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Date: 20 Jul 2006 18:29:57
From: Melville
Subject: Kegging Newbie
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Hello all,
I just recently bought all the items needed to convert my chest freezer
into a two-tap kegerator. The only thing that I lack is experience
with kegging. Any and all tips/suggestions would be most appreciated.
Also, I would love to know about any kegging mishaps that some of you
may wish to share. Maybe your warnings will help me avoid the same
fate.
Thanks!
M
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Date: 20 Jul 2006 21:42:58
From: Tom Biasi
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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"Melville" <separ@comcast.net > wrote in message
news:1153445397.803771.284580@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hello all,
>
> I just recently bought all the items needed to convert my chest freezer
> into a two-tap kegerator. The only thing that I lack is experience
> with kegging. Any and all tips/suggestions would be most appreciated.
> Also, I would love to know about any kegging mishaps that some of you
> may wish to share. Maybe your warnings will help me avoid the same
> fate.
>
> Thanks!
>
> M
>
Know where you drill; watch wires and coils.
If your chest freezer does'nt have a drain, think about making one.
Check to see if your thermostat can handle the higher temps.
Tom
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 09:24:33
From: Larry Bristol
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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Melville wrote:
> I just recently bought all the items needed to convert my chest freezer
> into a two-tap kegerator. The only thing that I lack is experience
> with kegging. Any and all tips/suggestions would be most appreciated.
> Also, I would love to know about any kegging mishaps that some of you
> may wish to share. Maybe your warnings will help me avoid the same
> fate.
Be very careful if drilling through the freezer walls! You do not want to
damage the cooling coils!
A friend of mine converted a chest freezer like this a couple of years ago,
and I really liked the solution he had. Rather than drilling through the
walls, he built a wooden "collar" that sat on top of the freezer walls,
about 6 inches tall, the same thickness as the walls. He re-mounted the
freezer lid about 6 inches higher than before so that it rested naturally
on top of the collar. I think he added another insulation strip to
minimize any leakage around the collor. All of the holes for his taps were
drilled through the collar. And since he made it out of oak, it really
looked nice!
Mishaps... Well, be very careful to check for gas leaks. You'll run
through a lot of CO2 if you have a leak! One good way to check your system
(or any part of it) is to turn the main gas supply OFF and watch the
high-pressure gauge. If it does not move for 5 minutes, then you're good!
If the pressure drops, then you have a leak. Yu can usually work backwards
to isolate that leak so you can fix it. [However, right after placing a
new keg full of beer under pressure is not a good time to do this check,
because the beer will start absorbing the CO2, and the high-pressure will
start to drop within that 5 minutes.]
Before you remove a faucet for cleaning, it's a very good idea to disconnect
it from any beer keg! <grin >
Make sure the beer out quick disconnects are seated firmly on the keg! This
is assuming you don't want to find 5 gallons of beer on the bottom of your
freezer the next day that has leaked out of a poorly seated disconnect.
Don't forget to clean the faucets, beer lines, and bottom of the freezer
regularly. You will also want to completely *REPLACE* the beer lines
periodically.
--
Larry Bristol --- The Double Luck
http://www.doubleluck.com
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 12:05:55
From: Steve Jones
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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In article <12c1ot25qugbg74@corp.supernews.com >,
Larry Bristol <larry.remove@remove.doubleluck.com > wrote:
> Melville wrote:
>
> Make sure the beer out quick disconnects are seated firmly on the keg!
Also make sure you get the correct disconnects on the correct posts -
gas disc./white on the "IN", liquid disc./black on the "OUT". They're
slightly different and it can be quite difficult getting them off if
they're mismatched (speaking from experience unfortunately).
Steve
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 17:21:49
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:05:55 -0400, <jones948@hotmail.com > wrote:
> In article <12c1ot25qugbg74@corp.supernews.com>,
> Larry Bristol <larry.remove@remove.doubleluck.com> wrote:
>
>> Melville wrote:
>>
>> Make sure the beer out quick disconnects are seated firmly on the keg!
>
> Also make sure you get the correct disconnects on the correct posts -
> gas disc./white on the "IN", liquid disc./black on the "OUT". They're
> slightly different and it can be quite difficult getting them off if
> they're mismatched (speaking from experience unfortunately).
An easy way to remember is: gray = gas, black = beer (IE, first letters are
the same).
John.
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 12:28:58
From: Larry Bristol
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> An easy way to remember is: gray = gas, black = beer (IE, first letters
> are the same).
In my case, I use PIN locks. You *cannot* get them on backwards without
breaking something (probably your fingers)! It's also easy to remember
that 2 pins = IN and 3 pins = OUT, the same as the number of letters in the
words. [Isn't that clever?]
