Someone has to make a corny keg dip tube thermowell

[bleme]

I think you guys are missing my point. A used corny keg liquid out dip tube is $5.00. Cut it down to 16" and weld the end shut. Debur and polish. This would take maybe an hour if one knew what they were doing. Put it in the keg. Take the liquid out post and remove the poppet and install it. Run your Inkbird temp probe through it and there you go you can ferment under pressure with your thermowell in the wort. I think this would cost maybe $20 at the most.

Nobody is going to work for $20/hour. On top of wages (which are at least that much) you have payroll taxes, workers comp, health insurance, sick leave, and welding gases/materials. That doesn't even touch building rent and utilities or a profit for the owner. Some people can afford that. The rest of us DIY.

 

[ong]

Did you use a tubing cutter like what is used for copper pipe?



I tried that once and it was able to FINALLY cut through 1 dip tube after about 20 minutes of turning. The brand new cutter had to be thrown out afterwards because it was so dulled. It couldn't even put an indent in the 2nd one.



(i'm one of the ones that just paid jaybird to do it, 3x thermowell lids and 15x gas dip tubes).... money well spent.

I’ve just used a hacksaw or a dremel, then touch up with a rattail file. It only takes a couple of minutes.

 

[Jwin]

I’ve just used a hacksaw or a dremel, then touch up with a rattail file. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Did the same here
Hacksaw blades wear out after a few, but they are cheap.
I put mine in a vice with a cut piece of silicone hose around it. Definitely helps with the gas tubes to have that extra hand.

 

[Dr_Jeff]

Did you use a tubing cutter like what is used for copper pipe?

I tried that once and it was able to FINALLY cut through 1 dip tube after about 20 minutes of turning. The brand new cutter had to be thrown out afterwards because it was so dulled. It couldn't even put an indent in the 2nd one.

(i'm one of the ones that just paid jaybird to do it, 3x thermowell lids and 15x gas dip tubes).... money well spent.

I used an old tubing cutter that was in the tool box. Have used it several times to cut dip tubes. Just a minute or two and it was through.

 

[bleme]

I'm sure I'm being exceptionally dense, but why would it matter if the tube was too long?

 

[raysmithtx]

I have 3 of these lids. If the tube is any longer you won't be able to get it in the keg.

 

[bleme]

Are we still talking about replacement dip tubes? Aren't they made to fit in the keg when you buy them?

 

[Jwin]

I have 3 of these kids. If the tube is any longer you won't be able to get it in the keg.

Only two kids here.
I think the little one could fit in keg still.

Anyway, I think rstx is referencing the lids with built in thermowells.
Not sealed keg dip tubes.

 

[tld6008]

You don't really want the temp probe in the liquid, unless you are using a controller like the BrewPi. With the temp probe in the keg, you will have a very long time lag between the temperature response and the chamber temperature, leading to over and under shoots in temperature. Better to tape the temp probe to the outside of the keg with a little bit of insulation over the probe (1/2" of foam.) This gives you a weighted average of the liquid temp and the chamber temp, heavily weighted towards the liquid temp, and helps prevent over/under shoots of the liquid temp.

Brew on

FWIW I think the outside location is the way to go. I use a small Styrofoam block with a groove to house the probe and then hold that with a bungie cord against the side of the carboy or keg, easy to remove/install.

 

[FunkedOut]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/forum/threads/corny-keg-dip-tube-thermowell.643075/

 

[Crushdaley]

Thank you FunkedOut! This is exactly the info I was looking for! You rock!

 

[schematix]

 

[jimmayhugh]

Here's how I did it.