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Author Topic: SImple pickup tube for keggle  (Read 4252 times)

Offline beer_crafter

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SImple pickup tube for keggle
« on: August 13, 2010, 03:00:10 pm »
I currently use a keggle with a false bottom, with a pickup tube that goes from the ball valve to the middle of the keggle.  I am looking for an alternative for this, mostly because I need to use primarily leaf hops with this rig.  The pickup tube today uses what I think is called a flare fitting (basically it is a nut and a ferrule which are attached to the pickup tube).

I was thinking about having an alternative to this that I can use with pellet hops and a whirlpool-- it would basically be a short copper pipe to the edge of the keggle, which is a common design I've seen others have.  How do I connect the pickup tube to my ball valve?  Is the same type of fitting which is on my false bottom's pickup tube easy to use?  Is this a flare fitting?  Am I making this too complicated, and I shouldn't use a pickup tube at all?

Offline denny

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Re: SImple pickup tube for keggle
« Reply #1 on: August 13, 2010, 03:41:30 pm »
I was thinking about having an alternative to this that I can use with pellet hops and a whirlpool-- it would basically be a short copper pipe to the edge of the keggle, which is a common design I've seen others have.  How do I connect the pickup tube to my ball valve?  Is the same type of fitting which is on my false bottom's pickup tube easy to use?  Is this a flare fitting?  Am I making this too complicated, and I shouldn't use a pickup tube at all?


Your design is basically what I do.  I use a close nipple on the keg bulkhead.  Then I use a compression fitting to connect a piece of tubing to it.   I bag whole hops, since they'll clog the pickup, and pellets I just go through the pickup into the fermenter.
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Offline euge

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Re: SImple pickup tube for keggle
« Reply #2 on: August 14, 2010, 10:47:22 am »
I have a simple pickup tube. It is attached to the ball-valve with a compression fitting. Not flared just tight enough to hold it in firmly.

Coarse hop-bags are the way to go. It's the simplest solution and extremely effective for whole hops. Can't believe I was brewing without them all these years.
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narvin

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Re: SImple pickup tube for keggle
« Reply #3 on: August 14, 2010, 06:50:36 pm »
You'll use a compression fitting on the copper pipe which has pipe thread on the other side.


I just made a hop stopper and could not be more pleased.  It handled my pliny clone with a pound of hops in the kettle with ease.  These are the instructions I followed, omitting the stainless steel thread as it wasn't necessary.

http://www.homebrewchatter.com/board/f18/diy-hop-stopper-kettle-screen-pickup-t2550/
« Last Edit: August 14, 2010, 06:55:13 pm by narvin »