--
Larry Bristol --- The Double Luck
http://www.doubleluck.com
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 18:41:04
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:28:58 -0500, <larry.remove@remove.doubleluck.com > wrote:
> John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
>
>> An easy way to remember is: gray = gas, black = beer (IE, first letters
>> are the same).
>
> In my case, I use PIN locks. You *cannot* get them on backwards without
> breaking something (probably your fingers)!
Yeah, my kegs are all pin locks too, for the same reason. Ball lock kegs
are a lot easier to find though.
John.
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 18:59:50
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 12:28:58 -0500, <larry.remove@remove.doubleluck.com> wrote:
>
>>John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
>>
>>
>>>An easy way to remember is: gray = gas, black = beer (IE, first letters
>>>are the same).
>>
>>In my case, I use PIN locks. You *cannot* get them on backwards without
>>breaking something (probably your fingers)!
>
>
> Yeah, my kegs are all pin locks too, for the same reason. Ball lock kegs
> are a lot easier to find though.
So how many kegs do people have? And how many are currently in use (ie have
beer in them)? I have five 5-gallon kegs, and I feel like I could use more.
--
Dan
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 18:33:30
From: Wayne
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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Dan Logcher wrote:
> So how many kegs do people have? And how many are currently in use (ie
> have
> beer in them)? I have five 5-gallon kegs, and I feel like I could use
> more.
>
I have 20 of them. 9 are currently in use with beer, cider, and cyser.
I also have 2 beers in fermenters that need to be kegged soon. Since I
started acquiring kegs, more and more soda distributors are
discontinuing the use of the kegs and the prices keep creeping up. I
keep an eye out for cheap kegs and pick them up when I find them
significantly lower than the going price (yard sales and private sales).
In a couple more years, the price may go sky high. I figure that
since I have the room to store them, I will keep more than what I think
I need. Also keep in mind that you will end up needing more than you
think you will, especially when first starting kegging.
Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 17:28:16
From: two bob
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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> I have 20 of them. 9 are currently in use with beer, cider, and cyser. I
> also have 2 beers in fermenters that need to be kegged soon. Since I
> started acquiring kegs, more and more soda distributors are discontinuing
> the use of the kegs and the prices keep creeping up. I keep an eye out for
> cheap kegs and pick them up when I find them significantly lower than the
> going price (yard sales and private sales). In a couple more years, the
> price may go sky high. I figure that
Here in oz the average price is Au$90 to 95.
> since I have the room to store them, I will keep more than what I think I
> need. Also keep in mind that you will end up needing more than you think
> you will, especially when first starting kegging.
>
> Wayne
> Bugeater Brewing Company
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 09:00:11
From: Dick Adams
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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>> I have 20 of them. 9 are currently in use with beer, cider, and cyser. I
>> also have 2 beers in fermenters that need to be kegged soon. Since I
>> started acquiring kegs, more and more soda distributors are discontinuing
>> the use of the kegs and the prices keep creeping up. I keep an eye out for
>> cheap kegs and pick them up when I find them significantly lower than the
>> going price (yard sales and private sales). In a couple more years, the
>> price may go sky high. I figure that
> Here in oz the average price is Au$90 to 95.
That's $67.75 to $71.50 in Gringo dollars.
I have nine. The most I'va had in use at one time was four.
They cost me about $20 each (~$15 AUD). I know where to get
more for less.
One more reason to move my act to OZ!
Dick
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Date: 23 Jul 2006 18:29:46
From: two bob
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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>
>> Here in oz the average price is Au$90 to 95.
>
> That's $67.75 to $71.50 in Gringo dollars.
>
> I have nine. The most I'va had in use at one time was four.
> They cost me about $20 each (~$15 AUD). I know where to get
> more for less.
A couple of years ago. I did the maths to import kegs from there. It worked
out to $15 ea landed. The only problem was where do I get rid of a pallet
load of kegs quickly to make it worth my while?
> One more reason to move my act to OZ!
Your most welcome to come over, the more home brewers the better. Tho, the
way our government works, it would be an excuse to up the taxes for us.
>
> Dick
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 22:39:35
From: Dan Logcher
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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Wayne wrote:
> Dan Logcher wrote:
>
>> So how many kegs do people have? And how many are currently in use
>> (ie have
>> beer in them)? I have five 5-gallon kegs, and I feel like I could use
>> more.
>>
>
> I have 20 of them. 9 are currently in use with beer, cider, and cyser. I
> also have 2 beers in fermenters that need to be kegged soon. Since I
> started acquiring kegs, more and more soda distributors are
> discontinuing the use of the kegs and the prices keep creeping up. I
> keep an eye out for cheap kegs and pick them up when I find them
> significantly lower than the going price (yard sales and private sales).
