Brew Demon Conical

[BrewDemon]

I know it's a variable flow spigot just like MB, but is it the same manufacturer with same flaws... that is the question...

EDIT: would my trusty locking spigots fit in it perhaps?

Yes, our little demon conical uses the same spigot…and after hearing about some of the problems our MB users were having, I spoke to the manufacturer. I was told this problems was due to over-tightening and using the spigot as a handle when moving a full fermenter. It's easy to over tighten these spigots, but picking up and moving a full fermenter by grabbing part or some of the spigot can definitely cause problems. This is easy to do when picking up a full LBK.

We have brewed over 40 batches using this spigot and have never had a problem…maybe our fermenter is easier to pick-up with out having to grab or use the spigot for leverage?

However, I have seen customers using a 1inch racking spigot or the one like Gymrat is showing in this thread. Just check the nut size (inside) before drilling the hole!

[RickBeer]

Based on the people who had broken spigots and how they described them happening I'd have to disagree with your supplier that overtightening or using the spigot as a handle is the ONLY cause. Some of the more senior people know better and still had failures.

[Gymrat]

I see two advantages of the conical over the LBK. 1 is it would be much easier to clean. You can actually see more of it. The other is it uses an air lock instead of a couple of vents under the lid which can let contaminants in after primary fermentation is over.

[gwcr]

Louie's review on the main Borg site is pretty comprehensive. I also have a BD Conical on the way, and will be trying it out as soon as it gets here. I tend to be more of an "impact engineering" guy (If it sticks, force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.), so I'll put it through its paces and let you know what I think of its sturdiness.

[Kealia]

I tend to be more of an "impact engineering" guy (If it sticks, force it. If it breaks, it needed replacing anyway.)

[BrewDemon]

Based on the people who had broken spigots and how they described them happening I'd have to disagree with your supplier that overtightening or using the spigot as a handle is the ONLY cause. Some of the more senior people know better and still had failures.

I would imagine the act or opening and closing a tight spigot could create the same destructive action…but I just haven't seen that so far, maybe because I use the bottle filler?

[monsteroyd]

Nevermind I just read your reply

Thanks
Monty

[RickBeer]

I think most of the experienced brewers either use a siphon or a bottling wand.

There was a bunch of discussion on the other forum about the poor engineering of the spigot, how the stress areas weren't done right (this from an engineer - not me). Many had a perfectly fine batch going and then weeks into it the spigot fell off for no reason and the batch leaked all over the floor.

I don't know the answer, I'm very careful and I try to inspect the spigot each time I use it. I also hold it when I open or close it to avoid undo pressure on it. And I ferment inside a Rubbermaid tub since I don't need SWMBO chasing me down with her rusty grapefruit spoon...

[jimjohson]

maybe the first few were over tightened or lifted by. once it got obvious there was a problem, i doubt anybody was over tightening or lifting by. while i have no doubt BrewDemon spoke to the manufacturer i seriously doubt he got the truth, just a lawyer's version of it.

[FrozenInTime]

I ordered a conical, still waiting for it. I'm glad I have a bunch of the good, non-breaking spigots MrB sold with racking canes a while back. First thing I'm gonna do is throw the included spigot away and put one of those on it. Then I'm gonna brew-baby-brew.

[gwcr]

FedEx shows mine will be here tomorrow. Perfect timing for a long weekend!

[DaYooper]

I was just getting ready to maybe pull the trigger but the inlaws showed up the other day with two LBKs with the old and unimproved spigots (YAY!) that they picked up for two bucks for the set (and they didnt even make me pay the two beans). Gotta love inlaws that have taken up the sport of garage sailing!

To chime in about the spigot, I have been very careful not to overtighten, do not lift using the spigot, and do a preflight with water/cleaner before adding the wort to check for leaks. My first and only break came three weeks on bottling day (lucked out) when I noticed a slight puddle on the counter. MrB replaced the spigot, the HME, and even the hops and DME I bought at the LHBS. My thoughts on the matter was the stress was more caused by the opening and closing of the valve which was aggrevated with the tension caused when locking down coupled with not the bestest material selection (which may have been required due to food grade requirements). I am really surprised that both MrB and BD use that spigot when a 1" standard tried-and-proven spigot is available. The only thing I can think of is that the radius of the vessel is too small to get a tight seal. Might have to do an experiment on one of the $1 LBKs I just got.

[RickBeer]

Gotta love inlaws that have taken up the sport of garage sailing!

Be careful what you wish for. My father in-law is a big garage sale guy. I thought is was cute when my now 26 year old son used to visit Grandpa and Grandma in the summer and go "garaging". He came back once with a cigar box of keys that he bought for $.50. He loved playing with those keys, wondering what they opened.

Flash forward 20 years. I realized over the years that my father in-law uses garage sales to fuel his "oh, that can be fixed" habit and has filled the attic, the garage, the garage rafters, the boat house rafters, the boats in the boathouse and the boathouse aisles. He picks up broken CRAP, even taking things out of the electronics recycling bin that his township has. While here and there something might be a great find, most of it is broken crap that he never gets around to fixing. He piles it everywhere, a few years back we had to empty paths on either side of the car in the garage as he and his wife (both in their 90s) were dodging piles to squeeze into the car. Never mind what would happen if either fell and landed on piles of rusty metal stuff.

He doesn't have a computer, so doesn't sell anything on Craigslist. Every few years they have a small garage sale (he's too cheap to buy an ad in the paper) where they sell a handful of items. We took a few dozen things and sold them over a year or so on Craigslist, but it's not worth the effort since little has value.

So while it's great to find the odd item, watch that it doesn't go too far...

Rick

[gwcr]

Gotta love inlaws that have taken up the sport of garage sailing!

Sorry, but this was all I could think about when I read that...

[DaYooper]

Actually, the inlaws are very good with sailing, dad in particular. He knows exactly what he is looking for and what price he is willing to pay and is not afraid to walk away. It came in real handy when I needed a $10 microwave for work (he refused to pay over five bucks) and stuff like that. Now that he got a mini fridge for the youngest who went away for school this year he is on a quest to get me one. I think he paid $20 for a relatively large one the grandson got. I was tempted to swipe it away and give him my smaller one, but that wouldnt be right.