Why no higher end picnic taps?

[FromZwolle]

i like having the tap covers to keep bugs and oxygen (mold growth) out of the faucet ends.

Anyone have a clever trick or tip to do the same with a picnic tap? They stay inside the keg-o-rator, but I tend to have them in service for a good deal longer before finishing the kegs and rinsing out.

 

[tld6008]

I clean the lines and tap when the keg kicks. I just had one kick last week that was filled in April of last year. Visually no sign of debris or anything unwanted in the tap or QD. Take the valve out and soak in in PBW while I flush the QD and hose for 20 minutes then rinse and Stansan

 

[tld6008]

i like having the tap covers to keep bugs and oxygen (mold growth) out of the faucet ends.

Anyone have a clever trick or tip to do the same with a picnic tap? They stay inside the keg-o-rator, but I tend to have them in service for a good deal longer before finishing the kegs and rinsing out.

Keep the taps in Starsan, I have been doing this for years

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

So I got my stainless steel Pluto Beer Gun today. Total foam. I have 12 PSI in a fridge at about 38F. Can be kinda foamy with the IPA I have with the picnic taps but so far total foam with the Pluto. Have tried with the adjustment screw in more (lower flow but I think more foam) or out more - more rapid flow but still super foamy. I think I need lower PSI on the keg and/or longer tubing (have 3 feet). Other thoughts?

 

[jddevinn]

So I got my stainless steel Pluto Beer Gun today. Total foam. I have 12 PSI in a fridge at about 38F. Can be kinda foamy with the IPA I have with the picnic taps but so far total foam with the Pluto. Have tried with the adjustment screw in more (lower flow but I think more foam) or out more - more rapid flow but still super foamy. I think I need lower PSI on the keg and/or longer tubing (have 3 feet). Other thoughts?

What diameter lines do yo have? Lowering the keg pressure and keeping the same temp will change the carbonation level.

Did you let the gun sit in the fridge and get cold before trying it?

 

[tld6008]

I have 9 ft on all my tap lines, serve at 12 psi....No unwanted foam

 

[bracconiere]

What are you going to do with a faucet 3/16" tall?

LOL, pour a beer in a minature beer stein for my little figurine of Jimmy carter.....

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

What diameter lines do yo have? Lowering the keg pressure and keeping the same temp will change the carbonation level.

Did you let the gun sit in the fridge and get cold before trying it?

1/4 inch ID, 3 ft of line. Yes, I don’t really want to change the carbonation level.

Maybe let it get cold? Probably could use some more of that and some more line

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

I have 9 ft on all my tap lines, serve at 12 psi....No unwanted foam

Thanks. Yeah I think I do need to connect the Pluto Gun to more line. Used 3 ft of 1/4 ID line which worked OK with the picnic tap though

 

[bracconiere]

Thanks. Yeah I think I do need to connect the Pluto Gun to more line. Used 3 ft of 1/4 ID line which worked OK with the picnic tap though

now i have to try running my picnic tap, with analog flow control! thanks for the idea! (did you run the picnic tap full open? or like play it by feel flow control?)

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

now i have to try running my picnic tap, with analog flow control! thanks for the idea! (did you run the picnic tap full open? or like play it by feel flow control?)

Run picnic taps full open.

 

[bracconiere]

Run picnic taps full open.

well, it was still a good idea! i forgot to try it last pour......

 

[jddevinn]

Thanks. Yeah I think I do need to connect the Pluto Gun to more line. Used 3 ft of 1/4 ID line which worked OK with the picnic tap though

Line length will definitively help (or EVA Barrier small ID line if ya can figure out how to hook it up.) If the gun was warmer then the beer that wasn't helping either.

http://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

Line length will definitively help (or EVA Barrier small ID line if ya can figure out how to hook it up.) If the gun was warmer then the beer that wasn't helping either.

http://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/

Thanks - I'm thinking this 3/16" ID might work - the Pluto Gun barb fit easily onto the 1/4" so I think 3/16" would work there, and at the other end, I think I could squeeze it over the 1/4" tailpiece (I'm using Sanke kegs). Pic is what I tried today with the 3 feet of 1/4" ID "Ultra Barrier Silver." This was super foamy at the 14 PSI I've been using. Either that or just use a lot longer 1/4" line I guess - like 9 feet instead of 3, which seems unwieldy.

https://www.morebeer.com/products/ultra-barrier-antimicrobial-pvc-free-tubing-316.html

 

[bracconiere]

@HB2 HughBHomeBrew i gotta tell you, men are from mars and women are from venus....because looking at that it must be another galaxy! i'm familar with pin lock, ball lock, picnic taps, i've even read about fancy perlick taps....but a sanke, with a pluto tap? out of this world!

