5mm tubing

[Sean Monaghan]

Lads,

Where can I buy some 5mm I.D. silicone (or similar) tubing to complete my O2 delivery system for wort oxygenation?

Cheers

[oliver]

I just use vinyl tubing from bunnings post regulator, after a few uses I throw it out and cut off a fresh piece :)

[Cain Harland]

Also vinyl

http://www.brewshop.co.nz/brewing-equipment/kegging/beer-line.html

[Sean Monaghan]

Thanks guys. Vinyl it is. Can someone confirm if the 5.5mm vinyl tubing will fit the 5mm regulator for disposable O2 cyliners like this one http://www.thegasshop.co.nz/shop/CYLINDERS/Gas+Disposable+Cylinders.... Also - anyone know where I can find a cheaper cylinder and/or the regulator to suit?

Cheers

[David M]

I have the cylinder and reg from the Gas Shop - was the best deal I could find for reliable gear.
Pure O2 can be very flammable so wanted something quality.

I use a short length of 1/4 John Guest hose (ID is about 4.3mm) on the regulator barb  - and a Guest joiner & barb to connect to a length of 6mm ID beer line which the barbed stone is on. Just what I had to hand.
5.5mm tube may be too big in my view for O2 under pressure (it's a small barb) unless you clamp it very hard. I didn't want to leak O2 for cost and safety reasons.

[Sean Monaghan]

Thanks David. Sounds like a good setup. Where can I find the John Guest gear in NZ? 

[David M]

Where are you?

[Sean Monaghan]

Christchurch

[David M]

Sorry am Auckland based so don't know local Christchurch outlets.

Many home brew shops, plumbing, hose or hydraulic suppliers do guest fittings. I got mine from brewers coop in Auckland (they do mail order).

Kegresources.co.nz have them on their site but I haven't sourced from them before.

Have been told the distributor is in Avondale in Auckland - patiki or rosebank rd - google them and they may ship to you. Was going to go and see them next time I needed fittings.

Guest fittings are a bit pricey but are damn good, don't leak and can dismantle lines for cleaning or reconfiguring. I use them for all my gas and beer lines. Might be overkill for this task but I had them spare and they worked.

here are links to the kegresources site so you can see the fittings I used - think I have picked the right ones.

1/4" OD polytube

5/16" - 1/4" Reducer

5/16" Equal Straight Connector

5/16 x 1/4 BSP Tube to Hose Straight

I use 6mm ID beer\gas  line (from a home brew store) from there to the stone.

For a cheap alternatively you could just get a brass 4mm barb to 6mm barb adapter from a hose or engineering shop to connect the 4mm and 6mm hoses - but you can't take it apart easily to clean.

If you go this route let me know and can post you a 10cm piece of 1/4 polytube as you only need it as a bridge. have some offcuts.

 I like to be able to detach the hose and stone that goes in the wort from the gas line and that way I can easily clean and sanitize it without risk to the reg,etc.

Wind some stainless wire around the tube that goes in the wort to stiffen it- it floats a bit and being flexible is a pain to position.

This weekend I will add an oxygen flow meter inline that I got from aliexpress so I can set the flow rate - otherwise its a bit of a guess as to how much o2 is going in.

Hope this helps

[Sean Monaghan]

Thanks a lot for all that. I'll have a think and get back to you. I really like the idea of a flow meter too.

Cheers

[David M]

Aliexpress - flow meter

This is the flow meter I got. Haven't used it yet but cheap, fast delivery and looks fine.

[Peter Smith]

if you can see big bubbles you have too much flow

fine bubbles is ok

[Daniel Ashman]

Hi David,

You wouldn't happen to have any pictures of your oxygenation setup would you? Just trying to get my head around how to set it all up. I may try and oxygenate in-line on the way to the fermenter using one of these:

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/1-2-MPT-Oxygen-Stone-0-5-Micron-Kegg...

Seems easier in my head than having a wand in the fermenter.

I got one of those cheap flow meters like you but haven't used it yet. How do you find it?