Sight Glass Project

[truckmann]

So $22.45 for the total?

Just let me know when you have one ready for me and where to send the $$$.

 

[its02003]

The initial setup is proving to be a bit challenging since work decided to make me important this week. Figures I take this side responsibility because my job is easy and full of spare time and then my boss decides I need more responsibility. Either way, I am trying QUITE hard to get my inventory straight and the order placed for the "backup" supplies. Luckily they are being sourced by two very prompt shipping companies.

Just a heads up, once I get these rolling out the door, I plan on posting a DIY with all the parts, sizes, numbers and links I can. Just to point out that I am really not in this for profit, I just saw how the one on Williams was built and thought I could (and did) do it cheaper.

Thanks for all the replies I have received and keep em coming, I have 7 right now (I think all of those are spoken for) and 20 more on the way.

I also appreciate the patience everyone has right now with the hectic reality that is pounding my head (Bobby I think its time for an I told you so )

 

[its02003]

ALSO NOTE: As far as I can tell, the shipping of more than one is no more... so the shipping in this case (unless I run the numbers when you PM me and its more which I doubt) is the same for one as it is for 3.... just food for thought.

As I mentioned, I am ordering a few different length nipples to confirm that I can also make these for cooler MLTs. If you are holding out for that, the info should be available this weekend.

Ian

 

[paulthenurse]

Well, I don't know if I'm the first but I just sent off $$ for two. I'll hopefully have them installed on the keggles by Masstoberfest. You should get a bunch of HBT'ers seeing them in action then.

PTN

 

[nathan]

are these ready to go for really real? Can you PM me how I can pay you?

 

[its02003]

The are in fact ready to go "for real" the first couple batches got boxed up last night and will be in the mail system tomorrow.

PM sent with details

 

[MadDwarf]

Sent you a PM about purchase, its02003.

 

[tjferris]

in for 2 if your still doing them sent you a pm

 

[truckmann]

Any updates on these?

 

[Rugger13]

I wouldn't mind hearing an update as well.

 

[its02003]

After this horrible SNAFU with USPS EVERYTHING I have gotten payment for has been shipped. I'm sorry everyone for the delay. I have voiced my displeasure with USPS but am not holding my breath for anything to come from it. I have resolved to not use their online system anymore since all the varibles you have to confirm for shipment aren't even covered in the forms.

Again, sorry for the delays.

 

[Rugger13]

When where they shipped so I know when to expect them?

Thanks

 

[Bobby_M]

I highly recommend using paypal's "print shipping label".

 

[truckmann]

I got mine yesterday and they look just like the pictures. Hopefully I will get a chance to get one installed on my HLT soon and get it calibrated. Looks like it will work great and will make it much easier than climbing the ladder to see how much water is left.

Thanks to its02003 for making these.

 

[Rugger13]

Mine haven't come in yet. Hopefully today.

 

[its02003]

Any and all that I have received payment for have been shipped and all queued PMs have been responded to. I have been trying to keep up with everything plus work and apologize for everything that has blown up the past couple weeks. I hope everyone enjoys theirs and I can tell you I have mine installed on my kegs now and it works like a charm.

Hope ya'll like yours.

 

[paulthenurse]

Well, I've used mine on two batches now and I have some thoughts. Halfway thru the first batch I was kicking myself for having installed these. The tube has a very tight ID and so if any gas bubbles get in there, like when your wort is boiling merrily away, you are screwed. The ID is too small for the bubbles to readily pass up to the top of the tube, they just sit there and clog up the works. And you just drilled a 9/16th inch hole in the bottoms of your keggle and mash tun in order to install them. You can't take it out and it doesn't work left in. AAAArrrgh.

But wait, things aren't that bad. I was worried about the potential problem of losing an entire batch by snapping off the tube while either mashing or boiling because there is not a way to stop the flow if that happens. I backed out the compression fitting, added a shut off valve and installed a bigger piece of tubing with a larger ID. And it works well now. I'd say it's a decent design with a flaw that was relatively easy/inexpensive to fix. I'm not trying to hammer you or your design. It was pretty clearly a prototype and prototypes, by definition, aren't perfect. I doubt I would have gotten off my ass and installed one if you hadn't done the legwork, cobbled together a few, and offered them at a very reasonable price. But you would be well advised to increase the size of the tube, and to add a shut off valve above the elbow and below the tube. I also added an eyebolt at the top of the keg to catch and hold the top of the tube. Also, I had to pony up $22 bucks for a 9/19" drill bit to install the thru hulls. And the larger compression fitting and tubing added more $$ to the final bill. Dammmit!

