Siphone with pump, anyone used one?

[deeve007]

Hey guys,

I'm wondering if anyone has used a siphon with a bellows, like the one below?
It's substantially cheaper than the more common type I've seen so would prefer to buy if it's likely to work fine...

 

[AzOr]

how much cheaper is it? It's been a while since I bought my last auto siphon but I remember it being 12 or 15$.
The auto siphon is a proven device. It works well and is easy to sanitize.

 

[IslandLizard]

With that tool, due to the bellows, there is a good chance of unintended aeration, resulting in oxidizing your beer.
Even auto siphons with a bad seal can be guilty of that.

For wort it may be useful. Just keep it clean and well sanitized.
But is it that much cheaper than an auto siphon or racking cane?

I stick with racking canes...

 

[RPh_Guy]

It's substantially cheaper

Regular:
https://www.morebeer.com/products/easy-siphon-38.html ($11)

Mini:
https://www.morebeer.com/products/auto-siphon-starter-mini-516.html ($10)

 

[deeve007]

Regular:
https://www.morebeer.com/products/easy-siphon-38.html ($11)

Mini:
https://www.morebeer.com/products/auto-siphon-starter-mini-516.html ($10)

I'm not in the US... nor in a "western" country... equipment here [Argentina] is far more limited, and around double the price or therabouts for the most part.

 

[RPh_Guy]

Bummer. Well in my opinion it's worth the added expense. Care for it and it'll last for years.

 

[IslandLizard]

You don't need a siphon, just a racking cane. Any hollow stainless or plastic tube (pipe) will do too. If it has that 90° or larger bend it's a cane.
Use a spare dip tube from a keg if need be.

1. Fill the racking hose with Starsan (or other no-rinse sanitizer) through submersion
2. Plug up one end
3. Connect the other end to your racking cane or other hollow tube
4. Stick cane/tube into your full vessel, suspend it if you want to keep it off the bottom
5. Pull the plug out of the hose over a small tub to catch the runnings until just wort (or beer) comes out
6. Plug it back up (or pinch off), move it to your receiving vessel, and unplug

When filling (corny) kegs, stick a QD on the loose end of the hose, and fill through the keg post into a 100% liquid pre-purged keg without opening the lid.

Do "dry runs" using a bucket of water to get the hang of it.

 

[gnef]

I go with a really basic method. I broke too many autosiphons, so I just decided to go with a stainless racking cane.

I use silicone tubing for my transfers, and what I do is stick the tip of a sanitized baster into the end of the tubing, and then suck in on other end to get the siphon started. Once the beer begins to flow, I pinch the tubing, remove the baster, and then put the end of the tubing into my receiving vessel.

I know it is rudimentary, but it has worked well for me for a very long time!

 

[deeve007]

I use silicone tubing for my transfers, and what I do is stick the tip of a sanitized baster into the end of the tubing, and then suck in on other end to get the siphon started. Once the beer begins to flow, I pinch the tubing, remove the baster, and then put the end of the tubing into my receiving vessel.

Wouldn't putting your lips on the end of the tubing potentially infect the beer?

 

[brewbama]

I used one like that in Desert Storm to get kerosene in the space heater. You’d be surprised how cold it got at night in the desert.

 

[gnef]

Wouldn't putting your lips on the end of the tubing potentially infect the beer?

I wasn't very clear in my post. My mouth is only touching the sanitized baster, which I remove once the siphon begins. Does that make more sense?

 

[IslandLizard]

I wasn't very clear in my post. My mouth is only touching the sanitized baster, which I remove once the siphon begins. Does that make more sense?

Similarly, I use a piece of tubing as a mouthpiece sometimes to suck-start a siphon.

The best thing about vinyl tubing is the various sizes fit into one another, easy to make (stepped) adapters.