National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => Equipment & Chemicals => Topic started by: ColMack on November 12, 2012, 09:40:59 AM

Title: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: ColMack on November 12, 2012, 09:40:59 AM
Lads, is it 3/8" Inside Diameter or Outside Diameter beer line that I need for our group buy taps?  I have some metric beer line and it just doesn't fit the tap or my john guest reducer fitting 100%.  Am fed up with little leaks in the kegerator.
Where's the best place to buy it?  I only need a couple of feet.
Thanks.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: Rats on November 12, 2012, 10:02:23 AM
Colin I use the 5/16(8mm) to my taps.If you have a loose tap take it to Woodies they sell 8mm pipe and you can measure it to see how it fits.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: DEMPSEY on November 12, 2012, 10:44:21 AM
The B&Q shops also do a range of silicone and plastic tubing.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: Will_D on November 12, 2012, 10:52:24 AM
QuoteLads, is it 3/8" Inside Diameter or Outside Diameter beer line that I need for our group buy taps?  I have some metric beer line and it just doesn't fit the tap or my john guest reducer fitting 100%.  Am fed up with little leaks in the kegerator.
Where's the best place to buy it?  I only need a couple of feet.
Thanks.

3/8" JG fittings are used with 3/8" od tubing.

Most beer line is 3/8" ( home & pub ). Most pubs use 5/16" gas lines but most homebrewers stick with 3/8"

Just need one set of 3/8 fittings

Will
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: DoWn2DiE on November 12, 2012, 04:34:50 PM
3/8 OD (outside diameter) is 1/4 ID (Inside diameter) on hoses
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: ColMack on November 12, 2012, 05:12:05 PM
I am still confused.
I have a 1/4" barb on the beer out connector, 5/16" pipe fits onto this quite tightly, but will not fit on to the barb on my tap.  So I have to use a John Guest fitting which takes 5/16" on one side and 3/8" out the other connecting to the tap.
Am I over complicating this or something?
I'm sure you're all using the same parts but where am I going wrong?
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: DEMPSEY on November 12, 2012, 07:49:47 PM
Use a cup of hot water,dip the end in it for a few minutes and it will give it brewers droop. :D :)
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: ColMack on November 14, 2012, 09:46:33 AM
I am using nylon (hard) pipe at the moment, in order to get a good seal in my John Guest fitting.  No matter how long you put 5/16" pipe into hot water, it will not stretch over a 3/8" barb on the tap.

I am still none the wiser.  Thanks anyway.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: ColMack on November 14, 2012, 10:01:16 AM
I'm not sure to be honest but it's probably 5/16" outer diameter because it gives a good tight fit onto the 1/4" barb of the disconnect.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: ColMack on November 14, 2012, 11:39:38 AM
That's what I thought, so I'm trying to find the exact beerline size/material/source because I have a pain in my face with small leaks whether at the John Guest fitting when closing the kegerator door or at the tap.
I've got half a dozen different beer line sizes and none does the job properly.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: ColMack on November 14, 2012, 12:14:42 PM
No, none near me.  Will try Woodies.  What is it used for by ordinary non-brewing people?  ie what section is it in?
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: Rats on November 14, 2012, 12:29:40 PM
QuoteNo, none near me.  Will try Woodies.  What is it used for by ordinary non-brewing people?  ie what section is it in?
In Woodies the pipe are with the chains and ropes on the rolls.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: ColMack on November 15, 2012, 08:57:40 AM
I got a couple of meters of the pipe in Woodies but all they have is 8mm, it fits onto the tap ok (though not very tight) but is way too big for the disconnect.

Back to the drawing board.
Title: Re: Beer line for Group buy taps
Post by: Rats on November 15, 2012, 10:01:17 AM
QuoteI got a couple of meters of the pipe in Woodies but all they have is 8mm, it fits onto the tap ok (though not very tight) but is way too big for the disconnect.

Back to the drawing board.
I had the same problem.....my solution.
7mm OD/6mm ID fishtank hose goes over QD barb(lenght of barb) than the 8mm hose goes over that. tight fit and add a hose clamp.
No leaks.
You're more than welcome to pop in to have a look at mine.Can give you a piece of the smaller hose.