21 replies to this topic

[SteveMillerTime]

So I'm sick of bottling via bucket with sugar and have decided i'll start bottling straight from the keg. I was hoping to find a good DIY for a CPBF but didn't want to have 2 check valves. I eventually figured I'd try to make one with a 3 way ball valve...but of course the smallest stainless 3 way valve i could find was half inch...so i said screw it and purchased one from morebeer. Then i said, crap...i need a stand! So i found some scrap 2x3s and some zip ties and got to work! Its not the prettiest thing in the world but it works pretty good! Future plans are to build a stand out of plastic.I was gonna do a full write up, but i think these pictures are self explanatory. If you have any questions feel free to ask!httpss://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-qK7mextZumo/UU5r8PNGU9I/AAAAAAAACZw/AO2_vsv0afc/s1065/IMG_20130323_111629.jpghttpss://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-06rJBXEz4NU/UU5r8LD94_I/AAAAAAAACZw/s4iidHEmQJU/s1065/IMG_20130323_111614.jpghttpss://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RjSOKRolVow/UU5r8HfVqfI/AAAAAAAACZw/vzCNB27fouo/s1065/IMG_20130323_111601.jpghttpss://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-UgoZSX2DzWQ/UU5r8HEDw7I/AAAAAAAACZw/SCqw01zcKeo/s799/IMG_20130323_111652.jpghttpss://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-w95FpljUoZg/UU5r8C16XGI/AAAAAAAACZw/U1NM5zcZqqc/s799/IMG_20130323_111703.jpghttpss://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RtwjeMXcWUI/UU5r8NTBt7I/AAAAAAAACZw/eNiWw4dfsXw/s1065/IMG_20130323_111715.jpghttpss://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-B35vnY2uoHg/UU5r8ED93hI/AAAAAAAACZw/eUMiDFZ_uig/s1065/IMG_20130323_111725.jpg

Edited by SteveMillerTime, 23 March 2013 - 08:07 PM.

[Humperdink]

BS, do a writeup and have it posted to the archive!

[zymot]

Can you use different sizes of bottles on that thing?

[tag]

A friend did a version of that with an old can crusher.

[SteveMillerTime]

Can you use different sizes of bottles on that thing?

Not on this particular setup...I figured since I only do 12oz bottles I'd set it up accordingly. I do believe the filler could easily accommodate 22oz bottles with a small section of 1/4" tubing, and you could build a similar mount for that.I do plan on building a better one sometime in the future, most likely out of plastic.

[tag]

If you have some bottles that are slightly shorter, you can add some washers above the stopper.

[Clintama]

Seems to me that clamping the stand to the edge of the table and hanging it over the side would allow for larger bottles. You'd have to apply pressure, but you'd have a free hand to operate the valves. The stand it a nice idea, of course I'd still get my usual beer bath.

[SteveMillerTime]

If you have some bottles that are slightly shorter, you can add some washers above the stopper.

No need, just slide the bung down and it'll stay

Seems to me that clamping the stand to the edge of the table and hanging it over the side would allow for larger bottles. You'd have to apply pressure, but you'd have a free hand to operate the valves. The stand it a nice idea, of course I'd still get my usual beer bath.

that'd work, i did this so that i could make it as "hands free" as possible. The plan is to buy more CPBFs in the future so i can bottle multiples at once...hopefully come in handy when I go pro

Edited by SteveMillerTime, 24 March 2013 - 04:02 PM.

[ChefLamont]

Yea I have a beer gun, and I have thought how it would be cool to have a multi-head (maybe 2 or three) station especially a pedal operated one or something like that. If you build a v2.0, I think it would be cool to build a capper into it as well.

[SteveMillerTime]

Yea I have a beer gun, and I have thought how it would be cool to have a multi-head (maybe 2 or three) station especially a pedal operated one or something like that.If you build a v2.0, I think it would be cool to build a capper into it as well.

Right now i use one of these:I basically just set it next to the filler and away i go...i'd really like to build an automated system, but i'm no engineer

[SteveMillerTime]

Interesting...apparently I can't edit my OP (hell, apparently I can't even edit my previous post). Anyways, I just realized I didn't add a link to the filler I purchased from morebeer...soo here - https://morebeer.com...tle-filler.html

[ChefLamont]

Right now i use one of these:I basically just set it next to the filler and away i go...i'd really like to build an automated system, but i'm no engineer

That's what I have too. I would think you could mod it and have it be a part of the whole design.I have thought too about automating the capper. Any ideas I have had before were a little.....dangerous. I need to think about it some more.

[tag]

No need, just slide the bung down and it'll stay

Even under pressure?

[ChefLamont]

So, the 3-way goes to beer on one side (for filling) and CO2 on the other (for purging)?

[SteveMillerTime]

Even under pressure?

yup...its on the Tee pretty snug - also it has a pressure relief valve that you can set.

So, the 3-way goes to beer on one side (for filling) and CO2 on the other (for purging)?

exactly. one handle for two purposes. I've seen tons of DIY ones that have 2 levers, but i think that just adds to the clunkyness

[tag]

Hmmm, they must have new ones. I can't keep mine on even without pressure.

[SteveMillerTime]

Hmmm, they must have new ones. I can't keep mine on even without pressure.

here's a video of a nano-brewer over at the pro-brewer forums. Kinda where I got my inspiration to build one of these (i also wanna build a bottle washer like that). When you see the closeup you can see that the bung is snug to the top like it should be, it won't go anywhere:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ikKnYwKtjA

Edited by SteveMillerTime, 27 March 2013 - 10:40 AM.

[SchwanzBrewer]

That's pretty awesome in the video!

[ChefLamont]

Yea, the spring-loaded base is pretty cool.The bottle sanitizer is a good idea too. I wonder where those bottle holder racks come from.

[HVB]

Yea, the spring-loaded base is pretty cool.The bottle sanitizer is a good idea too. I wonder where those bottle holder racks come from.

Are they these?https://www.austinhomebrew.com/product_info.php?cPath=178_56_152&products_id=13650