rotating racking arm - HomeBrewChatter.com Home Brew Forum

ben the brewman · 10-07-2009, 01:32 PM

i recently purchased a conical fermenter and it didnt have a rotating racking arm so i started collecting stuff and made one. it has a 1/2" npt connector on both sides so one will thread into the conical/kettle and the other will thread on to your valve. i plan on making one of these for my kettle too. its made out of copper water pipe and copper connectors and is soldered with food grade solder and flux. if this works well im going to try and sell a few for about $30 since i havent seen any under $100 bucks. i will post a pic when i get home and find my camera. let me know what you guys think about this idea.

sanders5x · 10-07-2009, 11:41 PM

Copper going to be ok with beer? My only concern that it will leave a metalic taste in the beer

sanders5x · 10-07-2009, 11:42 PM

I was planning on making one when I build my ss conical for a 1.5" TC fitting. I Know St. Pats makes one for 49$ plus shipping

Ope08 · 10-08-2009, 02:11 PM

There is some belief that the total lack of copper in a system is somewhat bad for beer, that copper adds some nutrient.

Look at all the massive copper fermenters out there...

blacklab · 10-08-2009, 09:58 PM

Copper in the fermentation process wouldn't bug me, but I might wonder about copper at boiling temperatures. Although there is all kinds of copper cookware out there, so who knows.

Ben, would love to see a pic of the racking arm.

ben the brewman · 10-09-2009, 03:51 AM

here is a pic. i think the piece that allows this to rotate might be brass even though the package said it was made out of copper. this one fits into a female 1/2 npt fitting and the other side will fit a 1/2 npt ball valve. i can change the fitting so it can go either way. i think im going to use this one in my kettle and see how it goes but it fits the new conical perfectly and would fit the plastic conicals on ebay too.
[IMG]

[/IMG]

ben the brewman · 10-11-2009, 01:59 PM

ill post all of the parts need for doing this and how to put it all togother when i make another one.

Diver Down · 03-02-2010, 09:41 PM

I'd like to try making me one. Got a keg that I want to make into a fermentor. What is the parts list?

ben the brewman · 03-04-2010, 02:41 AM

I made mine for a 1/2 pipe fitting so the parts are for that. You will need one 1/2 npt male pipe thread gator bite fitting. One 1/2 male pipe thread solder fitting. One piece of 3/8 (i think) soft copper pipe and one piece of 1/2 standard copper pipe. The 1/2 piece of pipe needs to be able to fit the 3/8 inside of it. All parts are soldered with silver solder. you can see the solder joints in the pics so you get a idea. Just cut all parts to fit your setup.

Cliff · 03-09-2010, 05:17 PM

The amount of copper you'll get from a racking arm is going to bee so trivial that there's no use in trying to quantify it. You are getting more from you tap water.

10-07-2009, 01:32 PM	#1
ben the brewman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: memphis, TN Posts: 1,016	rotating racking arm i recently purchased a conical fermenter and it didnt have a rotating racking arm so i started collecting stuff and made one. it has a 1/2" npt connector on both sides so one will thread into the conical/kettle and the other will thread on to your valve. i plan on making one of these for my kettle too. its made out of copper water pipe and copper connectors and is soldered with food grade solder and flux. if this works well im going to try and sell a few for about $30 since i havent seen any under $100 bucks. i will post a pic when i get home and find my camera. let me know what you guys think about this idea.

10-07-2009, 11:41 PM	#2
sanders5x Sac. cerevisiae wrestler Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fargo Posts: 1,789	Copper going to be ok with beer? My only concern that it will leave a metalic taste in the beer __________________ "Everybody has to believe in something, I believe I'll have another drink." — W.C. Fields

10-07-2009, 11:42 PM	#3
sanders5x Sac. cerevisiae wrestler Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Fargo Posts: 1,789	I was planning on making one when I build my ss conical for a 1.5" TC fitting. I Know St. Pats makes one for 49$ plus shipping __________________ "Everybody has to believe in something, I believe I'll have another drink." — W.C. Fields

10-08-2009, 02:11 PM	#4
Ope08 www.packinghousebrew.com Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Inland Empire of California Posts: 688	There is some belief that the total lack of copper in a system is somewhat bad for beer, that copper adds some nutrient. Look at all the massive copper fermenters out there... __________________ "...But oh so entertaining. It's like having a retarded pet monkey. The monkey doesn't know it's retarded so it's quite an enjoyable experience for all..." TimBeeerBrewing Primary: O'Flann's Stout, Summertime APA. Secondary: Bottle conditioning: Oatmeal Stout next on deck: Octoberfest Lager

10-08-2009, 09:58 PM	#5
blacklab Rocket Sauce Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 3,851	Copper in the fermentation process wouldn't bug me, but I might wonder about copper at boiling temperatures. Although there is all kinds of copper cookware out there, so who knows. Ben, would love to see a pic of the racking arm. __________________ Meadow Camp Reduced Gluten Brewing Co. Primary: n/a Bottled/Bright: Kitchen Sink Sorghum IPA / O'Flan Standard Stout / Oud Bruin Barrel Brew / Old Vine Zin #1

10-09-2009, 03:51 AM	#6
ben the brewman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: memphis, TN Posts: 1,016	here is a pic. i think the piece that allows this to rotate might be brass even though the package said it was made out of copper. this one fits into a female 1/2 npt fitting and the other side will fit a 1/2 npt ball valve. i can change the fitting so it can go either way. i think im going to use this one in my kettle and see how it goes but it fits the new conical perfectly and would fit the plastic conicals on ebay too. [IMG][/IMG]

10-11-2009, 01:59 PM	#7
ben the brewman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: memphis, TN Posts: 1,016	ill post all of the parts need for doing this and how to put it all togother when i make another one.

03-02-2010, 09:41 PM	#8
Diver Down Loaded to the Gunwales Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: N.Carolina Posts: 911	I'd like to try making me one. Got a keg that I want to make into a fermentor. What is the parts list? __________________ "Dammit, I'm mad" spelled backwards is "Dammit, I'm mad"

03-04-2010, 02:41 AM	#9
ben the brewman Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: memphis, TN Posts: 1,016	I made mine for a 1/2 pipe fitting so the parts are for that. You will need one 1/2 npt male pipe thread gator bite fitting. One 1/2 male pipe thread solder fitting. One piece of 3/8 (i think) soft copper pipe and one piece of 1/2 standard copper pipe. The 1/2 piece of pipe needs to be able to fit the 3/8 inside of it. All parts are soldered with silver solder. you can see the solder joints in the pics so you get a idea. Just cut all parts to fit your setup.

03-09-2010, 05:17 PM	#10
Cliff Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 8	The amount of copper you'll get from a racking arm is going to bee so trivial that there's no use in trying to quantify it. You are getting more from you tap water.

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