Cheap tap tower, buy or don’t waste the money?

[OpenSights]

I can fit three corny kegs in my kegerator and only have a single tap tower. Although I’m not looking into buying a three tap tower quite yet, just researching.

I’m in the trades and understand the importance of paying the big bucks for quality tools, and I’m sure I can answer my own question, but would buy one of these towers?

http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-5...0001&campid=5338413729&icep_item=323381133948

Just in case they sell out, here’s a similar one on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078MKJZ7Q/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

 

[Aristoi]

If you are set on cheap don't read this post. It will likely cost as much as your kegerator depending on what model you bought.

You already know the answer, but share my thoughts as i went through similar about a couple years ago. Bought new kegerator that holds 3 cornies. Came with SS tower and SS rear sealing faucets. Since this is my second kegerator that i am putting in my man cave and I went through learning curve on my cheap DIY converted fridge that was in the garage kegerator. I got tired of walking out to garage to pour beer and pouring for others when the garage was a mess. Upon receiving new kegerator, if it means anything i gave away a brand new tower and taps to a family member. The question for you that will help answer if you should go quality vs cheap. Will this kegerator be in the house that will be seen by friends family that visit or in garage/basement?

If it will be in garage or basement, cheap tower is fine but you will want forward sealing faucets. I have perlicks from my old DIY kegerator but intertaps are similar design to the older perlick 425 models. These guys have best prices on package deals.

https://www.birdmanbrewing.com/3-pack-intertap-forward-sealing-stainless-steel-beer-faucet/

If the kegerator is nice and will be in main part of house think about if you will have nice tap handles or not and how they will look/fit on a round tower vs T-Tower. I have these tap handles so i can write what brew is on tap for others to see and select/pour their own beer.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TOORL1Y/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I went with these guys for a custom 3 hole T-Tower with hole spacing to fit the above taps. It have a 4" pedestal that is more substantial and looks killer. Very high quality and does not move when yanking on the taps. I spec'ed it slightly taller than standard prefab ones to be able to easily fill growlers. I can dig up the old drawing i sent if you want it. Cost was not much more than standard options.

https://www.acumetalfab.com/pages/draft-beer-towers

Let us know what you decide

 

[OpenSights]

I have a bunch of different tap handles, and the material to make a custom one for my wife’s handle for her cider. (Plan is to have one cider for her, a dark beer and a lighter beer. Since I started brewing and getting into craft I’ve developed an appreciation for different lighter beers.)

Quick question, are the male threads on tap threads a standard? Or can they very? My LHBS has very competitive pricing! They sell the burner I bought from them for $20 less than Amazon! Haven’t yet asked them for a price on a tower yet, but I doubt it’ll be $70.

I don’t really have a room in my house for a man cave per say, but I do have an in-law suit that is going to double as the office for my business and brewing, with the exception of making wort. I plan on my kegerator staying over there which is only a door between the main side of the house and it. Still a work in progress.

So I could price out a cheap tower and good taps, compare as long as threads match and be fine or see if a higher quality is more cost effective. I’m not one to spend money without research.

One other thought I has is to make my own. Brass would cost way too much, but I could use black gas pipe... I would just prefer stainless.

@Airstoi, thank you for your time, advice and knowledge!

 

[augiedoggy]

I have that same triple tower on my kegerator I bought to replace a single one.
the taps stuck terrible because days would pass between use, so bad I thought I would rip them out of the tower trying to open them, I replaced all the taps with these as well as the flow control intertap faucets.
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Ame...892.html?spm=a2g0s.9042311.0.0.195a4c4dI0GAa4
this was a couple years ago and they still work very well. the seals are all the same as a perlick since they are a stainless clone with the ability to use intertap or clone spouts and attachments.
There are 2 different shank threads that I know of so make sure you get the US style threads.