Racking -The Auto Syphon

[fizzix]

I'm late to the party with this one, I'm sure. But there may be others like me.

My brew guy says my beer is too cloudy and I need to rack it from the yeast bed when done fermenting,
then rack it again later after more settlement. I said that sounded like a pain with my old generic naked syphon.
Then he introduced me to the $12.95 US auto syphon.

Life is now worth living.

auto siphon.jpg (12.24 KiB) Viewed 2233 times

Not only is this thing FANTASTIC for beer racking, but syphoning off from that distiller's grain bed is a breeze.
No more charging my old tube syphon (never used my mouth). Just stick this auto-syphon in, and with one pump cycle it starts itself.

The person who invented this wonderful tool should've won the Nobel Prize.

[Expat]

It's a nice tool, I have one. The only issue I have is really slooow.

After awhile I made a racking cane from 1/2" copper which helps.

[kiwi Bruce]

How do you start the siphon?

[fizzix]

Hey kiwi~
The top crook acts as handle to a long plunger -like a syringe gasket- down the body of the syphon.
Pull the "handle" up to draw liquid into the body, then plunge it down and the syphon starts, pushing liquid through the crook
and the attached hose. Truly a hydraulic wonder. It is a little slow, but I just clamp the syphon to its bucket and
rest the output hose into the receiver vessel and go do other things. When I come back, it's done!

[Expat]

How do you start the siphon?

If this question was for me, the cane is attached to my siphon hose which had a one way valve and a priming bulb. Works like a champ.

[Yonder]

Use one for just about everything i do. EXCEPT ag where it's just a waste of time with all the grain you gotta strain out anyway. Once you're off grain, its great.

[Bushman]

I also use one with a photo tripod so I can set it just above the yeast bed. Holding it on with a rubber band on the handle allows me to set the height and walk away to do another task.

[jonnys_spirit]

I have one and its a great tool

Careful - they melt when you stick it into a boiler full of hot backset.

I also use a vacuum pump, a racking cane, tubing, and some bungs to transfer into carboys and degas which is almost like magic. Can xfer a carboy in five min and since it’s under vacuum also degas and prevent foam up in the boiler.

Cheers!
-jonny

[dieselduo]

I don't even rack my beer. I just have a spigot in the fermenter and gravity feed through a 20 then 50 micron inline filter like this https://www.amazon.com/Line-Strainer-st ... eer+filter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. Into the secondary which also has a spigot where I bottle from . Really makes a clear beer. Also when bottling I use the 50 again

[The Baker]

I have been known to position a tap somewhat above the level of the trub and just turn it on. Then get picky about what is left, probably pour it into a NARROW glass jar and let settle again and rack.

Geoff

[kiwi Bruce]

Then get picky about what is left, probably pour it into a NARROW glass jar and let settle again and rack.Geoff

I do this too, when I'm going to save my yeast and I'll give it a good acid wash.

[fizzix]

I don't even rack my beer. I just have a spigot in the fermenter and gravity feed through a 20 then 50 micron inline filter like this https://www.amazon.com/Line-Strainer-st ... eer+filter" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow. Into the secondary which also has a spigot where I bottle from . Really makes a clear beer. Also when bottling I use the 50 again

You did it again, dieselduo, with the in-line filter.
I owe you what? Five drinks now?

[fizzix]

Got the inline filter, and it fits the tubing perfectly.

[dieselduo]

Got the inline filter, and it fits the tubing perfectly.

filter3.jpg

Yepper that's the one I use for bottling. When transferring from the primary I have a 20 mesh one in front of it which keeps the 50 from clogging too fast. If it clogs just turn off the flow rinse the filter and re-sanitize. Makes a lot clearer beer.

[EagleCliffs]

When you want an operation that is faster than the auto siphon, try a totally enclosed pond pump. They are cheap and very durable. Little Giants work very well. I see specialty pumps that costs hundreds of dollars, but a simple pond pump works great for me and you can pick out one that has a flow rate that fits your system. They don't have a high head capability, but most pot to pot transfers don't need much head. You can also incorporate an inline filter if needed.
I filter at the output of my stripping and rectifying columns with a simple drip coffee filter. It does a great job and the flow from the column is very low, so no volume issue. No need to get too fancy.
Tip: have a separate pump for handling your final product. You don't want to contaminate your vodka with a taste of wort of low wines. I do wash out the pump between uses, but still, just to be anal, er paranoid, er cautious.

[Manc]

Hi eagle cliff

We don't use plastic in contact with alcohol the auto siphon is only used in washes/mashes perhaps thats why the pumps are so expensive.

Lee