Idea's For Lifting Kegs Into Freezers

[brettprevans]

Pumpy

Thats exactly what I was talking about. There also another thing., an engine block holder. its cheaper and would require a few mods to be to lift with it but not too difficult.

 

[brettprevans]

Isn't that just a case of a simple back-flush? Not quite sure how it might work, though.

wou,d that entail swapping the 'gas in' 'beer out' connectors or changing the spot in the body where the beer goes in rather than out?

 

[Maxt]

+1 I'm with Adam. Lift with your legs. A full corny is hardly a Mack Truck.

Another way to save a bit of back strain is to stand on a small stool or milk crate when you put them in or pull them out. You don't have to compact your spine so much when lifting up depending on your height.

Warren -

Warren, I also have a bad back and can vouch for how much strain is put on it with a full 19L keg, threading through lines etc. Not a Mack truck, but plenty bad if your back is crook.

Using a milk crate simply increases the angle of bend you need when you place it down over the collar, which makes it even worse.
Either way, they are awkward beasts to get in full. I am looking more at the block and tackly/winch system.

 

[barry2]

A small scissor lift may be the way to go

http://www.lkgoodwin.com/more_info/tables_...ft_tables.shtml

Probably expensive but how expensive is a damaged back.

 

[Lukes]

What about transferring 1 keg or batch into 2 kegs (but purge em first)?
You just need more kegs (but don't we all) but they a re still cheap enough.

 

[anc001]

Why not do something about getting your back better, so that you have no need for some extra step. + the rest of the life benefits.

I vote for this option, grab a beginner's yoga DVD from your local library and you'll be right as rain in no time, if I'm anything to go by.
Not leaping tall buildings in a single bound, but being able to pick stuff up off the ground for a change, and full cornies included.
(though no excuse for not picking up my socks anymore...)

 

[tangent]

I am leaning toward the filling the keg in the freezer idea. Has anyone done a test to see if u can force carb through the beer out post at say 300kpa and then how long would u need to leave without shaking and rolling around till it was carbed up?

I don't like the "Ross method" of carbing (sorry Ross, It seemed you didn't even like the title, it was "forced" upon you - no pun intended)

I've found trying to shake 20kgs a sure way to fu<k your back up!

I squirt 250kpa into the gas in (not the other way around - beer in gas lines isn't fun) and chill the beer. Put the keg in situ and syphon in if need be, maybe through a filter first.

Leave overnight at 0-1C

Top up to 200kpa the next day when cold.

Top up the next day to 150kpa.... and so on until desired carbonation.

I have plenty of kegs and plenty of beer so I can do without shaking beer kegs to get fizzy beer

 

[brettprevans]

A small scissor lift may be the way to go

http://www.lkgoodwin.com/more_info/tables_...ft_tables.shtml

Probably expensive but how expensive is a damaged back.

ahh $2000 looked about the cheapest. doubtful thats an option. engine lift or winch and tackle are cheap and easy enough to put together

 

[newguy]

I am leaning toward the filling the keg in the freezer idea. Has anyone done a test to see if u can force carb through the beer out post at say 300kpa and then how long would u need to leave without shaking and rolling around till it was carbed up?

You can force carb by simply hooking up the gas and leaving it alone. I've done this many times. It takes about a week to carbonate, but it does work. Just hook the gas up as normal, and the regulator set to your normal serving pressure. The beer should be cold to begin with, but you can carbonate warm beer too - it just takes more pressure.

 

[SJW]

I've found trying to shake 20kgs a sure way to fu<k your back up!

I squirt 250kpa into the gas in (not the other way around - beer in gas lines isn't fun) and chill the beer. Put the keg in situ and syphon in if need be, maybe through a filter first.

Leave overnight at 0-1C

Top up to 200kpa the next day when cold.

Top up the next day to 150kpa.... and so on until desired carbonation.

I have plenty of kegs and plenty of beer so I can do without shaking beer kegs to get fizzy beer

I'm hear'in ya.
I might try this way next time. Might try putting the fermenter on a board sitting over the collar and drain via pvc hose straight down into the keg and hit with c02 till its holding a constant 80kpa or so.

 

[hando]

Summing up...

Do some yoga/pilates and improve your back
Get someone else to lift them OR
Get a pump OR
Get a pulley system OR
Dig a pit for your freezer to sit in OR

MY SUGGESTION

What about a ramp like on a car trailer. Just slide/roll it up over the lip. Cheap as chips too. Could be used in conjunction with a pulley system that sits behind the freezer instead of hanging from the ceiling B)

Good luck

 

[oldbugman]

something like this?

 

[Simon W]

The engine crane isn't a bad idea, but as anyone that has used one will know, they have a few drawbacks.
The main drawback is the two legs that the front wheels are on, you will need to lift the freezer off the ground another 100mm or more to let them pass underneath.
Another drawback is they are pretty bulky, but not a problem if you've got the room in the shed or garage.
Also they can be a pain to manoeuvre, some have four swiveling wheels which aren't too bad but still a pain(think shopping trolley!), some tho have two fixed wheels on the back which requires pulling it back and forward to crib it sideways if you're already up to the freezer.

To get around the first problem, some have extendable legs. Reduce these to their shortest and the crane to its longest and a 40kg bag of cement or something over the back wheels to stop it tipping forward and you might not need to lift the freezer off the ground.

 

[newguy]

Also they can be a pain to manoeuvre, some have four swiveling wheels which aren't too bad but still a pain(think shopping trolley!), some tho have two fixed wheels on the back which requires pulling it back and forward to crib it sideways if you're already up to the freezer.

Not to mention that if you have a full keg on it, such movements will turn it into a very effective battering ram.

 

[paul]

I think you all need to drink more beer so that you can experiment with the easiest way of gassing them up and lifting them.

 

[sqyre]

I toyed with making up a refrigerated cold box with large fridge like doors that you could wheel fermenters into with a trolley.
(basically a chestfreezer on its side with big doors instead of the lid)
Kinda like those big under bar commercial fridges..

And, have you ever seen those plant pot stands with little wheels for moving around heavy plants?
you use them for your fermenters and make a little ramp and roll them in to the fridge...

Just a thought..

Sqyre...