Thermowell questions.

[bad coffee]

So I'm thinking about a thermowell for my fermenting corny.

Is there any reason I can't just buy a spare diptube and use that? Looking at Chi co, they're about $4. The same length of 1/4" stainless is about $8, plus I have to flare and bend it.

Has anyone found food grade underwater epoxy that would work for the end of the tube? I'm trying to think outside the box, because option two is cutting a small piece of 1/4" SS rod and soldering it in.

B

 

[bad coffee]

Hmmm.

Loctite underwater stick epoxy.

http://www.henkelna.com/cps/rde/xch...tredDotUID=productfinder&redDotUID=0000000IA6

B

 

[bad coffee]

Got an email back from Loctite, and they say that their "Fixmaster Metal Magic Stick" is NSF 61 certified for potable water. It looks like the perfect stuff to use on my thermowells, and also on a couple of other E brewing things.

http://www.fastenal.com/web/product...e6f.e34RbhmQbxiOai0Mc310rQjwqQzOnh8?sku=62358
B

 

[JetSmooth]

I've been thinking about this very thing. I would bet you could squirt some of that epoxy up in there, then fold over the end and crimp the sucker and be pretty confident at a liquid-tight seal.

You'll have to update this thread and report back.

 

[DrJerryrigger]

I'm not familiar with the thing your trying to make (a link to something with a pic, and description would help). But I do know my adhesives:
I would recommend PC-11 or PC-7, one is for marine use and the other for plumbing (i forget which is which). They are basically the same but one is a little thicker. It's a two part epoxy paste, and can be found at your local hardware store.
If you use this, or any epoxy, I would highly suggest you try to avoid large areas that would contact wort (or sparge, or whatever your doing).

Also: consider using glass tubing, it's easier to work with than you think. You can bend it any which way with blow torch (flaring it takes some skill i guess, but you could pay me to do that)

 

[DrJerryrigger]

Oh, mash temp... right? Don't use glass, it's an insulator so will not show sudden changes. I would say copper is the way to go, do you have a coil wort cooler you can trim a few inches off of?..

 

[BrewBeemer]

What's wrong with inserting a short SS plug and fusion or Tig welding the plug onto the tubing, a solid done right well?

 

[DrJerryrigger]

What's wrong with inserting a short SS plug and fusion or Tig welding the plug onto the tubing, a solid done right well?

ummmm... cost.

 

[bad coffee]

Cost, and I don't know how to TIG. MIG and stick I can do though.

I live in an NYC apartment and don't have a need (or room,) for a welder. Although those Miller backpacks look fun.

I'm looking outside the box for something I can do in my apt. Also, it's an option for people who can't afford to pay a weldor.

It looks like silver solder might be the best bet. I'm guessig getting a perfect water-tight seal with the epoxy might be difficult.

B

 

[BrewBeemer]

Miller backpacks look fun.

Sorry you win, the Synchrowave 350 weighs only 892# bare before adding the 260 cu/cf bottles, hoses, torch with 100' of stick stinger lead and ground. Not your basic "backpack" unit. If you had the plug pressed in it would talk a weldor 30 seconds to Tig it, costing you a 6 pack at most.
Epoxy against stainless having different expansion ratios sounds like a failure about to happen just give it time, Tig problem solved vs a future flooded probe replacement and a bad brewing day.

This is the best bang for the buck besides weight and size of a small bread box. It's great for on the job boat railing SS welding plus a great price and dual voltage. http://www.google.com/products/cata...og_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CDwQ8wIwAQ#

 

[samc]

Several choices:

1. Whack the end of the dip tube with a hammer. I bet you if done with a proper hit, it won't leak in this application (low pressure).

2. http://www.brewershardware.com/16-Stainless-Steel-Thermowell.html

3. Tape the temp probe to the outside of the corny with insulation over it. I've done 10 ferments or more in a large corny with a thermowell in the center and a back up digital probe on the outside of the keg. They rarely are more than a degree apart. If I knew then what I know now I'd save the cash and buy something else.

