SS autosiphon... any interest??

[Yambor44]

I'd be interested.

 

[Navy_Chief]

Depending on the cost I could be interested in one of these also.

 

[bobbytuck]

Count me in, too. I've always wondered why a SS autosiphon wasn't yet available.

 

[dslater]

Great idea. I've been thinking about doing this with copper, but haven't gotten past the thought process. One question. What kind of tubing will you use to transfer hot wort? Can food grade tubing take those temps?

 

[CidahMastah]

I'd be interested too - was looking around for one recently to dodge a ball valve purchase. Got the ball valve, but still would be interested.

 

[Irrenarzt]

I'd be in. I'm tired of buying new plastic ones. I've given those frogs who make them now a LOT of my money.

 

[emjay]

Great idea. I've been thinking about doing this with copper, but haven't gotten past the thought process. One question. What kind of tubing will you use to transfer hot wort? Can food grade tubing take those temps?

Yes, silicone tubing is fine. Do not use vinyl tubing with hot wort though.

 

[Golddiggie]

I love having ball valves in all my kettles. It makes things so much easier. Plus it means you can use either a CFC or plate chiller for your wort.

I'll be using as many 'off the shelf' parts as possible on the SS autosiphon assembly. So that rules out any specially formed silicon parts. I'm looking to have the machine shop do as little as possible to each assembly, to keep costs down. All the metal forming, milling, and lathe work will be done by them. I'll probably (at least initially) do the assembly and testing to ensure the item works.

I hope to have files/first round prototypes very soon (need to get on my buddy, but not too hard since he IS doing this for free/homebrew :rockin... Once I have something that works, I'll be able to go to machine shops to see who can manufacture it as a good rate, and do it up right. I might get a few shops to make one, to show me what they can do before I decide upon a single shop.

Of course, this could be an item that costs more than is viable for most people to get. Or it might take a large order to get the price per assembly to a reasonable level. I won't know until I get to that point.

One item that might appeal to people... This will be 100% machined/assembled within the US. I can't say where the raw materials/items will come from (I don't have control over that) but it will be made (at least initially) within machine shops within the New England area. I could see it maybe shifting to another manufacturing location within the US, but (while I have any say in the matter) it will remain within the US. Knowing that I'm helping the local/country economy is of high value to me.

 

[yessri]

Subscribed and interested.

 

[msexton]

Not sure if you saw my edit and link. It looks like you would not need the silicone valve custom made. If you search for duck bill one way valve, I'm sure you could find a supplier that would have one that would work for your intended purpose. Then no machining would be needed for the stainless tube.

If you did see the link and it looks like it would not work, please disregard this post.

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

subscribed. I'd pay good money to never have to worry about breaking another plastic one. I've been through too many to count...

 

[Golddiggie]

msexton, saw that, but I've also found 5/8" OD silicone rubber balls that could do the trick for a very low price. I would just need to order a pack to test with.

I'm not really sure what the final valve design will be, but I do know it needs to maintain a low cost, easy to get in the future, and such. So something that's made by one company is kind of out.

I might reach out to the place you provided the link to, to see what they can offer. Just not very hopeful that they can offer something that will do the job, without costing more than is reasonable. Plus, with my idea, I could include a couple of spare parts with the item so that the buyer won't need to worry about sourcing them later. IMO, not enough companies do that, for the cheap (and easily restocked) items.

 

[emjay]

msexton, saw that, but I've also found 5/8" OD silicone rubber balls that could do the trick for a very low price. I would just need to order a pack to test with.

I'm not really sure what the final valve design will be, but I do know it needs to maintain a low cost, easy to get in the future, and such. So something that's made by one company is kind of out.

I might reach out to the place you provided the link to, to see what they can offer. Just not very hopeful that they can offer something that will do the job, without costing more than is reasonable. Plus, with my idea, I could include a couple of spare parts with the item so that the buyer won't need to worry about sourcing them later. IMO, not enough companies do that, for the cheap (and easily restocked) items.

If you're going to be paying for the stainless steel, I don't think it makes a ton of sense to try and save a few bucks on a silicone part if it really is better. I mean, the price needs to be reasonable, but anybody expecting not to pay significantly more than what it costs for a plastic autosiphon is simply being delusional and/or totally unreasonable.

 

[wildwest450]

Wet blanket time, this will never happen.

just sayin'


_

 

[emjay]

Wet blanket time, this will never happen.

just sayin'

_

Just based on history, or do you have an actual reason *why*?

 

[Bigscience]

Plus, with my idea, I could include a couple of spare parts with the item so that the buyer won't need to worry about sourcing them later. IMO, not enough companies do that, for the cheap (and easily restocked) items.

+1 to that. I'd pay for an add on of spare parts. No matter how cool a design you come up with, it's useless when I lose that critical part, which I will.

I was restringing my weed-eater this weekend and lost the little spring in the yard. Had to buy a whole new head.

 

[wildwest450]

Just based on history, or do you have an actual reason *why*?

Simply based on many other threads promise of mass producing a "neat" brewing tool.

I hope he proves me wrong.


_

 

[Yambor44]

I hope he proves me wrong.


_

Me too........

