need to replace the o-rings let me know and I'll replace them no-charge.

I didn't even think about that I just put both on since it seemed like they were both needed. I brewed on sunday and pumped right into the sanke sitting in my chest freezer.

I have an airlock on top right now but I think I'll switch out to blowoff or just foil (I generally just use foil inside my chest freezer). The top of the airlock is really close to my chest freezer lid and if by chance I got some blowoff in there it'd get all over the top.

I need to dial in my procedure a bit too, I'm not used to having such a large thermal mass in one container. Since I didn't get my wort chilled down to pitching temps I set my ranco to my temp and came back a few hours later and it was within 1 degree of where I wanted, so I pitched. Checked the next morning and it had dropped another 6 degrees.

 

[springer]

mine arrived yesterday very impressed with the workmanship can't wait to use it

 

[xumbi]

If anyone could report on how well force transferring with co2 to/from a keg using this I would really appreciate it!

I have 1/6 and 1/2 bbl kegs that I was considering cutting the top off, figuring out a cover and how to seal it, and drilling for a spigot. These would save me a lot of trouble, but I don't think I can justify the cost unless force transferring works well.

Thanks!

 

[Bokonon]

If anyone could report on how well force transferring with co2 to/from a keg using this I would really appreciate it!

I have 1/6 and 1/2 bbl kegs that I was considering cutting the top off, figuring out a cover and how to seal it, and drilling for a spigot. These would save me a lot of trouble, but I don't think I can justify the cost unless force transferring works well.

I was planning on doing a water test before actually using it but I ran out of time so I just jumped in.

I'll report back after I transfer but I suspect it will go off without a hitch since it is essentially the same as using a carboy cap with a racking cane except the vessel will take more pressure than a carboy.

My airlock has been bubbling away so there is definitely a good seal. I even sprayed starsan on any potential leak point and there weren't any bubbles