Kegerator Suppliers...

[pmolou]

ok so I've been doing my research on kegerator systems lately and have read all the threads sofar and been emailing all the suppliers i know... I specifically had a question in regards to the quality of parts provided with the kits. I already know not to expect much of pinnacles parts but was looking at another supplier called go kegging and was wondering if anyone had used/dealt with them before, i noticed they had flooded fonts on offer etc. and seeing if i can possibly get these substituted for the initial fonts provided presuming there cheap ones, but then I'm not sure if i even upgrade whether it will be a better quality font or just another cheap one with a bigger price tag... So I'm having trouble distinguishing a quality part from a cheap part... I've also looked at just buying say a pinnacle fridge (as they seem to all be the same) and then upgrade all the parts at grain and grape which i always get my stuff from but noticed on the site that a double font tower was only $65, would this mean it could also possibly be the same tower provided with one of these package deals?

ultimately I've become extremely confused and not really trusting any suppliers after reading all the threads..

so far I've looked at pinnacle, keg king, go kegging, kegmate (seems legit but expensive)

god this is sooo hard any help or advice would be great as I have no idea what to do!

 

[mxd]

there has been a few discussions on this resently, and it seems doing it yourself (as in buy a kegerator fridge (someone mentioed $400 for fridge only), then look for a font and tap) is the best approach. I am doing a chesty myself and bought one of those $70 tower with 2 taps and was very disappointed so now I have bought "better" fonts and taps.

good luck.

Matt

 

[Vlad the Pale Aler]

Have you tried Beertech in Perth?
They have a bit of secondhand stuff that comes and goes, so a phone call might be best.

 

[Bribie G]

The fonts that come with the ebay kegerators of the Tomahawk / Kegmate / Pinnacle design are apparently cheap Chinese jobs and do nothing but pour foam. Sponsors do good ones, not cheap but A1 quality.

 

[mfeighan]

i got mine from westbrew link (i seem to remember getting it cheaper though) last year and won a 42" plasma to go with it, so essentially i got a free keg fridge
the guys at beertech are pretty helpful with the kegging stuff helped me fix a problem with one of my taps etc.


edit* bribie, you just change the beer line from the one that comes supplied and it works perfectly

 

[QldKev]

The fonts that come with the ebay kegerators of the Tomahawk / Kegmate / Pinnacle design are apparently cheap Chinese jobs and do nothing but pour foam. Sponsors do good ones, not cheap but A1 quality.

BribieG, what taps are you running on your kegmate; have you kept the supplied ones or upgraded. I can't get a quality pour out of mine no matter what I try.


QldKev

 

[AndrewQLD]

BribieG, what taps are you running on your kegmate; have you kept the supplied ones or upgraded. I can't get a quality pour out of mine no matter what I try.


QldKev

I don't have a problem pouring out of my cheapy Kev. Are your lines long enough?

Andrew

 

[QldKev]

I don't have a problem pouring out of my cheapy Kev. Are your lines long enough?

Andrew

They are the clear plastic BEVLEX 200 hose, Ross mentioned they were a smaller than normal internal size, so the shorter length should be ok, at a guess they are about 1m long

QldKev

 

[mfeighan]

is it your first pour of the day or all of them?

 

[QldKev]

is it your first pour of the day or all of them?

Sorry to pmolou for theofftopic

The first pour for the day is from a really sticky tap, that is hard to turn on/off, and results in a glass of foam. From then on the tap frees up and I get about 1/4 glass head, but a really loose head that breaks down fairly quickly and leaves a flattish beer behind. Currently I am carbing over a week at 0.6bar. If I try 1bar then I just get basically a glass of foam every pour. My setup out the back is using long lengths of the 6mm ID hose and I gas up and serve at just under 1bar, and works excellent.


QldKev

 

[AndrewQLD]

Sorry to pmolou for theofftopic

The first pour for the day is from a really sticky tap, that is hard to turn on/off, and results in a glass of foam. From then on the tap frees up and I get about 1/4 glass head, but a really loose head that breaks down fairly quickly and leaves a flattish beer behind. Currently I am carbing over a week at 0.6bar. If I try 1bar then I just get basically a glass of foam every pour. My setup out the back is using long lengths of the 6mm ID hose and I gas up and serve at just under 1bar, and works excellent.


QldKev

Do the same then Kev.

Andrew

 

[mfeighan]

and a little food grade lube in your tap should stop the sticky situation. it worked for me

 

[Gulf]

I got the kegerator from Pinnacle a while back with font, taps and regulator delivered for $600.

I would then buy these to complete it:
2x Elbow Nipple set (Barb 6mm) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=3029 $27.50
2x Quick Disconnect MFL (Beer) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=730 $27.00
3x Quick Disconnect MFL (Gas) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=731 $40.50
5x Female Adaptor 1/4" FFL x 5/16" (8mm) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=744 $35.00
1x Equal Tee OD 5/16" (8mm) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=742 $9.00
1x 2 Way Divider OD 5/16" (8mm) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=749 $9.00
3x Beer/Gas line (OD 8mm, ID 5mm) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=2229 $5.70
3x Beer/Gas Line (OD 8mm, ID 6mm) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=750 $5.70
1x Equal Straight Connector OD 5/16" (8mm) http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=741 $5.00
Total = $166.33

You will of course need kegs and a gas cylinder (allow approx $450) but then have a very nice setup. It will gas three kegs and pour two.
Cut a few centimeters of the 6mm ID tube and connect it to the regulator. Use the Equal Straight Connector to route beer line into the fridge and into the Equal Tee and the 2 Way Divider, Female Adaptors and Quick Disconnects (Gas). Connect the Quick Disconnects (Beer) to the Female Adaptors, Beer/Gas line and Elbow Nipple set.

There are a few ways of cutting costs (which I did) but I'd recommend just paying the money for stuff that works.

Alternatively, add up the cost of building a system using and old fridge and something like:
http://craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=733

No affilation to any business etc, just using links as examples of equipment needed.