Conical first use impressions part 1

[Gymrat]

I brewed up my last wheat beer for the season for my conical's maiden voyage. The conical was actually easier to sanitize than my buckets much to my surprise. I dumped 2 1/2 gallons of starsan in, made sure it made contact with entire interior using a paper towel, then let it out the spigot ball valve until it was done running, dumped the rest through the dump valve. I then wiped the lid down and was good to go.

There were no leaks. I can see now why all the people on various forums said get the tri clamps if you get a conical. They make putting the thing together so easy, leave no threads to try to clean, and give a sure seal.

I attached a blow off tube to the top barb and ran it through the grommet on an ale pail lid into a bucket half filled with star san. I don't plan to ever use an air lock as this looks much cooler and I will never need to be concerned about over flows.

Part 2 will come when I have to clean the thing.

[russki]

I've been wanting to use this smiley for a while!

[Gymrat]

OK that was Hilarious. I have already posted pictures of the conical sitting in the man cave. The only thing different would be showing the tube going into the bucket But I can take some of that

[Beer-lord]

Sounds like your well on your way to make more awesome beer. Good on ya!

[Inkleg]

Staying tuned

[Gymrat]

I am going to bottle this weekend. So I decided to drop the yeast cake out from under my beer today. I opened the bottom valve and one chunk of yeast fell out then nothing but drips. It was clogged. The yeast is evidently very compact. I got to thinking the spigot valve is not very far above the bottom of the conical I hope that isn't clogged to. So I put a glass under it and opened it, sure enough, drip drip, then suddenly it spit a chunk into my glass and then I ended up with yeasty beer and chunks all over my floor before I could shut the valve back off. It looked like vomit. Next time I use this thing I am going to drop the yeast out immediately after primary fermentation so it doesn't have the opportunity to solidify so much.

[Beer-lord]

Roger, does the manufacturer give any instructions or suggestions on the best way to do this?
Ive seen something similar posted on YouTube a awhile back when I looked at these.

[Gymrat]

No they didn't. I am thinking the best way is to drop the yeast just as soon as primary fermentation is done. It will be a while before I can test this theory though. I am getting too close to surgery time to be able to brew again until I am recovered enough afterwards.