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Author Topic: How many times do you use a racking cane?  (Read 6739 times)

Offline brians

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How many times do you use a racking cane?
« on: June 10, 2011, 01:47:57 pm »
I'm talking about the plastic ones that you get for cheap at the LHBS. How many times do you use a racking cane before re-purposing, throwing away, etc?

Offline WDE97

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2011, 01:52:20 pm »
I usually seem to get through 20 batches or so before they break on me.  Got sick of them breaking (usually right in the middle of using it) and bought a stainless steel one last year.  Should last a bit longer.  ;D
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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #2 on: June 10, 2011, 02:07:07 pm »
All that plastic stuff goes yellow and cloudy on me after a few months. so I replace it cause it's hard to see if it's really clean.

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Offline dbeechum

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #3 on: June 10, 2011, 02:09:50 pm »
Yeah, I ended up going with stainless after going through a few plastic canes. Been on the same metal cane for 8 years.
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Offline tschmidlin

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #4 on: June 10, 2011, 03:09:10 pm »
Stainless here too, after breaking 3 autosiphons and I'm not sure how many racking canes.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline morticaixavier

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #5 on: June 10, 2011, 03:32:03 pm »
Stainless here too, after breaking 3 autosiphons and I'm not sure how many racking canes.

so do you start your syphon the old fashioned way? or is there such a thing as a stainless auto syphon?
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narvin

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #6 on: June 10, 2011, 03:33:06 pm »
I also use a stainless cane.

I use a carboy cap to start a siphon... easy and no need to sanitize another piece of equipment.

Offline dbeechum

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #7 on: June 10, 2011, 03:34:35 pm »
Can't speak for Tom, but I run mine via CO2.

Racking with CO2
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Offline tschmidlin

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #8 on: June 10, 2011, 03:52:13 pm »
Carboy cap with a sterile air filter.  But it on the carboy and blow, it starts the siphon easily.  I might do CO2 if I ever get paranoid about oxidation, but for most of my beers I don't worry.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline dmtaylor

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #9 on: June 10, 2011, 03:57:07 pm »
I've had the same racking cane for 12 years and ~85 batches.  It just cracked recently so it's about time for a new one I guess, but it still works.
Dave

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Offline dbeechum

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #10 on: June 10, 2011, 04:11:42 pm »
I might do CO2 if I ever get paranoid about oxidation

Yeah, I do CO2 not for oxidation prevention, but to make it so I don't have to lift any carboys!
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Offline morticaixavier

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #11 on: June 10, 2011, 04:46:52 pm »
Carboy cap with a sterile air filter.  But it on the carboy and blow, it starts the siphon easily.  I might do CO2 if I ever get paranoid about oxidation, but for most of my beers I don't worry.

right I think we have had this conversation before
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Offline speed

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #12 on: June 10, 2011, 05:01:31 pm »
when siphoning from primary to keg i just use a 3/8 tube and suck on the end of it. i do have a fitting that i put to my mouth and when the beer starts flowing i pull it off the tube. i have a slightly used siphon for sale ;D

Offline Hokerer

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #13 on: June 10, 2011, 05:33:58 pm »
Have only ever used stainless here.  I prime it with, you know me, my hydrometer sample :)
Joe

Offline cheba420

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Re: How many times do you use a racking cane?
« Reply #14 on: June 10, 2011, 05:57:35 pm »
I've been using stainless for the last couple years. Recently, I've lost a few siphons as I'm transferring from the kettle to the fermenter. Its been pretty frustrating. I think I had my tubing cut too short.....but anyway I picked up an auto siphon today so we'll see how that works this weekend. Seems cleaner. No need to prime.
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