Cast Iron Draft Tower Build for 3 taps

[NadoHawk]

I am currently building a cast iron draft tower (style is like the picture below) and have all the main parts (tower, flange, shanks, 2-1 reducers, etc) except the two elbows and the tee .

My question is does anyone know a link to buy the middle 4-way cast iron part? The only similar ones I see to buy are either the 2-way tee which only allows two shanks and a 4-way in the shape of a cross..

 

[mac_1103]

Search for "four-way side outlet tee" in the diameter and material you want. I found some 3/4" ones on Amazon right away, but they are not black and come in four- or ten-packs.

 

[mac_1103]

Oh and BTW, that looks pretty cool. Wish I'd thought of it.

 

[mac_1103]

Or maybe this one?

 

[day_trippr]

Is this what is needed? It isn't obvious what the thread size wants to be.
HD also carries a 1" version.

fwiw, Googling "Black Iron Side Outlet Tee" yields the richest set of hits. There are some larger thread sizes included...

https://www.homedepot.com/p/STZ-3-4-in-Black-Iron-Side-Outlet-Tee-PDB-SOT-34/316886029#overlay


[edit] Amazon has a 1-1/2" version https://www.amazon.com/Dixon-SOT150-FNPT-Side-Outlet/dp/B00LT0SGZQ
Actually they list a bunch of Dixon fittings of that style...
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Dixon+SOT200+2"+FNPT+Side+Outlet+Tee&i=industrial&crid=20MQYFDGIZACV

 

[NadoHawk]

I ended up buying the Dixon SOT200 NPT Threaded Side Outlet Tee.

MRO Supply had it the best price accounting for shipping. The price jump from the 2 connectors to 3 connectors was pretty steep...think it was 30 dollars more for this piece than the 2-tap setup.

https://www.mrosupply.com/hydraulics-and-pneumatics/113748_sot200_dixon/

 

[Agent]

We've got a 4" one at work from the 1950s.

That awkward situation where it's stupidly expensive to replace, but we haven't used one in decades either - so dust collector it is!

 

[NadoHawk]

This is how a dry-fit the setup looks without the elbows; I recommend getting the elbows and will do so before I use it for serving my meads. Biggest issue is the 6-inch tower pipe's color is off compared to the other items and the flange doesn't fit the existing screw holes for my kegerator (I am only able to get one screw in right now without drilling new holes).

I am not worried as much making this airtight as this is for mead served at 55 degrees.

I haven't sealed the fittings yet (aka using an anti-rust coating) and I should because I have seen cast iron out at bars/breweries recently where I live (San Diego County) and they have rusted over the years. One owner said he didn't seal because he wanted that brownish look to match his brewery sign.

 

[Deadalus]

A little late but another source for cast iron fittings is https://www.steelsupplylp.com. I'm not certain I got my sideout elbows from there however but they do have a pretty good selection of fittings at decent prices. I washed mine, which will unavoidably create some rust, removed said rust, then clearcoated it inside and out(matte I think). Mine is also done in 2". If you should happen to want to SS shank collars on, you could grind the hex corners off the bushing and the collar will fit over the remaining protrusion.

Not much to do about the nipple color without painting, they seem to always have that black coating. A late tip from my brother was to get a strap wrench to avoid any gouges. I used cloth on my pipe wrenches and I was successful at first but later I had a leak and put some marks on one of the nipples as I had to dissassemble. It was minor really but thought I would pass on the suggestion. An oil filter wrench might work come to think of it.