picnic/cobra taps: are they all interchangeable?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by DVoors, Jun 16, 2015.

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  1. DVoors

    DVoors Zealot (627) Jan 6, 2014 Indiana

    I currently have a kegerater with a SS tower, but I am looking to buy a picnic/cobra tap so I can bottle off kegs without losing too much carbonation (using the bottle-filler & rubber bung method). My question is whether you need a specific brand or type of picnic tap in order for the bottle-filler wand to fit without leaking, or whether they are all pretty much identical and interchangeable from a size and quality standpoint. I obviously don't want to waste any extra money on getting a more expensive or brand name picnic tap if it makes no difference and they are all the same. Does anyone have any suggestions on brands they use that they've had good results with?
     
    #1 DVoors, Jun 16, 2015
  2. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    picnic taps are equal in one respect. they all pretty much suck. sure they get the job done but it's not pretty.

    there are no name brand versions; I have never seen a specific brand. what you get is what they are reselling so it is hard to recommend one brand over another. they are all made in the same few factories as far as I can tell.

    get your picnic tap, bring it to Lowes, find the correct ID tubing that fits, get a clamp and our done. you don't really need beverage line for this application because beer does not sit in the tube, but you might want to smell the tubing first. some vinyl tubing absolutely reeks of plastic, others not so much. a crap shoot.

    this is for home brew, and you are using CO I hope.

    Cheers.
     
    #2 billandsuz, Jun 16, 2015
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