Spigot on a Big Mouth Bubbler

I had been concerned earlier that I would leave a lot of mead in the carboy if I used a spigot.   I tilt the carboy up on at an angle when I siphon the mead out anyway, see Racking Block.   But, there is always some sediment in the bottom that I want to leave in the carboy so I don't really need to go quite to the bottom when draining.   For that reason I have been ordering Big Mouth Bubblers without a spigot, and finally realized what a boon it would be to have spigots on my carbouys.   So I ordered one with a spigot, then ordered spigots for the rest of them.   When the spigots arrived I had two empty Big Mouth Bubblers and mounted the spigots on them.   BTW: These are the "Fermenter's Favorite" spigot for the Bottling Bucket but they work great on a Big Mouth Bubbler.  

I extended my front vise on my woodworking bench to make a cradle to hold the BMB while I worked.  


These are the tools I used, drill with a 5/32" bit, drill with a 1" Forstner bit, and a 3/8" rachet with a 30mm socket.  


I ordered a BMB with a spigot, it came with the hole drilled and the spigot in the box, but not mounted.   You note the hole is on the flat about half way between the 1 gal mark and the bottom.   In fact, it is centered 3/4" up from the little ledge at the bottom of the BMB, about 1/2 way between the ledge and the 1 gallon bump.   Make sure there is about 1/4" flat surface around the hole to get a good seal.


Looking down at the bottom of the flat on the side of the BMB, you can see the 1 gallon bump.   You can see where I scratched a horizontal line 3/4" up from the bottom and a center line 1-1/8" from each edge of the flat area.


I drilled a 5/32" pilot hole (I like pilot holes they pilot or direct the larger drill).  


A 1" Forstner bit centered in the pilot hole.   Drill slow with very little pressure, we're not in a hurry.


Forstner bits do a nice job, almost no clean up required, I use them a lot when I want a blind hole with a flat bottom or drill from both sides when I want a clean hole.  


The spigot comes with 4 pieces, the valve, two gaskets and a nut.  


Put one of the gaskets on the valve's shank.      


Put the valve's shank through the hole you just drilled, then put the other gasket on the shank followed by the nut and tighten.   I used the rachet to get it just a little tighter than I could by hand.   You can see both gaskets, one on the outside of the bottle and the other inside.  


Looking down inside the BMB you can see both the inside and outside gasket and nut.    


Here you can see just how much clearance you have above and below the spigot's gasket when it's installed.    


It doesn't show well but that a 30mm socket on a 3/8" to 1/2" adapter and a 3/8" drive ratchet handle.   It doesn't take a lot of pressure, but I didn't have another good way to tighten it just a little tighter than I could by hand.


Finished, ready for mead.      


This is the first valve I have used, the must is about 1-1/2 months old, you can see the sediment collecting below it.   Not a drop has leaked.