Educate me on kegging
#1
Posted 26 March 2009 - 10:32 AM
#2
Posted 26 March 2009 - 10:50 AM
Execute a handstand, put tap in mouth and pull trigger to ensue consumption... Oh I thought you said kegstand. Get a temp controller if you want, but a lot of fridges will likely work without one. You'll need a faucet (either a nice forward seal or older rear seal, your preference), a shank to go through the door (get the width of the door plus an inch or so) I like the ones with a hose barb on the back already. So you drill the hole stick in through and tighten the lock nut and install the faucet on the front. Get some 3/16" beverage line, dip the tip in hot water to soften it to stick over the shank hose barb and tighten down a hose clamp over it. You'll need to balance the lines out (longer explanation) but generally you'll need about 6' of line. The other end gets a fitting that matches your kegs (either ball or pin if using cornys), I like the fittings with flare nuts rather than a hose barb connected directly to the fitting. So you beer side is done. Now you need co2. Easy way would be keeping the tank in the fridge, if outside you need to determine where on your fridge you can drill the hole through to fish a co2 line without trashing the fridge function. Anyways tank gets a regulator then hose gets connected to the tank just like the beer line side (but you can use some cheaper poly tubing here if you want rather than bev line, I just use some 1/4" stuff) and a gas connector to connect to your keg.Connect the up and start drinking (once carbonated of course, another explanation).That is the quick and dirty. Get more complicated as you want to run multiple kegs off a manifold or have dual regulators to allow you to dispense and high pressure carbonate at the same time. (I have mine set like this and can get pictures if desired).So, I'm finally ready to get my kegorator together. Right now, I have a 10-year-old upright fridge in the garage that's holding my bottled beer.Now, I'm willing to go the extra few steps to do this right. I plan on starting with 1 tap at first, and I'll spend the money to get a nice one. However, assume I know nothing and tell me what I should do.I'm willing to take pics of the whole process to work towards a nice kegging FAQ.
#4
Posted 26 March 2009 - 10:55 AM
#5
Posted 26 March 2009 - 11:04 AM
#6 *_Guest_hophead_*
Posted 26 March 2009 - 11:05 AM
#7
Posted 26 March 2009 - 11:55 AM
#8
Posted 26 March 2009 - 12:31 PM
#9
Posted 26 March 2009 - 12:52 PM
#10
Posted 26 March 2009 - 01:09 PM
#11
Posted 26 March 2009 - 02:36 PM
#12
Posted 26 March 2009 - 02:38 PM
#13
Posted 27 March 2009 - 04:10 AM
- [*]It lets you put the faucets up higher to a more traditional height, and there's no issue with long tap handles and opening up the freezer door and hitting the handles.[*]It's more efficient, since there's no freezer compartment to keep super cold, my kill-o-watt says it's using ~40% less energy than when it was in the kitchen as a normal fridge/freezer.[*]I kept the wife happy by having the additional refrigerated space for non-keg stuff on the freezer shelf: milk, wine coolers, wine bottles, etc...[*]It also makes working on kegs easier because you can just reach down from the top and put on connectors and things, the only time I have to open the bottom door is to actually remove a keg, or to access things in the door/drawers.[/list]
#14
Posted 27 March 2009 - 04:36 AM
#15
Posted 27 March 2009 - 04:44 AM
#16
Posted 27 March 2009 - 05:02 AM
I had a hell of a time finding a place too (I got a new 20 lb tank with my setup) but found that if you look for places that service fire extinguishers you might have luck. We have a monopoly of sorts if you look for the places that specialize in welding supplies etc. and they would only exchange (and it looked like would exchange my brand new aluminum tank for a heavier old steel one.) Once I started looking under fire extinguishers I found a few places that would just fill it.As someone who has just built a kegerator for the 'first time'...I have one caveat. In this area I have had no luck gettiing a gas tank filled. So, check your local area. I'm able to get an exchange with the local Pepsi Warehouse, but basically wasted my money on the new Co2 cylinder.
#17
Posted 27 March 2009 - 07:47 AM
Yeah, I now go the exchange route. I find it to be way more convenient, but my tank sometimes is pretty ugly. I keep my tank inside the fridge, though, so nobody sees it. The guys at the welding shop I go to usually know I'm using it for a kegerator, and look for one of the nicer tanks for me.I had a hell of a time finding a place too (I got a new 20 lb tank with my setup) but found that if you look for places that service fire extinguishers you might have luck. We have a monopoly of sorts if you look for the places that specialize in welding supplies etc. and they would only exchange (and it looked like would exchange my brand new aluminum tank for a heavier old steel one.) Once I started looking under fire extinguishers I found a few places that would just fill it.
#20
Posted 27 March 2009 - 05:12 PM
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