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Finaly bought some kegs!!!
Okay, so I have 4 corny kegs....I know I need other stuff....lines, fittings, etc...
Anyone know what else I need?
beer to fill them.
seriously though, I posted a "how to build" in the blog section a few months back. All you really need is a co2 tank, a regulator, corny QDs (ball or pin lock kegs?) and a picnic tap. The rest is just expansion to keep em cold and pour at the same time. No reason you can't keep 4 carbed cornies and just pop the picnic tap onto whichever one you want to serve from.
I got a couple of old kegs given to me by a friend and I'm not quite sure but I think they are pin lock as they have 3 pins sticking out the sides, or maybe they are ball lock and I'm just retarded. Anyway what is the difference (how do they look) and is it harder to get components for one style or the other? It seems to me most of the online stuff is for ball lock kegs. I plan on buying a whole set up (including a referbished keg) this spring or summer and was going to buy whatever extra hookups i needed after I got it.
Rick, have you bought faucets or are you going be using the cobra taps?
Rph brewer, here's an article that breaks down corny kegs and shows you how to take apart and reassemble them. It also describes the difference between ball lock and pin lock. It doesn't have the best pictures but I think it'll be able to clarify some things for you. If you click "Back to article" at the bottom it will bring you back tot he main article page with a lot more info on kegging. http://www.brewingtechniques.com/librar … ngsb1.html
I've noticed that there seems to be more ball lock kegs out there. My LHBS carries mostly ball locks and the necessary replacement parts.
If you are building a system, it is a good idea to put swivel nuts on the ends of your bevline and gas line to connect to a threaded QD, not a barbed QD. Ths will allow you to unscrew and rescrew the proper QD for the the proper keg style. That way if your system is al set up for ball lock, and you run into a steal on pin lock kegs somewhere, easy switch out with no line cutting.
Thanks for the great info.
If I just replaced the 0 rings on the kegs I have, ordered a picnic tap and CO2 cartrige, could I just add priming sugar and keg my next batch? (This seems to be thirstys suggestion from the blog) if so how long do those CO2 cartrages last? Are they like a one time use thing for like a party or could I keep it set up in my fridge and drink over the next month? (ok next 2 weeks 
)
thirsty wrote:
beer to fill them.
Hey guy, thanks for the advice...I knew there was something missing...
thirsty wrote:
seriously though, I posted a "how to build" in the blog section a few months back. All you really need is a co2 tank, a regulator, corny QDs (ball or pin lock kegs?) and a picnic tap. The rest is just expansion to keep em cold and pour at the same time. No reason you can't keep 4 carbed cornies and just pop the picnic tap onto whichever one you want to serve from.
Cool....I know the big thing is a fridge. I have the perfect spot for it too, just need to pay some bills first. I was planning on going to kegs over the summer, but I was able to get a good deal so I jumped. They are ball lock cornys with weird flippy thing to open them, and two studs sticking out for the in and out.
FirePitBrew wrote:
Rick, have you bought faucets or are you going be using the cobra taps?
I have no idea....don't even know what you mean by faucets and a picnic tap. I have some reading to do I know that.....I work on a military base, and the internet is filtered cleaner than a Kolsch, or some of Thirsty's brews.....And with a new ladyfriend, time is very precious. I need to explain to her the real importance of my life. AKA..I need to teach her how to brew!!! 
Thanks guys..I'll keep y'all posted.....
ricka182 wrote:
[And with a new ladyfriend, time is very precious.
Good for you Rick! Gee I sure hope her sight and sense of smell come back real soon... JK,LOL:lol:
I have licked my incessant fanaticism with fridge buying for about 6 months now, however I bought 7 refrigerators in less than a year off craigslist. Now that I have my lager fridge, ferm chamber fridge, kegerator, new indoor fridge, and my friends all have kegerators built, I dont need to look anymore, but if you read craigslist daily- you will find a real steal within 2 weeks. I got my SubZero for $100! As for faucets, if you do decide to go with them, I suggest spend an extra couple bucks and get forward sealing perlicks. Ventmatics are a bit better quality, but they have stopped producing them for now and are hard to find anywhere.
Your basic parts list will include:
-CO2 tank (as big as you can afford, it will save you $$ on fills/xchanges used is fine if you can find one)
-CO2 regulator
-gas manifold/splitter/distributor depending on how many lines you want.
5/16" gas line for connecting regulator to splitter
per tap you will need:
4' of 5/16" gas line
6' of 3/16" bevline
2 swivel nuts for QD ends
threaded gas ball lock QD (grey)
threaded liquid ball lock QD (black)
faucet
3-5" shank
tailpiece (unless shank has it all in one attached)
backnut to secure tailpiece
taphandle
4 clamps oetiker ear styles are best only if you can get the exact right size, if not worm clamps (just dont overtighten or you can tear the tubing at the joint
If you go with a freezer you will need a temp controller as well
BTW it takes about 2 co2 mini cartridges to dispense a keg, and they will last awhile. So you can naturally carb w/ priming sugar (rule of thumb is cut back 10% when doing the whole batch at once) then dispense off a picnic / cobra tap.
ricka182 wrote:
I have no idea....don't even know what you mean by faucets and a picnic tap. I have some reading to do I know that.....I work on a military base, and the internet is filtered cleaner than a Kolsch, or some of Thirsty's brews.....And with a new ladyfriend, time is very precious. I need to explain to her the real importance of my life. AKA..I need to teach her how to brew!!!
Thanks guys..I'll keep y'all posted.....
Cobra taps are the cheap plastic taps that you use when you're broke, like me. All that's included is a ball lock connector, 6 ft line and a plastic pouring tap like one you'd find at a keg party . By faucets I meant real taps with tap handles and all.
If you're looking for a good deal on some draft equipment, check out Superior Products. I plan on picking up some Perlick faucets from them soon. http://www.superprod.com/category/beer+parts.do
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