KegLand Questions and Answers

[peteru]

I've got these items in my cart, how are you thinking of reconfiguring things if you don't mind me asking? I hope you can get that gauge out, no good!

I want the disconnect on the side of the T-piece, gauge at the top and valve at the bottom. That arrangement should fit more neatly on the top of my kegmenter.

I also did an overnight pressure test. The Blowtie was set to 35psi (planning on naturally carbonating a Saison at room temperature) and the entire thing hooked up to a kegmenter at 10psi. 8 hours later the pressure was at 0psi. I need to do some more tests to see what is leaking. Everything is brand new, so everything is suspect. ;-)

 

[Schikitar]

8 hours later the pressure was at 0psi

..not promising, I'm looking to do a pressure ferment in a keg before committing to a kegmenter - it's a long story I won't bore you with - so I was looking to use the blowtie arrangement but now I'm having doubts/concerns!

 

[peteru]

I've done at least eight pressure ferments in modified kegs before deciding to pull the trigger on the kegmenter, blowtie and other stuff. My gheto solution to pressure control was to change the spring in the pressure relief valves of the kegs. I used a slightly stretched poppet spring. On one keg, that gave me about 5psi and on the other just under 10psi. My strategy was to keep the PRV fully open for the first day or two (about two thirds of the expected drop in gravity), then close the PRV and let it carbonate. I made a mistake with one batch and had the PRV closed all the time, fermenting at just under 10psi. That batch ended up with green apple aroma, but that's another story...

Back to the spunding valve + kegmenter. I wrestled with the gauge again this morning, then pressurised the whole thing for another leak test. After 2 hours the pressure has dropped from 30kPa to about 28kPa. A slow leak that would not be an issue under active fermentation, but a problem if you are leaving things for a week or two to carbonate properly. I'll see if I can do a bubble test on some of the connections...

 

[KegLand-com-au]

I assume you're no longer stocking MK3 of the regulators and only stocking MK4?

Was pretty happy with the MK3, and I get the innovation side of things, but don't love paying an extra 25% for thicker steel around the guages...

To make this new model we have incurred a significant tooling cost. Once this tooling cost has been amortised we will be able to reduce the price slightly.

Also the QC process is much more involved and every single regulator is bench tested for a few hours for pressure decay and accuracy.

So there are some additional costs in manufacture and also some design and tooling costs which is why the regulators are $9.95 more than our older model.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

Looks like they are still selling the Mk3 for gases other than CO2. I assume the PRV is rated differently on those.
Still the Mk4 is under $50 so pretty cheap.

Yeah it is $9.95 more expensive than this MKIII older model.

The dials themselves are high quality dials and the dials alone add about $3 to the price on the MK4 model when compared with the MKIII model. We challenge anyone to find a better quality regulator at the same price.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

Reckon you guys should add an "in stock only" filter, would be handy (and time saving)! ;D

Yes that is probably not a bad idea. I will talk to the web designer about this. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Lionman]

I need to do some more tests to see what is leaking. Everything is brand new, so everything is suspect. ;-)

I highly reccomend the submerge test. Hook teh spunding valve up to a regulator and then dunk it in a sink full fo water. If there are leaks you will see them.

Just did this in my new keezer gas system and found 3 separate leaks.

 

[sp0rk]

Yeah it is $9.95 more expensive than this MKIII older model.

The dials themselves are high quality dials and the dials alone add about $3 to the price on the MK4 model when compared with the MKIII model. We challenge anyone to find a better quality regulator at the same price.

I feel like you guys have been hoisted on your own petard right here
You introduced your original lines at such cheap prices (we shan't discuss the politics of that...), most people don't want to pay a premium when you introduce a new, higher quality product
It's a pity because you are turning out some great new products that I believe are worth the extra coin

 

[KegLand-com-au]

I built the KegLand recommended spunding solution based on the Blowtie. Almost identical to this, except longer bit of tubing between the T-piece and the Blowtie.

I now decided that I'd like to reconfigure things. I managed to disconnect everything, except for the pressure gauge and the T-piece.

How do you disconnect the push in pressure gauge from the duotight fitting? The usual method of holding the push-in ring down does not seem to work. It seems to be permanently stuck :-(

Once the stainless teeth grab onto the line they it makes it harder to remove. Also if the line is pulled the stainless teeth in the collar grab even harder. So as peteru has suggested if you twist the line as your remove it this will help.

I should also say that we have two tools that will assist removing the line from these fittings. Historically we used to sell this 5 in 1 tap tool that looks like this. Now we have the new 7 in 1 tool has just been finished and this will make it a lot easier to hold the collar back. The new punch for this tool just got finished.

The image below shows you how to use the tool:

 

[KegLand-com-au]

I want the disconnect on the side of the T-piece, gauge at the top and valve at the bottom. That arrangement should fit more neatly on the top of my kegmenter.

