Party Keg Help

[tredog]

Hey all,

Ok now I like the idea of the pressure sprayer party keg. I have purchased the 5 litre sprayer and have been tossing up ideas to use this.

One thing that has stopped me in my tracks is the gas in side of things. I cannot find anywhere locally that stocks the schrader style valves, except in the rubber format. So here is my dilemma I need a valve that will fit this party keg.

My first option is the refrigerator style valve as used in this party keg variation; http://brewiki.org/PartyKeg#schraeder

This is my desired option as I like the better connection. The problem here is that I have tried sydney air conditioning places and fridge parts places and no one can hook me up with this part at all. The best I got was get a part number and we will do what we can to order it in. So question is does anyone know where I can get this part in sydney or at least a part number.

My second option is the car schrader valve. Chrome plated or stainless steel. No after trying all the car parts places, auto electrician/car airconditioning places in my area the best I can come up with is a full copper style which doesn't even fit to the party keg sprayer. So question is here does anyone know where I can get this part in the macarthur area?

Tearing my hair out so far, hopefully help is a post away.

Cheers, Tae.

 

[lagers44]

Hi Tredog

I've just finished building my party keg.
The tyre valve I bought from the tyre & mag place on Blaxland rd near the corner of Bagdally Rd chrome & $5. The valve to fit I bought at super cheap auto just down the road for $3 it's the plastic type but the connection is good & if you're worried about leaks just disonnect it between squirts of co2.

By the way , being in Camden why don't you join us MALE members , look for the link at the bottom of the forum section.

Lagers

 

[sumo]

My second option is the car schrader valve. Chrome plated or stainless steel. No after trying all the car parts places, auto electrician/car airconditioning places in my area the best I can come up with is a full copper style which doesn't even fit to the party keg sprayer. So question is here does anyone know where I can get this part in the macarthur area?

Try a mag specialist for the valve, not all normal tyre shops carry them. My brother in law hooked me up as he is in the tyre game (but in NZ).

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

I've had some dedicated tire places offer to sell me the absolute correct schraeder valves for about $5 each. I think independents might be the way to go.

I went to a refrigeration place in Thornbury (or somewhere similarly remote and distant) in search of a refrigeration schraeder valve and filler tube. They would have taken over $60 from me - makes no sense to a tight-arse like me.

Good luck.

 

[tredog]

Hi Tredog

I've just finished building my party keg.
The tyre valve I bought from the tyre & mag place on Blaxland rd near the corner of Bagdally Rd chrome & $5. The valve to fit I bought at super cheap auto just down the road for $3 it's the plastic type but the connection is good & if you're worried about leaks just disonnect it between squirts of co2.

By the way , being in Camden why don't you join us MALE members , look for the link at the bottom of the forum section.

Lagers

Hey Largers,

Thanks for the info. Just so I don't look like a complete twit. What did you aske for when you went to the tyre store? I'm guessing you got the valve fitting minus the valve?

Thanks for the MALE invite. Linz has been on my case already. Speaking of cases he told me about the case swap. I'm keen but need to get the wife approval. That would mean another hobby society to be part of

Cheers, Tae.

 

[Thirsty Boy]

not so much tyre places as places that specialise in Mag Wheels - the car type schraders are the sort used in mag wheels.

 

[Frank]

Tredog
I am keen to set up one of these systems, but have not bought any parts yet.
Before I get too carried away with CO2 injection I was planning to bulk prime in the sprayer to allow carbonation. On the day of consumption pressurise the vessel with ambient air using the pump the container comes with to allow serving. If you don't shake it around too much a layer of CO2 will stay between the air and beer in the vessel.
I think this should be fine for finishing the Keg in one sitting (is only 5L). If I was planning to make the sprayer last for a few days, or force carbonation, I would go the CO2 option. With a couple of my mates I could see that 5L would only last a few hours and therfore I cant see why pressurization with air would make much difference.
I have not actually tried this yet, but was planning to do it this way the first time.