> In a couple more years, the price may go sky high. I figure that since
> I have the room to store them, I will keep more than what I think I
> need. Also keep in mind that you will end up needing more than you
> think you will, especially when first starting kegging.
Right.. I am probably going to but another 10 kegs, if the supplier can
get more two handled kegs. They have the one handled for cheaper, but I'd
prefer the two.
--
Dan
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 09:09:38
From: Larry Bristol
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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Dan Logcher wrote:
> So how many kegs do people have? And how many are currently in use (ie
> have beer in them)? I have five 5-gallon kegs, and I feel like I could
> use more.
I think I have about 15. My beer cooler will physically hold 10 (11 if I
really pack them in). So I built my gas supply manifold to support 10 gas
lines. There are 5 beer faucets and one beer engine for serving.
--
Larry Bristol --- The Double Luck
http://www.doubleluck.com
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 13:35:51
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 18:59:50 -0400, <dlogcher*xspam*@comcast.net > wrote:
> So how many kegs do people have? And how many are currently in use (ie have
> beer in them)? I have five 5-gallon kegs, and I feel like I could use more.
Well, I'm not normal (big surprise, eh?). I've got over 20 of them. I'd
have to go count to be sure, but it's in the low 20s. I've never had them
all full at the same time though. Pin lock kegs are hard to find and I had
access to a big stash of them at one point, so I jumped on the deal. I
originally started out with 9 kegs and then decided that it wouldn't be
enough. I probably don't need 20+, but at least it gives me spare parts,
etc.
I also keg meads, which take me a long time to finish. Generally I've got
2-3 kegs of mead around. I also keep a keg full of H2O all the time for
cleaning out tap lines, etc.
If you really want to talk to someone crazy (just kidding) ask MDixon. At
one time we had around the same number of kegs, but all his were full of
beer *and* all tapped at the same time.
John.
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 09:34:35
From: Bob
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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"John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net > wrote in message
> I also keg meads, which take me a long time to finish. Generally I've got
> 2-3 kegs of mead around. I also keep a keg full of H2O all the time for
> cleaning out tap lines, etc.
>
Do you carbonate the meads? What pressure?
Bob
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 13:48:12
From: Larry Bristol
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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John 'Shaggy' Kolesar wrote:
> Yeah, my kegs are all pin locks too, for the same reason. Ball lock kegs
> are a lot easier to find though.
For sure. Fortunately, I have more than enough pin locks to fill up my
cooler. But I did break down a few months ago and bought a set of ball
lock quick connects so I could accommodate "visiting" beers. <grin >
--
Larry Bristol --- The Double Luck
http://www.doubleluck.com
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 17:24:45
From: two bob
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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> Before you remove a faucet for cleaning, it's a very good idea to
> disconnect
> it from any beer keg! <grin>
If you havent had a beer shower from doing that, you havent kegged. lol
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Date: 22 Jul 2006 17:09:44
From: Don Levey
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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"two bob" <tb@department9.com.au > writes:
> > Before you remove a faucet for cleaning, it's a very good idea to
> > disconnect
> > it from any beer keg! <grin>
>
> If you havent had a beer shower from doing that, you havent kegged. lol
>
>
Been there, done that, washed the T-shirt.
--
Don Levey $ cd /pub
Framingham, MA $ more beer
NOTE: email server uses spam filters; mail sent to salearn@the-leveys.us
will be used to tune the blocking lists.
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Date: 21 Jul 2006 13:31:01
From: Mark R
Subject: Re: Kegging Newbie
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"Melville" <separ@comcast.net > wrote in message
news:1153445397.803771.284580@b28g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> Hello all,
>
> I just recently bought all the items needed to convert my chest freezer
> into a two-tap kegerator. The only thing that I lack is experience
> with kegging. Any and all tips/suggestions would be most appreciated.
> Also, I would love to know about any kegging mishaps that some of you
> may wish to share. Maybe your warnings will help me avoid the same
> fate.
I keep a document with all sorts of helpful links to beer related topics.
You might want to try some of these. for kegging.
Mike and Allen have pages with lots of good info
http://www.ipass.net/mpdixon/
http://www.bodensatz.com/
Freezer conversion
http://www.schwedhelm.net/brew/freezerator.html
http://www.oregonbrewcrew.com/freezer/freezer.html
http://www.zymico.com/thermostat.shtml
Kegging stuff
http://kegman.net/tap_info.htm
http://www.homebrew.com/pdfs/CO2chart.pdf
Mark R
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