 

[bad coffee]

Don't get me wrong. My brew rig will have real SS ground and polished thermowells. But the two fermenting cornies, I'm gonna make out if spare diptubes. I can't spend $5 per foot for 1/4" SS tube when I can get a used dip tube for $4.

I'd gladly pay someone a 6pack to weld a few diptubes. However here in NYC it's not as easy to find a guy.

So I'm gonna build the dip tubes the same day as my CFC. All the soldering stuff will be out anyhow.

B

 

[BrewBeemer]

Use lead free solder to plug the tube or solder in a plug, both DIY items if money is an issue, this should take 5 minutes to accomplish.

 

[bad coffee]

Use lead free solder to plug the tube or solder in a plug, both DIY items if money is an issue, this should take 5 minutes to accomplish.

Yeah, it's basic. But if you don't have the stuff already, you're looking at $40 or so for the torch kit, and another $15 for the lead free solder and flux.

So the $15 stick epoxy is a lot cheaper.

 

[Berniep]

I would be happy to tig the end of a few dip tubes closed for the cost of shipping n
I can back gas but that doesn't seem to be needed in this application. Seems like I could just crimp the end closed and weld it shut. Or if you have a plug I could weld that in.
I can also weld copper.
Just pm menus anyone is interested.
I have drank a few good home-brews because of guys here I could pay a little back.

 

[BrewBeemer]

I would be happy to tig the end of a few dip tubes closed for the cost of shipping n
I can back gas but that doesn't seem to be needed in this application. Seems like I could just crimp the end closed and weld it shut. Or if you have a plug I could weld that in.
I can also weld copper.
Just pm menus anyone is interested.
I have drank a few good home-brews because of guys here I could pay a little back.

Now that there's one great free offer, reward him for his time, gas and rod consumable materials, don't mind the thousands of dollars spent on his Tig machine, gas bottle purchase plus welding hours of training.

 

[Berniep]

The tig welder was the single most expensive hobby purchase I have ever made. I saved and researched for over a year before I bought it.
But it has been quite usefull and enjoyable.
It just occurred to me that crimping might not work. I have not had a corny apart yet. If the tube has to go through a hole close to the diameter of the tube then crimping wont work. I don't know how the tube fits in there. I do have some stainless rod laying around that I could make plugs with if that is necessary it would probably look better anyway. We are going away this weekend but maybe monday I could tear apart my corny to see how it fits together.

 

[BrewBeemer]

The tig welder was the single most expensive hobby purchase I have ever made. I saved and researched for over a year before I bought it.

I'll match you and raise you, called a wife it took longer than a year before I bought it, the marriage license. It comes with a lifetime of payments that never quit called high maintenance.

 

[bad coffee]

Beemer, I'm hoping your wife is not a 'hobby.' At least don't tell her that . . .

The tig welder was the single most expensive hobby purchase I have ever made.

 

[BrewBeemer]

Beemer, I'm hoping your wife is not a 'hobby.' At least don't tell her that . . .

Having a hobby usually means you have more than one of that item, note one at a time in my case get my drift?. Ok call her a fancy novelty instead, she reads this i'll need one of these; http://www.jjchandler.com/tombstone/, now these are funny give it a try.

 

[motobrewer]

weird.

anyway, is there an update on the thermowell? I'd like to get some fermwrap and don't want to drop $25 for a stopper and metal tube.

 

[lemy]

Several choices:

1. Whack the end of the dip tube with a hammer. I bet you if done with a proper hit, it won't leak in this application (low pressure).
+++++++++++++++++++

I don't know why it did not occur to me that I could use a dip tube as a thermowell. That is genious. I was considering blowing $30-$50 on a thermowell for my Johnson A419.

Thanks!

 

[Steven9026]

I used this to make a plug for the bottom of a liquid tube that I use for a thermal well.
http://www.tchristy.com/SpecSheets/FastFix.pdf