 

[afromaiko]

Try a specialized 4WD place.. or have a look on eBay, that's where I got mine.

 

[maltedhopalong]

Tredog
I am keen to set up one of these systems, but have not bought any parts yet.
Before I get too carried away with CO2 injection I was planning to bulk prime in the sprayer to allow carbonation. On the day of consumption pressurise the vessel with ambient air using the pump the container comes with to allow serving. If you don't shake it around too much a layer of CO2 will stay between the air and beer in the vessel.
I think this should be fine for finishing the Keg in one sitting (is only 5L). If I was planning to make the sprayer last for a few days, or force carbonation, I would go the CO2 option. With a couple of my mates I could see that 5L would only last a few hours and therfore I cant see why pressurization with air would make much difference.
I have not actually tried this yet, but was planning to do it this way the first time.

I'm pretty sure the pump pushes the air out the bottom of the tube, therefore, the air will be bubbled THROUGH the beer. Also, I don't think the CO2 would separate from the plain air given its density is not much heavier than the average density of "air" (especially if this air is bubbled through the beer).

It may still not have much of an effect as far as oxidisation goes presuming you will be drinking it straight away, but the exposure to oxygen is greater than you think.

Also, you will need to partially gas up the beer as the PRV won't allow full natural carbonation. Beer gassed with air will taste way different to beer gassed with co2. Try it with water and see.

 

[tredog]

I'm pretty sure the pump pushes the air out the bottom of the tube, therefore, the air will be bubbled THROUGH the beer. Also, I don't think the CO2 would separate from the plain air given its density is not much heavier than the average density of "air" (especially if this air is bubbled through the beer).

It may still not have much of an effect as far as oxidisation goes presuming you will be drinking it straight away, but the exposure to oxygen is greater than you think.

Also, you will need to partially gas up the beer as the PRV won't allow full natural carbonation. Beer gassed with air will taste way different to beer gassed with co2. Try it with water and see.

I am wanting to go the Co2 option as I don't trust beer and ashambly I don't think in one sitting alone me and my mates would go through 5 litres of beer so like the idea of being able to keep in some pressure and leaving for a while.

I'm also of the opinion that natural carbonation wont cut it with this vessel. Thirstyboy posted a nice discussion on this in the party keg thread.

I'll try and hit up some mag places around Macarthur area sometime today tomorrow and see how I go. Still after the fridge style connection if anyone knows more about an appropriate part in sydney.

Cheers, Tae.

 

[lagers44]

I am wanting to go the Co2 option as I don't trust beer and ashambly I don't think in one sitting alone me and my mates would go through 5 litres of beer so like the idea of being able to keep in some pressure and leaving for a while.

I'm also of the opinion that natural carbonation wont cut it with this vessel. Thirstyboy posted a nice discussion on this in the party keg thread.

I'll try and hit up some mag places around Macarthur area sometime today tomorrow and see how I go. Still after the fridge style connection if anyone knows more about an appropriate part in sydney.

Cheers, Tae.

Hi Tae

I went to Tyre Power , behind the counter was a sign with parts & prices. I just said I was after the chrome valve. It came with nuts, cap , valve everything to fit to a rim & go.

I did have to reduce the diameter as per thirsty's method for my 5l keg but if using an 8l it fits straight in.

Lagers

 

[Thirsty Boy]

Tredog
I am keen to set up one of these systems, but have not bought any parts yet.
Before I get too carried away with CO2 injection I was planning to bulk prime in the sprayer to allow carbonation. On the day of consumption pressurise the vessel with ambient air using the pump the container comes with to allow serving. If you don't shake it around too much a layer of CO2 will stay between the air and beer in the vessel.
I think this should be fine for finishing the Keg in one sitting (is only 5L). If I was planning to make the sprayer last for a few days, or force carbonation, I would go the CO2 option. With a couple of my mates I could see that 5L would only last a few hours and therfore I cant see why pressurization with air would make much difference.
I have not actually tried this yet, but was planning to do it this way the first time.

