tubing diameter questions

[66jzmstr]

More noob questions!

1) I'm planning on getting some carboy bungs ( http://www.midwestsupplies.com/small-universal-carboy-bung-drilled.html), but I don't know what outer-diameter tubing to buy to make sure it keeps a snug fit as a blow-off for primary. Any hints?

Also, the auto-siphon and silicone tubing I'm planning to buy are all 1/2" inner-diameter, as I heard complaints about smaller diameters. However, I'll be brewing only 2.5-gallon batches and I plan to bottle, not keg. Is 1/2" inner-diameter still the way to go for the auto-siphon and related tubing?

A future thanks to any who oblige! ]

 

[pericles]

Larger diameter tubing is always better, so yes, go with the half-inch option.

The bung you're buying, however, I THINK is too small to fit a half-inch tube inside. It's designed to snug an air-lock, which is thinner than a half-inch. I'd call and ask, just to be sure.

 

[66jzmstr]

Thanks, pericles! I've just learned that a 1" outer-diameter tube should fit a carboy mouth pretty snug, so I'll go for one of those, I think.

Thanks!

 

[DeafSmith]

1/2 inch ID tubing is too large for your autosiphon. I have one of the large autosiphons and used to use 3/8 ID vinyl tubing so I could get an airtight connection to the autosiphon cane (I couldn't stop it leaking air with larger tubing, even with a hose clamp). Everytime I took the tubing off, it was a struggle to get it back on - I had to soak the end of the tubing in hot water to soften it, then quickly try to jam it onto the autosiphon cane. I finally realized that 3/8 ID silicone tubing is easy to get on, fits snugly, and can be sanitized by boiling (just the tubing, not the autosiphon). It does seem to me that the silicone slows down the flow as compared to the vinyl, but I still like it better.

 

[66jzmstr]

1/2 inch ID tubing is too large for your autosiphon. I have one of the large autosiphons and used to use 3/8 ID vinyl tubing so I could get an airtight connection to the autosiphon cane (I couldn't stop it leaking air with larger tubing, even with a hose clamp). Everytime I took the tubing off, it was a struggle to get it back on - I had to soak the end of the tubing in hot water to soften it, then quickly try to jam it onto the autosiphon cane. I finally realized that 3/8 ID silicone tubing is easy to get on, fits snugly, and can be sanitized by boiling (just the tubing, not the autosiphon). It does seem to me that the silicone slows down the flow as compared to the vinyl, but I still like it better.

Thanks, DeafSmith! Does that mean 1/2" ID tubing would not work with this: http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing/auto-siphon-1-2.html If it won't, and I still want this auto siphon, Should I get the 3/8" ID silicone? Thanks for the help before I drop any cash on my first home brew set-up!