Wort chiller build.

[Frenchy]

How do you prevent crimping the tubing while you bend it? Does wrapping around a round object like the bucket help with that?

 

[Golddiggie]

I used the canister that my cooking implements usually go into... You just bend it carefully and you don't need to worry about it...

For cost, for what you can buy a 25' IC for, I'll be able to make my 50' IC and still save money. Mine will still be from 3/8" OD copper...

 

[DunklesWeissbier]

How do you prevent crimping the tubing while you bend it? Does wrapping around a round object like the bucket help with that?

I used my ball lock keg which is about 8.5" in diameter. The hard part is bending the ends up. I got a few small kinks in mine. Just don't try and bend a tight radius.

 

[RMitch]

^This. Its actually somewhat difficult to crimp it. Anywhere between 180 and 90 degrees is relatively easy to bend by hand. But beyond that becomes difficult. And bending up definitely is more difficult.

 

[P-J]

Go to Sears and buy this:

To bend your tubing ends so they go over the edge of the kettle.

Then I'd suggest that you use compression fittings to adapt your copper to a hose barb. It will require 2 pieces - compression to male thread and then a female thread to hose barb. I would really avoid using a hose clamp directly with a hose slipped onto the copper tubing. You will see what I'm talking about given enough time.

Edit: Changed the tool. just realized you are dealing with 3/8" copper. BTW the tool is $11.48 - Link? Three-Size Tubing Bender

 

[Golddiggie]

Not going to agree with P-J on this...

1. Compression fittings are NOT easy to do without the flaring tool... If you don't have the tool, you'll need to get one. They are NOT cheap either. By the time you get that tool, you've spent more than you would have just buying a pre-made IC...

2. You don't NEED to get the expensive bender to make the final bends to the outside of the pot. They also have tools that are essentially springs that slip over the copper and allow you to hand form them. They come with several sizes in the package, so you can use them for other sized tubing too (later)...

I did try to use compression fittings on my IC... Could NOT get them to seal up at all. Gave up and just slipped the hose over the copper tubing. If you use the hose clamps properly, they won't leak one bit... Plus, changing the way the IC is setup without having compression fittings is easier. If you mess up the compression fitting when you're putting it together, forget about it...

Unless you're a plumber, or someone that's done MANY compression fittings in the past, I wouldn't go that route at all.

Use good strength hose/tubing on to connect the IC to the water source, and carry it away, and you won't have any issue. If it really was such a poor way to connect, the majority of people here would be using compression fittings, instead of the rare few. If you use the cheap vinyl tubing/hose, you could have issues with it... I don't think I'll see that happen, considering the host I picked... I'll probably use it on my next IC too.

 

[P-J]

Hmmmm..... There is a HUGE difference between a compression fitting and a Flare Fitting. The one you describe is a flare fitting.

See you didn't
...
Nevermind. I'm done.!

 

[Golddiggie]

Then it's the twit's at Lowe's that are the issue... I was looking to have threaded attachments for the tubing, so that's what they had for fittings to use in 3/8"... So after struggling with those for an evening I just said F it and slipped the tubing over the ends... Took more time to type this post than to actually do it...

I'm more inclined to use the KISS principle for my IC... Means it will be very easy to make changes moving forward... If I want to add another coil to it, I can just use a couple of short pieces of tubing to bridge them.. Not that I would mind you...

Also, I'm not a plumber, don't play one on TV, nor did I stay at that hotel... I prefer things like this to be easy on me, not more complicated than they need to be.