Boston - The "layer" of C02 thing is a complete furphy - it doesn't work that way, no matter what you hear in homebrewing circles.

Not that it will matter to you - carbonating naturally and pressurizing with air will be perfectly good as long as you do actually drink the beer on the night -next day you will notice a difference... and it will go down hill pretty fast from there.

It will all be very "real ale" because you wont be using artificial C02 pressure, you will be exposing your beer to the air, and it will be fairly lightly carbonated due to the limits of the keg design.

I suggest a nice English bitter - then it will all add up to great beer rather than not quite right beer.

TB

 

[tredog]

Do the different sizes (5 litre and 8 litre) have different lid sizes?

I was hoping to get a piece machined by a friend for the main lid and then make it interchangeable between the 5 litre and 8 litre.

 

[SpillsMostOfIt]

Do the different sizes (5 litre and 8 litre) have different lid sizes?

I was hoping to get a piece machined by a friend for the main lid and then make it interchangeable between the 5 litre and 8 litre.

Assuming you stay with the Aqua Systems, the lids are the same for both sizes. I cannot speak about interchangeability with/between other manufacturers.

One of the kegs that inspired me had an insert machined from a single piece of brass, which allows you to do all sorts of things like cut a thread for a QD, etc.

 

[tredog]

I think this is the same party keg I was looking at.

I am getting a friend to do up this part for me so that i can attach a Taylor keg post and different sized dip tubes internall for different sized kegs (aqua systems ones). The principle behind this idea is that it will be a small keg that will sit in a small bar fridge that I can carbonate at 4 deg C over a few days with regulated gas through the liquid disconnect on top. For dispensing I would flick over to the schrader valve set up.

I just feel this will give me more flexible options.

 

[lagers44]

Hi Tredog

The two I kegs i have are different brands. The valve fits the largers one perfectly but needed reducing for the smaller 5L keg , this was to fit the valve into the original liquid out hole. The actual lids are the same size but slightly different thread pitch , the fittings fit both but I haven't tried swapping lids & applying pressuer but i do know i can screw them onto either bottle .
I'm just using the 5L for beer & the 8L for it's intended purpose , if the wrong friends come over i may use the 8L for their drinks ! :lol:

Lagers

 

[Frank]

Thanks for the tip Thirsty Boy. I would hate to waste beer...

These valves can also be purchased at large irrigation supply stores if anyone is looking in rural areas. They are also used to measure mainline pressures in irrigation systems with a tyre pressure guage.

 

[joshuahardie]

I took a slightly different approach.
i used a QD post that we have on the kegs, and attached that to the lid in a similar fashion to the car valve.
then i pressured it using a keg charger that you can find form on of the sponsors.

 

[tourist]

About the chrome valves.....

I don't have a link for you, but google "Rema Tip Top" - they are a company that distribute a range of the chrome tyre valves to tyre places and should have a representative in your area. I spoke to our area rep the other week and they quoted me about $4.00 + GST each. Have yet to arrange a purchase, however, as I was given some old ones for free from JAX tyres.

 

[tredog]

Sigh all these places for $4, $5.

I went down to tyre power today on blaxland road and sure enough finally found a place that had one. Although $10 later I had the chrome plated valve. I know its more than everywhere else but the amount of driving around I've had to do it was getting to the point where this one part is costing me close to $25.

So I have it. Just waiting for the weekend now for a beer and sit down with my machinest mate to design and knock up the top plug. The top will have the QD taylor post on top so if I want to get the keg charger from brewcraft I can use that on the post to gas up or whatever (of course with the inheirent dangers of unregulated gas).

One question. The keg chargers that the sponsers have are the standard genuine innovations models with a beverage valve connection to allow us all to get next to the QD posts. Does anyone know where in Australia the genuine innovations products are stocked? I can get the bike style ones from bike stores but I'm specifically after the interchangeable valve connectors. That way I can have a charger able to connect to the QD and Schrader valve.

Cheers, Tae.