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What do people (there must be some no-chillers here) use for transfer to cubes from the kettle. My earlier batches have been small enough to drop the kettle (pasta pot or stockpot) into the laundry trough to cool. Now that I've moved to biab the kettle is too big (or electric) to put into the trough, so I'm gunna try no-chill.
Bunnings and the other hardware stores sell clear vinyl tubing, but I suspect that this won't handle the boiling temps. I've heard of silicone tubing being used, but am yet to find any in town.

Yeah, I use silicon tube. I got mine from Craftbrewer. About $7 per metre, I think.

I purchased some clear tubing from mitre 10 recently, I use it from my HLT to my mashtun, from mashtun to kettle via fermentor, and from kettle to fermentor again. It does go a bit soft-pliable when hot, but does the job. I have thought of no-chill for same reason, or just buy a plate chiller.
Cheers

bum beat me, mitre 10 cheaper. (what?)

Thanks rotten
Bunnings have it for about $4 for 3m, If I get organised this weekend to brew I'll get some as a short term (prob turn into long term) solution. How soft and pliable does it get, there would be tears if it came off of the tap during transfer.

Bum
I did see it on the CB website, but it doesn't appear on G&G's. The vinyl tube is also on Ross's site, I'm guessing it's close to foodsafe, especially for such a short contact time. I'll be in Melb next week, so I'll call in and ask instore.

My understanding is that it isn't rated as food safe at wort temps (something like 65C?). That isn't to say it is unsafe at higher temps and a lot of people reckon it is alright to use but for $3 or whatever the difference was I didn't bother and went straight to the best stuff (well, I think teflon is the "best" stuff but I just mean the best stuff I can get my hands on).

Bum wrote:but for $3 or whatever the difference was I didn't bother and went straight to the best stuff

Purchase won't be made on an economic basis, more on convenience. I'm 2 hours from a decent HBS and only 5min from the big green shed. If I don't need it this weekend I'll wait until I'm in Melb again next week.

Mine was a short term solution, ideally I want something not pliable. I got 16mm I think for the tap, snug fit, and twitched some wire around it for 'insurance'. Good DIY stores around here are as rare as good LHBS.
Cheers

Just make sure you are using silicon for transferring near boiling liquids, standard PVC tubing you use to rack a fermented beer will leach plasticisers (phthlates and other wonderful chemicals) at those temps.

Would agree there Doc.
Ever smelt the water out of a garden hose thats been in the sun.

Slightly off topic, I know, but relevant

rotten wrote:, or just buy a plate chiller.

Have you thought about using copper coils inside the kettle instead?
Leave them in during the boil....no need to sterilise.

Mine will bring a full wort down to 20 deg in 20 Mins. (6M of 3/4"tube)
Not cheap to buy new these days but if you have the right source?







This last pic was taken whilst still under construction (in a former life as a camp shower water heater).....they got a good clean before use as a chiller.


Mick.

I've always liked the look of your kettle, Mick.

I made an immersion chiller similar to Mick's, but I just throw it into the urn for the last 15 minutes of the boil. only takes a couple of minutes to chill the wort down to ale pitching temps then I can just open the urn tap and transfer to the fermenter from a height to aerate. Makes things very easy!

The hose is silicon not that horrible rubber stuff. I actually ran hot through it and drank it just to make sure, after sterilising of course. I'm in adelaide now for a few days, where could i get some 'real' stuff from?
Cheers

Haven't been able to source any silicone tubing locally, so last night I thought I'll give the vinyl tube a test drive with water only. Boiled the urn and then drained into a jerry can. Definately won't be using it transfer any wort, the smell of the water was horrible.

Going to Melb later this week, so I'll get some then.