I also did an overnight pressure test. The Blowtie was set to 35psi (planning on naturally carbonating a Saison at room temperature) and the entire thing hooked up to a kegmenter at 10psi. 8 hours later the pressure was at 0psi. I need to do some more tests to see what is leaking. Everything is brand new, so everything is suspect. ;-)

Almost certainly you would have a leak somewhere. To my knowledge we have not had a single faulty Blowtie unit and definitely we have found them to be more accurate and reliable than other spunding valves. Let us know how you go as we would be very interested to find out where the leak is coming from.

 

[brewermp]

Once the stainless teeth grab onto the line they it makes it harder to remove. Also if the line is pulled the stainless teeth in the collar grab even harder. So as peteru has suggested if you twist the line as your remove it this will help.

I should also say that we have two tools that will assist removing the line from these fittings. Historically we used to sell this 5 in 1 tap tool that looks like this. Now we have the new 7 in 1 tool has just been finished and this will make it a lot easier to hold the collar back. The new punch for this tool just got finished.

The image below shows you how to use the tool:

Urrrggghhh I just ordered the 5 in 1 two days ago lol

 

[KegLand-com-au]

I highly reccomend the submerge test. Hook teh spunding valve up to a regulator and then dunk it in a sink full fo water. If there are leaks you will see them.

Just did this in my new keezer gas system and found 3 separate leaks.

Yes would recommend this as well. The gauge itself cannot be submersed but everything else in this blowtie kit can be put under water. As a result it should be very easy to identify even a very slow leak once the gear is put under water.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

I feel like you guys have been hoisted on your own petard right here
You introduced your original lines at such cheap prices (we shan't discuss the politics of that...), most people don't want to pay a premium when you introduce a new, higher quality product
It's a pity because you are turning out some great new products that I believe are worth the extra coin

Yes it's a difficult balancing act trying to get the best quality product to market while still meeting customers price expectations.

I believe we run a very efficient business that enables us to have very tight margins but at the end of the day we also want to continue to put money and time into constant product development that simply costs money.

 

[KegLand-com-au]

Regret waiting over the weekend to make an order. Last few complaints, I promise:

8mm Duotight Check / Non-Return Valve says In Stock on menu page, Out of Stock on product page.

Fun glitch/website dev:
https://www.kegland.com.au/grain-bill-maker.html
click on the link to Malt by the Kilo, takes you to the Keg King website...
It's not a finished webpage, but it is public.

Our web designer made this code and for testing he put that link in there. Now been fixed up. I am surprised that you have found this page. This page is not actually live yet but it seems that google has indexed it already.

The all grain recipe builder should be finished soon.

 

[sp0rk]

Our web designer made this code and for testing he put that link in there. Now been fixed up. I am surprised that you have found this page. This page is not actually live yet but it seems that google has indexed it already.

The all grain recipe builder should be finished soon.

I take it your designer is a recent uni graduate?
Anyone with a decent amount of business/UX design experience knows you NEVER put something into your production environment until it's done
If a user can find it or break it, they WILL find it and they WILL break it, no matter how hidden you think it is

 

[Camo645]

Hey Kegland!

Any chance of having the 'Newest Item' section linked to a page which lists all of the newest items in chronological order? I love to see what's new but how will I know what I now need after I look at the first 4 items?

 

[tomjhogwash]

Hi,

I just got an email saying that the flow control ball lock disconnects are in stock but when I go the website it still says out of stock and due for restocking tomorrow (Nov 30). What's going on?

Thanks,
Tom

 

[TheBeerBaron]

I take it your designer is a recent uni graduate?
Anyone with a decent amount of business/UX design experience knows you NEVER put something into your production environment until it's done
If a user can find it or break it, they WILL find it and they WILL break it, no matter how hidden you think it is

I am picking up a fair bit of animosity towards Kegland from you @sp0rk... maybe give it a rest!? they are having a crack at running a business which ultimately helps our common hobby & community by sponsoring the forum also. Just chill out.

 

[Paulos]

Any further details on stainless (ss brew bucket type) fermenters you were hoping to release by the end of the year?

Just a bump - any details on any additional SS fermenters?

 

[SE7EN]

Any chance of thinner taller Kegmenters? Alot of us cant find fridges wide enough for 2x 35+cm vessels, 28-30cm would be perfect.

 

[krz]

Went to KL today and had a question why my sodastream adapter didnt seem to be able to fill the bottles.
The dudes in the store were more than happy to look into it for me, and diagnosed the problem quickly. (dont over tighten the adaptor is the answer).

Anyway, that was a very pleasant experience. Thanks guys.

 

[bbqzookeeper]

8mm Duotight Check / Non-Return Valve says In Stock on menu page, Out of Stock on product page.

