Chap
Well-Known Member
I have just got my hands on a fridge and am about to start kegging, so newbie to both kegging and kegerators. For all you keggers and builders out there, what is one thing you wish you'd known prior to your first build/keg?
what do you wish you'd known?
- Thread starter Chap
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droid
somewhere on the slippery slope with a beer in han
I wish I'd known about it earlier...
fear leaky co2 fitting$ and don't fear force carbing or a Pluto gun or two
fear leaky co2 fitting$ and don't fear force carbing or a Pluto gun or two
Don't buy cheap knock off imitation John Guest fittings. But the real thing, available from site sponsors.
Force carbing takes a few days. High pressure and shaking is for desperation only.
Check for leaks at all parts of the system
Buy once, cry once on a good regulator
The John guest fittings are good but there are mixed reviews about leak resilience. I've had a couple of negative experiences, others have had none in forever years (a nod to the comments above, all quality components would probably overcome this, I had the cheap kk line)
Learn about pressure drop and line lengths for tap systems when designing your kegerator
Respect CO2. It can kill you by a) stored energy, b ) asphyxiation
Choose the check valves. Accidental reverse flow when moving pressures can damage your reg and contaminate your gas lines. They're too cheap not to apply them for a newbie.
Be excited: it is like a king bed, or two monitors. You will never ever look back.
Find the mini keg bulk buy MKIV and get on board in Feb.
Check for leaks on all parts of your system...
Check for leaks at all parts of the system
Buy once, cry once on a good regulator
The John guest fittings are good but there are mixed reviews about leak resilience. I've had a couple of negative experiences, others have had none in forever years (a nod to the comments above, all quality components would probably overcome this, I had the cheap kk line)
Learn about pressure drop and line lengths for tap systems when designing your kegerator
Respect CO2. It can kill you by a) stored energy, b ) asphyxiation
Choose the check valves. Accidental reverse flow when moving pressures can damage your reg and contaminate your gas lines. They're too cheap not to apply them for a newbie.
Be excited: it is like a king bed, or two monitors. You will never ever look back.
Find the mini keg bulk buy MKIV and get on board in Feb.
Check for leaks on all parts of your system...
Blind Dog
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That you need one of these: https://nationalhomebrew.com.au/beer/kegging/other-faucet-wrench
clickeral
Well-Known Member
2nd hand kegs can be a pain in the ass so try not to buy sight unseen (I got mine delivered) after replacing all the seals and the lids and the posts I should have just brought new to start with which I will be doing going forwards. Also the fact that after many many cleans I can still not get the smell of softdrink syrup out of them
I currently have 4 19L ball lock cornys
Buy decent taps, I have a Perlick 650ss and have just ordered some of the flow controlled intertaps as I thought I would give them a go, Would have preferred the perlicks but the gf said no as I have a wedding to save for :s ($83 vs $120 complete isn't that much difference except to her :s)
Tread tape everything and use good tube, I use 5mm Inner Dia & 8mm Outer Dia from cheeky peak
which I will be doing going forwards. Also the fact that after many many cleans I can still not get the smell of softdrink syrup out of themI currently have 4 19L ball lock cornys
Buy decent taps, I have a Perlick 650ss and have just ordered some of the flow controlled intertaps as I thought I would give them a go, Would have preferred the perlicks but the gf said no as I have a wedding to save for :s ($83 vs $120 complete isn't that much difference except to her :s)
Tread tape everything and use good tube, I use 5mm Inner Dia & 8mm Outer Dia from cheeky peak
Mardoo
Noob What Craps On A Bit
Many good things said already which I won't repeat.
Use keg lube on all the internal keg seals: lid, PRV, dip tube, gas tube seal if any, and poppet seals. I haven't found the seals on the posts to be an issue. Fully 3/4 of my keg issues have been solved by lubing the seals.
Also, buy good equipment and your chance of issues drops dramatically. My first disconnects were cheap and often had slow leaks. Once I started buying Cornelius disconnects, no more problems. Definitely in Zorco's buy once, cry once zone.
Andale DA taps are awesome. I prefer them to any others I've tried, but a string of highly carbed beers has shown me the potential value of Perlick flow control taps.
If you don't buy flow control taps you'll need to learn about line balancing - especially if you serve beers at different carb levels. Seems complex at first, but once you've settled on which size beer line for your system, it's quite straightforward.
Use keg lube on all the internal keg seals: lid, PRV, dip tube, gas tube seal if any, and poppet seals. I haven't found the seals on the posts to be an issue. Fully 3/4 of my keg issues have been solved by lubing the seals.
Also, buy good equipment and your chance of issues drops dramatically. My first disconnects were cheap and often had slow leaks. Once I started buying Cornelius disconnects, no more problems. Definitely in Zorco's buy once, cry once zone.
Andale DA taps are awesome. I prefer them to any others I've tried, but a string of highly carbed beers has shown me the potential value of Perlick flow control taps.
If you don't buy flow control taps you'll need to learn about line balancing - especially if you serve beers at different carb levels. Seems complex at first, but once you've settled on which size beer line for your system, it's quite straightforward.
Mardoo
Noob What Craps On A Bit
Also, ball locks are far more common than pinlocks. Makes sharing easier.
And always purge your kegs of air before you put your beer in. Fill with CO2. Release gas, or rather pull the PRV until the keg empties. Fill with beer. Add CO2 to needed pressure. Release the PRV. Fill. Release. Fill. Release. Fill and leave to carb. That way you use some cheap CO2 and get beer that lasts a lot longer before it starts to go south.
The first fill and purge uses a lot. The subsequent ones, very little.
And always purge your kegs of air before you put your beer in. Fill with CO2. Release gas, or rather pull the PRV until the keg empties. Fill with beer. Add CO2 to needed pressure. Release the PRV. Fill. Release. Fill. Release. Fill and leave to carb. That way you use some cheap CO2 and get beer that lasts a lot longer before it starts to go south.
The first fill and purge uses a lot. The subsequent ones, very little.
nosco
Well-Known Member
Are other people using lube on silicone seal/o rings? Sorry ot.
Grott
Beer Embalmer
yes and on the ball bearings inside the disconnects.
4heckssake
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ditto, I learnt that the hard way.....psssssssssssssssttttttJDW81 said:
user 31093
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Cheap taps, though no huge regrets as they were only $10 and I still have for when I take a keg out of the house, I will probably put them in to a portable keg esky one day.
Also in my keezer build, who would have thought 2 taps wouldn't be enough? Stepping stones... one of these days, when I can get a hold of a big ass fridge or freezer.
(that's what she said)
Also in my keezer build, who would have thought 2 taps wouldn't be enough? Stepping stones... one of these days, when I can get a hold of a big ass fridge or freezer.
Apply lube liberallynosco said:
(that's what she said)
wide eyed and legless
Well-Known Member
If I had known how much chemistry and percentages were involved in brewing and baking I would have read Chemistry and Mathematics instead of Treasure Island and Tom Sawyer.