 

[corncob]

Here's another thought, If the cost of making a "typical" total SS auto-siphon would be too high but people are interested in a 1/2" model for use with silicon tubing, why not make a hand operated peristaltic starter? It could just be a few wheels that are in a device you just grip and slide down the tube to start the siphon, spring loaded to disengage. Then all you'd need to provide would be a 1/2" cane with a tip. Easier to clean with fewer product contact parts. Might not work but just a thought.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristaltic_pump


Dibs on beta tester.

Bigscience, I really like this idea. I have been tossing a design for this very thing around in my head for a year or so. I was thinking more along the lines of something you squeeze with one hand repeatedly to actuate--like a stapler. There are a few significant problems to overcome, but it frees you from all product-contact issues, which is neat.

I like siphoning to move wort/beer around. I just hate getting started. I had an autosiphon once, but tossed it after two infections in a row. I bet it works great for siphoning diesel fuel, though.

I bet the SS version ends up retailing for $120. May still be worth it to some, but ultimately a small market. If you can invest enough up front to:
1.have your tubing drawn for you (very, very thin--stainless sells by the pound) and
2. roll form the o-ring grooves right in the tubing and keep the valve parts count to 2 (ball and seat) or similar--remember that you can tolerate a fair amount of leakage as the valves only have to seal while pumping and you do that fast anyway

I believe this could be commercially viable, neglecting the patent issues, of course.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Did this idea die?

 

[Golddiggie]

The person who has access to the rapid prototyping equipment (a buddy of mine) doesn't have free time to work on it with me currently. Plus, I'm using CO2 to push my brew from fermenter, so it's not really an issue for me.

I am working with a machine shop on some other projects and will see if I can get some help there. I'll probably need to provide complete plans to them though, so it's really turned into a back-burner item.

 

[thelorax121]

Am I the only person who has never broken an autosiphon? The argument of fragility is the most common naysayer against them but I still don't understand what you have to do to break them that makes them more fragile than a regular racking cane.

Having said that, I have moved to co2 pressure transfers to eliminate all plastic from my setup, so while I think this idea is great, and recognize the potential to use it on both sour and clean beers, I STILL don't understand the hate for the original design for brewers on a budget.

 

[ColoHox]

Sorry to necro-thread this...

Golddiggie, anything ever come of this? After two broken racking canes and cracks galore on my other, I need something more durable.

 

[weirdboy]

What the heck are you doing to your racking canes?

I am trying to understand how you can be breaking them so easily. Are you tossing them around when you use them? Practicing your golf swing with them?

 

[ColoHox]

What the heck are you doing to your racking canes?

I am trying to understand how you can be breaking them so easily. Are you tossing them around when you use them? Practicing your golf swing with them?

Sword fighting my brew buddies, naturally.

Nothing out of the ordinary, really. And I need to include a thief in that list. This has been over the course of a few years, but I want one that won't break...is that too much to ask.

My other concern are the cracks in the plastic. If I can see them, then they are definitely large enough for bacteria.

 

[emjay]

Get a stainless steel turkey baster for a wine thief. Only plastic I have left now is my autosiphon and bottle filler...

 

[Golddiggie]

Sorry to necro-thread this...

Golddiggie, anything ever come of this? After two broken racking canes and cracks galore on my other, I need something more durable.

I'm thinking about it again. I now have a small metal lathe and plan to get a mill soon (after the next job starts). I'll probably prototype with some materials that are easier to machine.

I have been working on an item that makes a siphon unnecessary even for carboys (plastic ones at least). I have just a little more work to go on that item.

 

[ColoHox]

I'm thinking about it again. I now have a small metal lathe and plan to get a mill soon (after the next job starts). I'll probably prototype with some materials that are easier to machine.

I have been working on an item that makes a siphon unnecessary even for carboys (plastic ones at least). I have just a little more work to go on that item.

OOHhh a metal lathe...thats Great! I'm subbed for future updates. I guess I'll get a turkey baster for now. Thanks!

 

[Golddiggie]

OOHhh a metal lathe...thats Great! I'm subbed for future updates. I guess I'll get a turkey baster for now. Thanks!

I haven't used a thief or anything else to pull a sample in a long time. When I send the wort into the fermenting vessel, there's enough left in the lines to get my sample. When I transfer into serving kegs, there's also typically enough in that hose to get my FG reading. I just fill the 4 dram vials for either reading and don't worry about it. Which reminds me, I need to get the FG for a previous batch and OG for the current batch.

I've been using the mini lathe (a 7x14 model) to make things. So far the ones I'm rather proud of include a squib rod for my 1911 and adapter so that I can use my SureFire flashlight (over a decade old) on my AR15. The flashlight body is under 1" OD, so the adapter makes it 1" OD that's good for the mounts. I'm also going to offer up some squib rods to people on NES (for free) due to getting some good brass rod from a scrap yard.
The item for the PET carboys just needs to be drilled now, and I'll be able to start installing the fittings. It will have a gas and liquid post on it (dip tube under the liquid post). I need to test it to see what PSI level it gets pushed out at. My goal is to have it eject at 4-5psi. That will prevent people from using too much gas pressure to do a transfer. Once it's working, I might put up a picture or two.

 

[ScubaSteve]

A single SS ball bearing should work well for the valve...look inside a spray bottle for inspiration...

Large sized balls are often sold as "hunting shot" for a slingshot.