Most of the made up picnic tap assemblies from online HBSs have a 4 ft. hose. Can I use a shorter length (like 2’) ? I’m using it inside a fridge temporarily until I get some real taps set up in a different fridge. Or is there something magic about 4 ft.?
Generally speaking, it’s a formula between line inner diameter and line length to reduce foaming. That being said, I’ve seen people with shorty picnic taps (some probably only a foot) that work fine in a pinch.
Even 4’ is pretty short assuming it’s 3/16" ID tubing. I’m surprised you’re getting a good pour. If you have to go shorter, you’ll probably want to reduce the line diameter to prevent foaming. You can also put a little restriction in the line or dip tube: https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=20654.0
I believe I was issued 5’ of bevlex initially to run the a keg off a cobra tap. Worked fine at normal co2 vol ranges.
I ain’t poured nuthin’ yet…I just hate the thought of all the spagetti on top of the keg(s). Yup, 3/16" tubing.
Will reduced pressure help?
Do they reduce pressure to make that work??
Yeah, you can carbonate at the normal pressure, then reduce it for a short period (a couple hours) to serve at lower pressure.
Then there’s this from that other thread:
how about no lines at all:
fermentap.com - fermentap Resources and Information.
i exclusively use these now. doesn’t get any more “direct draw” than this. east to take apart and clean. simple design.
Now I’m really confused. Though I don’t think I’d have space (height) for these.
Those require dispensing at low pressure or the addition of restricters in the beer side dip tube. They are handy.
Epoxy mixer restricter hack. - My Adventures In Brewing: Too much foam?
BINGO! great info! I just ordered four of those. Thanks so much Steve.
Edit: A whole $5.64 (+shipping) for four of the buggers. That’s a cheap/easy solution if they just halfway work.
I’ve never used them personally, but I know a handful of folks that have and they seem to like them.
That is interesting. I wonder how easy it is to clog one of those things with hop debris.
Is it possible to get picnic taps for 1/8" line?
I have cobra valves and the standard four or five foot tap line in my set up. I serve at the same ~12 PSI I carb at. I simply cycle the CO2 line valve open/close depending on too much or lack of pressure. Low tech solution. Works great.
Slightly tangential , does any one make a picnic tap that actually works? The ones that came with my air keg set will not seal even at four psi. At about half a glass you start fiddling with them to stop the flow. Ten days to ordering Perlicks.
Mine work at 30PSI. Only been there a few times to unstick a clogged dip tube.
Yours could be cracked. Also, You can take them apart and clean a reseat the plunger. That may help.
Disassembled and cleaned multiple times. I smoothed the mating surface on one and it helped , it only leaks at 12-15 drops a minute. As of now I have to connect pour disconnect so as not to fill the keeper with wasted beer.
In the 5+ years I’ve been kegging (I’ve lost track of who long, truth be told) I’ve never used anything but picnic taps. I’ve never had one leak like you describe.
I’ve bought them in-line, at the LHBS, wherever. No problems.
I recommend replacing them pretty regularly, as the plunger can get kind of nasty. Stuff will grow in there.
I have had leaky picnic taps in the past. My shop was good about replacing them. I do replace mine every year or so as a precaution. Why hasn’t anybody made a metal body picnic tap with proper orings?
Just what I was wondering. Even at ten or fifteen bucks it would be great if leak free.
I’ve never had a leaky picnic tap, but I use one only to take a keg to someone’s house. And that happens rarely nowadays. I would like to see a metal body one too, though.