Which Direction To Take For Kegging?

[Bribie G]

Gday Bribie,

I have had good experiences with second hand chest freezers, and recently I bought a brand new factory second chest freezer for $400 that can fit 6 kegs in it without any modifications. The only thing wrong with it was a bashed in corner at the bottom due to someone dropping it. I bashed it back into shape and it's perfect.

That was a 275L one. With chest freezers there are a range of sizes and you can pretty much get one exactly like what you want if you look hard enough. For example my one comes in the next size up at 320L and the only dimension difference is the width. I reckon it'd hold 8 on the floor. The one down from me is 215L and holds 4 kegs on the floor. Again the only difference is the width.

Just thought I'd put that out there because I don't think what you said is true.

But that said, In hind site I should have just got a kegmate like you did. I find it hard to have more than 3 kegs going at once, a kegerator would have been FAR less money and effort than what I'm trying to achieve with building a bar!

I found a brand new 500 litre Fischer & Paykel chest freezer for $450. When the recommended retail cost at the time was $1350. There was also a 700 litre going for the same price. The dealer is in Brisbane and deals exclusively with this brand, they all have minor damage dents ECT and come with full factory warranty. But as Bribie says you have to modify them and that negates waranty but you would have to very un lucky to have a problem.

Point taken, I was only looking at the perfect ones ex BI-Rite and other stores that I can access locally.

Now the thing about natural carbing is that, sure you can treat the keg like a huge bottle and put in some priming sugar (at half the rate of bottling - there are threads on this). I have done this but, because the pickup tube sticks right down into a little dip at the bottom of the keg, if you carb by priming the keg, the first few pints are going to suck up heaps of yeast that has settled down into the 'well' after the priming. Once you get beyond that stage then it's good. Of course at some point the natural gas runs out and you have to apply BOC $$$$

Swings and roundabouts. I wouldn't use keg priming for a fine lager but no problems with a Coopers Clone or an English Bitter.

 

[MarkBastard]

You can bend the dip tube a bit more and then put it to the side a bit bribie.

If you're going down the natural carb route you can use a soda stream for dispensing.

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

Thanks for the replies, guys. It's been really helpful.

I took the first step towards kegging. Bought a starter kit off eBay which includes the following;
1 x 19lt ball lock kegs.
1 x high quality dual gauge Tesuco regulator.
1 x beer keg connection.
1 x gas connection.
3.6mt x 5mm ID beer and gas lines.
4 x hose clamps.
1 x hand grip budget beer gun.

Should be fine to start me up just storing the kegs in the fridge. I guess the next purchase is a gas bottle.

 

[zabond]

aus rider you can also go the sodastream gas bottle to start off- full bottle $45-[refil $11]-adaptor $30-you can carb and dispence about 3-4 cornies,I started this way until I could afford a 6kg co2 bottle,stil use the sodastrem bottle for partykeg and emergency gas if big bottle runs out

 

[Peteoz77]

A local shop here sells the keg fridge (top quality unit designed to be a keg fridge) with everything, and I mean everything. 2 Chrome taps, Aus reg 2.7KG gas bottle (full) Regulator, 2 sets of disconnects, line and even 2 X Cornies... like I said, everything required except beer. Total cost is $899

But it is in Queanbeyan.

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

aus rider you can also go the sodastream gas bottle to start off- full bottle $45-[refil $11]-adaptor $30-you can carb and dispence about 3-4 cornies,I started this way until I could afford a 6kg co2 bottle,stil use the sodastrem bottle for partykeg and emergency gas if big bottle runs out

Are those the 500gram bottles? I would have thought they wouldn't have much chop. They might be a solution for the time being.

 

[MarkBastard]

I believe they are 330gm.

 

[zabond]

yes their 330grm,if you go this way and have a harris regulator make sure that the ss adaptor fits the harris reg as some of the adaptors dont

 

[Aus_Rider_22]

Just waiting on a seal replacement kit. The keg, regulator and lines etc arrived the other day.

Would this be fine for a co2 bottle? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FULL-CARBON-DIOXIDE...=item439c443b8f

Also, in future, when I get another keg, do I simply just buy one of these to gas 2 kegs at once? http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=755

Thanks for the help. Hope to be putting a LCBA clone into a keg by the 10th of January.

 

[hoohaaman]

AR22 you might like to try here for co2 http://www.mykegonlegs.com.au/

and this cheaper alternative for splitting lines http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=742

 

[mxd]

Just waiting on a seal replacement kit. The keg, regulator and lines etc arrived the other day.

Would this be fine for a co2 bottle? http://cgi.ebay.com.au/FULL-CARBON-DIOXIDE...=item439c443b8f

Also, in future, when I get another keg, do I simply just buy one of these to gas 2 kegs at once? http://www.craftbrewer.com.au/shop/details.asp?PID=755

Thanks for the help. Hope to be putting a LCBA clone into a keg by the 10th of January.

that's the gas bottle I have, can get it filled at kegking (which is just down the road from me .

For the adding kegs you can get a T piece, manifold etc..

put a one-way valve on to protect you regulator.

cheers
Matt

 

[goomboogo]

AR22, that seems like a good price for a cylinder of that size. The issue sometimes is finding an establishment willing to fill bottles other than ones they have sold. But MXD points out that kegking will fill the bottle you have found on ebay. It does mention that it is a steel cylinder and I think they require testing every five years (every 10 years for aluminium cylinders). I may be wrong about this but someone with more information will be able to confirm or squash the test times I've given for cylinders.

As far as the manifold vs splitter; this will depend a little on the carbonating method you choose (low and long, short and fast, rocking,etc.).

 

[Screwtop]

can you natural carb in kegs without having a gas set up to purge the keg of oxygen?

I know it's Christmas.....................................but.......................

Try a Fcuking Search

Merry Xmas

Screwy

 

[Batz]

I know it's Christmas.....................................but.......................

Try a Fcuking Search

Merry Xmas

Screwy

Bit of a headache this morning Screwy? :lol: :lol:

Batz

 

[porky]

Really, that was posted on the 17th and you waited until the 26th to be that nasty.

Happy New Year!

 

[QldKev]

I know it's Christmas.....................................but.......................

Try a Fcuking Search

Merry Xmas

Screwy

haha screwy didn't get good Christmas presents :lol: :lol: , he must have been a bad boy.

QldKev

 

[Screwtop]

Really, that was posted on the 17th and you waited until the 26th to be that nasty.

Happy New Year!

:lol: Missed that, bit hung over :lol:

Just getting in a little practice, want to be a grumpy old prick as early as possible in the new year.

Bit of a headache this morning Screwy?

Just saw the text, Happy Xmas to you too mate. Tanks are full here, how bout yours??

Screwy

 

[NickB]

Grumpy old Uncle Screwy at it again

Cheers!

PS: My tanks were overflowing last weekend

 

[Batz]

Grumpy old Uncle Screwy at it again

Cheers!

PS: My tanks were overflowing last weekend

Someone gave me a Mr Grumpy t-shirt for Xmas

Batz

 

[Batz]

:lol: Missed that, bit hung over :lol:



Just saw the text, Happy Xmas to you too mate. Tanks are full here, how bout yours??

Screwy

The house tanks were full when I left, the big tank at the shed was around half. Nice to have plenty of water again.
Raining over there now?

Perhaps not ATM http://www.gympieweather.com/

Batz