Ya, on second thought, I still wish I hadn't jumped for these

But other than THAT, how did you enjoy the play, Mrs Lincoln?

PTN

 

[Bobby_M]

The odd thing is that I've used that diameter tube a few batches and didn't have the same bubbling problem but I also had a short nipple on the inside of the connection to divert bubbles away from the input. If a large diamter tube is the only way to make it work, I found that Mcmaster has a thinwall but higher temp capable polycarbonate tube available. It's twice as hard to find on their site, but it's

9176T12
(Same as 9176T1)
Durable Clear Polycarbonate Tubing 1/4" ID, 3/8" OD, 1/16" Wall Thickness, 2'L
In stock at $2.16 Each

it's rated up to 250F.

 

[its02003]

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you had. Like I said, I have boiled a few batches of just water and 2 batches of brew and have not seen any problems like the bubbling you mention. I also don't necessarily think that the shutoff valve is all that important. The broken tube is easy enough to plug with something and the ID of the tubing is small enough that at the most you might lose a pint or two. I appreciate the suggestions and I'll take them into consideration. If you aren't happy with them, you can send them back to me and I will refund your money.

 

[paulthenurse]

I'm not complaining. Well, I guess I am, but I don't mean it in a complaining way. It was something I wanted and so I bought it. Once installed, like all new things, there are some unexpected things to consider. I hadn't considered that bubbles in the tube would be a problem, I was basing that on my experience with a similar sight tube on large coffee pots. So I figured out a solution to the bubble problem that worked. I'm happy.

As far as the shut off valve goes, to me it just makes sense. I have a thing about thru hulls. (I was raised around boats and some things were beat into my head. 20 miles out to sea is not the time to start thinking about "What do I do if that thru hull breaks, or the hose bursts?") I need to have a valve on the thru hull or it would just make me crazy. I supose I could have whittled out a bung and tied that to the device so if the tube snapped off I could ram it in and stop the flow. To suggest that if the tube snaps off just above the valve that you would only lose a pint or two isnt realistic. If the tube snaps off you will lose everything above the level of the break unless you can stop the flow. And trying to hammer a bung into a broken tube to stop the flow isn't realistic. A valve is a much simpler, easier and smarter way to go.
Again, I'm not hammering you or your design, just offering suggestions on how to improve it and make it more user friendly. And thanks for the offer to take it back, but I've got it where I want it now, and if I did send it back I'd not only not have a working sight valve but I'd have a 9/16" hole two inches off the bottom of my keggle.

PTN

 

[Bobby_M]

What about your lost low-volume resolution due to the valve height?

 

[Rugger13]

Mine finally came. It was almost a month since I paid via Paypal, but there here. Thanks for putting the work in on this Ian.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[its02003]

Again, my apologies for the shipping problems. I didn't realize how long it would take to get these to you guys once the post office had them in their possession. I am going to the post office today to see if they can waive their dimensions criteria for priority mail so that these will arrive quicker in the future. Looks like I planned everything out but this part.... I'm very underimpressed with their speeds on parcel post.

 

[eccsynd]

I got mine the other day. They look awesome. Thanks Ian.

 

[its02003]

I would just like to let everyone know that people have been getting them over the last 4-5 days, so if you haven't seen yours yet, it is coming.

Also, as you all install them and such, I would still like to see how they are working. You all have my email if you ordered from me so you can email me with updates.

Thanks,

Ian

 

[nathan]

Mine arrived!
I have a buddy who's handier than I am that will be doing my conversions next week! I can't wait!

 

[truckmann]

I finally go mine installed in my HLT and brewed with it (actually about a week and a half ago) I had some trouble getting it sealed where water wasn't seeping through for some reason. I switched to the second one that I bought and tightened it down and it didn't leak. Not sure what the difference was, maybe just my tightening method.

Oh well once I got it installed and not leaking it worked great. Much nicer not having to climb the ladder to look into my HLT to see how much water is in there.

 

[CrookedChris]

Still waiting... :-( hopefully any day now

 

[nathan]

scheduled install on fri!

 

[CrookedChris]

still waiting...