 

[Brewbuzzard]

LOL, pour a beer in a minature beer stein for my little figurine of Jimmy carter.....

That would be Billy Carter. "Can I have another beer please?"

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Thanks - I'm thinking this 3/16" ID might work - the Pluto Gun barb fit easily onto the 1/4" so I think 3/16" would work there, and at the other end, I think I could squeeze it over the 1/4" tailpiece (I'm using Sanke kegs). Pic is what I tried today with the 3 feet of 1/4" ID "Ultra Barrier Silver." This was super foamy at the 14 PSI I've been using. Either that or just use a lot longer 1/4" line I guess - like 9 feet instead of 3, which seems unwieldy.

https://www.morebeer.com/products/ultra-barrier-antimicrobial-pvc-free-tubing-316.htmlView attachment 705565

There are online draft system calculators that do a good job. I can say from experience you need more than 3 ft. Also, the thickness of the tubing wall has a large effect (resistance).

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

Ok. Definitely made a mistake on too short line and too big ID - 1/4”. Had some 3/16 ID line - 10 feet and now the Pluto Gun is working like a champ. I think the OP would like it - hefty, stays put, shouldn’t break as easy as the plastic picnic taps.

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Ok. Definitely made a mistake on too short line and too big ID - 1/4”. Had some 3/16 ID line - 10 feet and now the Pluto Gun is working like a champ. I think the OP would like it - hefty, stays put, shouldn’t break as easy as the plastic picnic taps.View attachment 705794

Glad you found your fix. Isn't this a great forum and a great bunch of people. Go brewers

 

[day_trippr]

Good to see the foaming thing solved, it'd suck if it turned out that gun wasn't as good as advertised.
btw, drop down to 4mm ID EVA barrier tubing and you can cut your line length in half and the overnight oxidation/staling inside the line by a couple orders of magnitude...

Cheers!

 

[Beermeister32]

Where can you source EVA barrier tubing?

 

[Brewbuzzard]

Where can you source EVA barrier tubing?

Brewhardware, Morebeer, Kegland, Williams.

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

The pluto guns are working out nicely for my setup, once I got the tubing right (8-10 feet of 1/16" ID EVA barrier/silver). The weight of the pluto guns keeps them from falling all the time like the picnic taps. When kegs are empty just switch coupler to keg filled with Star-San; run some through the line/pluto gun and ready for the next keg!

 

[shoreman]

I’ve built multiple systems with faucets and after my last keezer kicked it, I went simple on everything.

I use the plastic Pluto and it works great with my 2.5 gallon keg setup - hangs in the side of the keg.

Definitely recommend em over a picnic tap.

 

[Intoxic]

Not sure if it is available in the US, but this is sold by Lindr, a Czech manufacturer of cooling equipment.

https://www.bahnik.cz/vycepni-kohouty-2/vycepni-pistole-lindr/

 

[bruce_the_loon]

That looks cooler than the Pluto guns, and the Google translate of the name into Tapping Pistol adds to the coolness.

 

[bleme]

That looks cooler than the Pluto guns, and the Google translate of the name into Tapping Pistol adds to the coolness.

But Google says that would convert to $123 US dollars. WOW!

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I don't think that >80% of keggers are using picknick taps.

sounds like survey is needed

 

[NewJersey]

This thread has been very interesting AND entertaining.
I am amazed how many people use picnic taps.
I really believed it to be a super rare practice and almost always a stepping stone.
When I started brewing I also kegged from day one and made a kegerator out of a refrigerator with faucets.
The thought of just using picnic taps never even occured to me.
I like my faucets and wouldn't go the picnic tap route if I could do it over, but I am astonished how many homebrewers do this.
Cheers, guys!

 

[tracer bullet]

My frig has a glass door. I drilled through the side for a bulkhead to supply CO2, but am not going to try drilling the glass to add a tap. And it's under a nice bar where I'm also not willing to drill holes through. So - picnic taps for me. No biggie, just an extra "open the door" step.