Would love an update on this ^above^, and you're not listing lactic acid any more (or haven't yet)?

Description from Phosphoric acid page: "...This formula is also great at adjusting the pH of Sparge water and your Mash pH. If you prefer to use the traditional pH adjusting ingredients we would suggest Acidulated Malt or our Lactic Acid 88%."

Description from Cleaning and Packaging page (heading): "KegLand supplies a full range of cleaning gear such as StarSan, Stellarsan, PBW, Powdered brewing wash, Phosphoric acid, Lactic Acid and all sorts of chemical agents."

 

[Frothy Boi]

Sorry if I am being redundant but I'm not in the mood to read back thru 63 pages..when will the new fermentasaurus' drop? Have they already dropped? I did follow KL on FB but I deleted my account a few months back.

 

[peteru]

Yes would recommend this as well. The gauge itself cannot be submersed but everything else in this blowtie kit can be put under water. As a result it should be very easy to identify even a very slow leak once the gear is put under water.

I did a submersion test on the disconnect, the blowtie and everything else, except the gauge. Could not find any leaks that way. It was brewday yesterday and the kegmenter got it's first use. I didn't have enough time to test the kegmenter thoroughly, but I did do a pressure fade test on the blowtie kit itself.

I pressurised the blowtie kit (disconnect, t-piece, gauge and blowtie) to 100kPa and left it to sit without being connected to anything. Over a period of 20 hours, the pressure on the gauge has slowly dropped to 50kPa. Not ideal, but given the small volume of gas in the system, it's not a problem for it's intended use - spunding valve in the final stages of fermentation.

The leak rate I experienced overnight with the kegmenter connected has been much greater. The entire kegmenter went from 10psi to 0psi in less than 8 hours. Obviously that is a large amount of gas when compared to the blowtie kit alone. That would be no good for carbonation. Fingers crossed, the first ferment will go OK and once done I can investigate more. Perhaps even do a submersion test on the kegmenter itself. A close inspection of the lid showed a darkish spot on one part of the post weld. Perhaps it's a pinhole.

 

[peteru]

Once the stainless teeth grab onto the line they it makes it harder to remove. Also if the line is pulled the stainless teeth in the collar grab even harder. So as peteru has suggested if you twist the line as your remove it this will help.

Yep, it's hard with the plastic line, but doable if you push down the collar clip firmly with a tool. Plastic is relatively soft, so with enough force and twisting, you'll butcher the line but will get it out. However, in this instance the combo of brass stem and stainless teeth, together with a square profile locking groove in the stem, make it a "permanent" connection. :-(

I should also say that we have two tools that will assist removing the line from these fittings. Historically we used to sell this 5 in 1 tap tool that looks like this. Now we have the new 7 in 1 tool has just been finished and this will make it a lot easier to hold the collar back. The new punch for this tool just got finished.

The image below shows you how to use the tool:

I built a steel tool that has a 8mm U shaped slot, which allows me to do almost exactly the same thing. It didn't help.

Can I suggest that if you ever get a chance to make modifications for future manufacturing runs of the gauge, that you make the locking groove on the gauge stem a more rounded profile, rather than a square. Just enough to be able to coax it out, even if the steel teeth are tight and won't open fully.

 

[sp0rk]

I am picking up a fair bit of animosity towards Kegland from you @sp0rk... maybe give it a rest!? they are having a crack at running a business which ultimately helps our common hobby & community by sponsoring the forum also. Just chill out.

Holy crap that's hilarious
How about before you come on here after 4 days and throw your weight around, you have a good read about their behaviour here
Also, as someone who worked in database and website development for nearly a decade, I feel pretty qualified to make that comment
Did you miss my earlier praise for their innovative new products?

 

[TheBeerBaron]

Holy crap that's hilarious
How about before you come on here after 4 days and throw your weight around, you have a good read about their behaviour here
Also, as someone who worked in database and website development for nearly a decade, I feel pretty qualified to make that comment
Did you miss my earlier praise for their innovative new products?

Yep, I have only been a member four days your right... still, seen plenty of you having a crack at them. Just my observation.

 

[sp0rk]

Yep, I have only been a member four days your right... still, seen plenty of you having a crack at them. Just my observation.

They ignore the rules of the forum repeatedly and feign ignorance when called out on it, the mod team is pretty thin on the ground these days so no one is enforcing the rules
To their credit they have stopped doing it as much as before

 

[EmptyB]

Lotta context in this @TheBeerBaron. Messy, messy context.
You don't need to participate in the drama but be aware that it exists for a reason.

 

[sp0rk]

I'll agree I've (and others too) been harsh on them, but it seems to have been taken on board and they are starting to play ball
Hopefully it'll all be water under the bridge soon