ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Vacuum Fiascos, BlueVac Hoses, and the Brisket Shift: Pulling Deep Vacuums on CO₂ Racks.
In this episode, the hosts bounce from brisket trash talk into a practical (and chaotic) deep-dive on pulling vacuums for CO₂ rack startups after a week of target store work complicated by leaks and half-finished racks. They break down their preferred setup—NAVAC NRD30/32 vacuum pumps with KF16 fittings, BlueVac hoses, and multi-hose manifolds—plus why they avoid belt-drive pumps and dislike multiple-pump setups. They cover best practices for maximizing vacuum flow, managing wet systems, and why “triple evac” is ineffective compared to using heat with continuous vacuum and oil changes, with cold traps and desiccant as alternatives. The conversation also hits moisture risks like carbonic acid damage, questionable CO₂ tank dryness, filtering practices, and the frustration of 650-psi reliefs on charging lines tied to low-rated dryer housings.
