Kegging kit ?

[fatbloke]

http://www.the-home-brew-shop.co.uk/

Went there today. I was actually going for some 23 litre glass that they advertised for £27, which when compared to the same in PET, wasn't bad at all.

Only to find that they keep an excellent range of kit, as well as dealing with the major suppliers i.e. Youngs, Ritchies, Muntons, Brouwland/Brupaks, etc

I find myself staring at "clone" corny kegs, in 23 and I think, 13 litre sizes.

Now apart from looking on ebay and following the prices, I haven't dabbled in kegging/carbonation apart from a tiny attempt with 33cl bottles and priming sugar.

With meads, and probably any other wines etc, clear+sweet/medium+fizzy is pretty much the hardest stuff to make, without playing with rocket fuels etc.

So the question is, what, exactly, would I need, for a basic kegging setup ?

I've seen lots of "words" that don't really explain it, like "disconnect" etc. I'm aware that I'd need compressed CO2, which I found a couple of months ago, so that I don't need to pay through the nose for BOC/Air Liquide/Air Products bottle contracts etc, up front. I can get that but with a bottle deposit arrangement (well I haven't asked recently, but presume I still can) from a local welding supplier. Sure it's not anything medical grade etc, but should, AFAIK do the job.

So maybe someone has a good link that explains all this, or can spell it out for me ?

As per usual, any ideas, guidance, advice is very much appreciated.

Oh, and I can recommend the place linked. I got 4 x 23litre glass, plus 1 x 11 litre glass ready to rack last years GF pyments, as well as a few other bits and pieces. They seem to keep a good range of stock (better than the local bloke anyway).

Top place, I'll be going back, even if it's only for the 23 litre "clone" kegs @ about £80. Why pay more than that for used, referbished "real" ones on ebay........

[oliver90owner]

Just make sure, if you get a corny keg, to avoid any made in China. Some are apparently rubbish as the welds rust.

RAB

[fatbloke]

Just make sure, if you get a corny keg, to avoid any made in China. Some are apparently rubbish as the welds rust.

RAB

Ok that's good to know, but I still have no idea what actual kit etc, I'd need i.e. keg +gas source+what ?

[Rich]

Gas bottle - Regulator - pipe - disconnect - keg - disconnect - pipe - tap - (glass if fussy) - Mouth.

• Regulator - controls the gas pressure going into the keg
• Pipes - Rigid ish or flexi, depending on connectors
• Disconnects - Pin lock or ball lock usually. Depends on keg type.
• Tap - Something that works for you. Mine are flow control Dalex taps. Look naff but they are in the garage atm.

A cheap keg is fine, so long as it will last. Corny kegs seem to hold their value. They've lasted a long time so far, all the spares are available and they work well.

Food grade C02 for force carbonating your drinks, I believe mixed gas for just pushing it out of the keg. (not done that myself..)

That Home brew shop is good. Certainly had a fair bit of stuff when I visited it. (It was their old place in Aldershot I went to, a few years ago now! Same trip as when I popped down to see you John.)

[fatbloke]

Gas bottle - Regulator - pipe - disconnect - keg - disconnect - pipe - tap - (glass if fussy) - Mouth.

• Regulator - controls the gas pressure going into the keg
• Pipes - Rigid ish or flexi, depending on connectors
• Disconnects - Pin lock or ball lock usually. Depends on keg type.
• Tap - Something that works for you. Mine are flow control Dalex taps. Look naff but they are in the garage atm.

A cheap keg is fine, so long as it will last. Corny kegs seem to hold their value. They've lasted a long time so far, all the spares are available and they work well.

Food grade C02 for force carbonating your drinks, I believe mixed gas for just pushing it out of the keg. (not done that myself..)

That Home brew shop is good. Certainly had a fair bit of stuff when I visited it. (It was their old place in Aldershot I went to, a few years ago now! Same trip as when I popped down to see you John.)

Brilliant, TVM Rich. I can start looking to see what's available and what I can afford......

[Cellar_Rat]

sorry John the bit late to the party...

If you are doing fizzy use CO2 up to 100 psi. If you are doing dispense (with wine or mead) you are better off with mixed gas (70% nitrogen) and keeping it at about 10 psi

like Rich says original corny kegs do seem to hold their money very well. In my opinion the ball lock type are preferable to the bayonet fitting. The ball locks do not tend to fail and are much easier to service ( and as a system it is more VHS than Betamax)

A simple system is from the gas bottle > regulator > bit pipe (normally 8mm 'pub line' push fit) > corny keg > mobile Tap > Glass.

Mobile tap is a corny keg connector with the screwed straight onto it you can obviously if you want a piece of pipe between the two.

make sure you get a regulator which is easily adjustable - you will fiddle with the pressures

above all else if you have a friendly publican he will have a box full of spare bits and pieces which I'm sure you could do a deal for what you need - the only thing he won't have is a keg and the connectors.

You can even make a car tyre adapter (shard of valve) so that you can use AIR - that depends on the application - ideal for parties.

If you have any more questions shout up..