Low-budget DIY 5L kegging set up

[mChavez]

Hi!

I have recently moved into a new house and, having a bit of free space, decided to get into homebrewing.
I am about to bottle my first batch, but I am looking to set up a little kegging system to have some of the future batches on draft.

Due to budget and space constraints, I am not planning on getting myself a corny set-up for at least a year or two, however, I have found a very interesting DIY tapping system that uses 5L mini kegs. I would be very interested in your opinions about this system. If anyone has this set up at home, where did you get the parts?

Link: http://forum.northernbrewer.com/viewtop ... =3&t=61167
Particularly, the 1/4" set-up.

I understand that this is not an equivalent of a corny, but it seems to be fine for me as:
- The whole set up costs max £30 + gas. All the gas equipment can later be connected to a corny.
- 5L kegs will fit well in my fridge
- price of a 5l keg is around £6. I've read that you can get at least 10 re-fills out of these kegs before the laquer chips off, so it works out as 6p per pint + CO2.
- I do not intend to force-carbonate beer in kegs - priming sugar will be fine.
- It is portable and I can take the kegs (with or without the CO2) to a party.

I guess this system can be converted to be used with S30 or welding CO2 (if that is acceptable - I still can't find a clear answer whether there is such thing as "food grade" co2 )

Thank you for your help and advice!

Chavez.

[Dave S]

Hi, and welcome to Jim's. I've just started using mini kegs on the odd brew, but I use the Beer King top tap with mine. They're £30 odd but they work a treat. Can't help with the setup you describe I'm afraid.

[mChavez]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for the reply! I found some minikeg systems here:
http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/cat238_1.htm

The beer king /profi CO2 taps seem quite handy.
How expensive are the 16g CO2 bottles/how long do they last?

[Dave S]

Hi Dave,

Thank you for the reply! I found some minikeg systems here:
http://www.leylandhomebrew.com/cat238_1.htm

The beer king /profi CO2 taps seem quite handy.
How expensive are the 16g CO2 bottles/how long do they last?

The Co2 bulbs are around a fiver or less for a 10 pack, though I paid a bit more before realising. I've only kegged one brew up until now but I've emptied three kegs and there seems to be plenty of gas still in the first bulb. I find that I get over half way down just on the priming before I even need to inject any.

[mChavez]

Thanks!

Do you have a pressure gauge in your tap or do you just inject when the tap stops pouring?

[jmc]

Really cheap mod here, but it does rely on having a CO2 source connector to a tyre inflator.
Mini Cask with Tyre Valve Experiment (+pics)

You can check pressure with one of these:

I add CO2 with a tyre inflator like this hooked up to CO2 via a regulator.

[floydmeddler]

Here's my setup:



You can buy 30 packs of 16g threaded Co2 bulbs here: http://www.co2cartridges.co.uk/ Cheapest I could find. They are 100% foodgrade - I've made several enquiries.

[Dave S]

Thanks!

Do you have a pressure gauge in your tap or do you just inject when the tap stops pouring?

Not as yet, I just give it a quick squirt when needed.

[CJR]

Bugger this thread, something else to add to my list of things I want.

[mChavez]

Thanks for the advice guys!

The valve set-up seems interesting =))

[floydmeddler]

Really cheap mod here, but it does rely on having a CO2 source connector to a tyre inflator.
Mini Cask with Tyre Valve Experiment (+pics)

You can check pressure with one of these:

I add CO2 with a tyre inflator like this hooked up to CO2 via a regulator.

JMC,

I am really interested in upgrading my system to a bigger gas source and using a tyre inflator. Would you be so kind as to talk me through your set up and point me in the right direction please? These 16g bulbs are good but I'm sure this way would be a lot cheaper in the long run.

Cheers

[timbo41]

Here's my setup:



You can buy 30 packs of 16g threaded Co2 bulbs here: http://www.co2cartridges.co.uk/ Cheapest I could find. They are 100% foodgrade - I've made several enquiries.

Floyd can you describe you set up. Or I'd it the one you did with s plastic Jerry can. The only small co2 cartridges I know of are one use jobs, Ford your set up allow you to" turn on and off" the gas as and when you need it for serving?

[timbo41]

Excuse predictive txt
ball's up

[mozza]

I know it's gonna be a pain in the arse but could you guys list all the components and where you got them from?
Cheers,

Sam

[mozza]

Scratch that! Just seen your link!