build or buy kegerator?

[gratefulgolfer14]

Looking for some thoughts from the group. I have the chance to get at Kegco K309B-2 for a xmas gift. I'm trying to choose between buying this or doing a build. I've read some people having issues keeping their Danby cool enough. It's a lot of $$ for the Kegco but I've not read anything bad about this kegerator. I could do the build and buy some other equipment, or do the Kegco and be done with it.
Thoughts?

 

[TimmyWit]

I bought my first one. It's a 2-tap tower. Then I built a 4 tap keezer. If I had to choose one, I'd take the keezer. It holds more beer, has digital temp control, better faucets, and it was cheaper.

If you do build one, check out the flow control faucets from Perlick (650SS). Different beers require different line lengths to pour properly. With the flow control faucets, you can simulate the resistance of a longer run and get a good pour without changing your lines. I like a lot of variety so this is very useful for me. If you're always drinking beers that are served at the same pressure, this might not be as important to you.

Building one may seem intimidating at first but it really isn't that bad. In a nutshell, you're putting together 4 pieces of wood and drilling a few holes in one of them. The internals are pretty much gas in, beer out.

If you have the room for it, I would recommend getting one big enough for four cornys even if you only want to start with 2. That will leave you with room to easily expand if you decide to later.

Be sure to search the forum for some build threads.

 

[gratefulgolfer14]

Thanks for the feedback, I should have mentioned lack of space in my post. I'd like to put the kegerator in the dining room. The keezer seems like a bit of a hassle getting things in and out of it. I have to admit there are some really cool keezer builds posted here, but they look like a PITA to get in and out of. The kegerator I'm looking at has perlick 630's, good or bad?

 

[Gavin C]

More space for beer is the best part of a keezer but a kegerator is a great alternative. I debated the question you pose; build my own or buy one.

I went the build by own route as I felt I could get a good result following the advice of others. This way I could get the exact setup I wanted through kegconnection.com and the fridge I wanted from Best Buy

Building our own is cheaper but I feel the quality of the end product is paramount and think that in buidling one yourself the quality does not suffer.

Here is a video I used as a guide

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXNXM0fFy8w[/ame]

This is the fridge I used
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Danby-4-...25sldd_pmt_p&gclid=CMfr0_DFjcMCFSxgMgodUTkAKw

Result is very satisfactory although if I was to do it again I would get perlick faucets.

Edit: I have no issues maintaining a correct temperature. The Danby I use can freeze the beer in the kegs if I set it too cool.

 

[gratefulgolfer14]

Dam, now you have me thinking of getting a Danby and doing my own build! The Danby you got from HD is no longer offered. I'm thinking the key is size and no freezer?

 

[Gavin C]

Dam, now you have me thinking of getting a Danby and doing my own build! The Danby you got from HD is no longer offered. I'm thinking the key is size and no freezer?

I got it from Best buy for $200 and free shipping. There are similar models from Danby with no freezer and no cooling lines in the roof to worry about.

Just checked their site and it says out of stock

I just used the Home Depot link to show the model. Sorry about that

 

[gratefulgolfer14]

No worries, here is the newer model on HD webpage, I'm guessing it would be just fine?
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Danby-4-...or-in-Stainless-Steel-DAR044A5BSLDD/205470604

 

[Gavin C]

Looks near identical to mine.

 

[TimmyWit]

Thanks for the feedback, I should have mentioned lack of space in my post. I'd like to put the kegerator in the dining room. The keezer seems like a bit of a hassle getting things in and out of it. I have to admit there are some really cool keezer builds posted here, but they look like a PITA to get in and out of. The kegerator I'm looking at has perlick 630's, good or bad?

The 630's are nice but if you are building, consider dropping the extra ~$20ea for the 650's. I bring this up now because flow control is something I never even considered when I got my first kegerator. Say you want to go from a pale ale at 12 psi to a Weizen at 28 psi. the Weizen will require a longer line than the pale ale because it needs more resistance to get the foam right. The longer the line, the more resistance it has. However, there is a balance. Too much resistance=not enough foam. Too little resistance=too much/nothing but foam. With a flow control faucet, you just play with the little knob on the side to simulate resistance and it will solve your foam problems. BTW, the kegerator I got from the factory had 1/4" tubing and I had nothing but issues with it. IMO 3/16" works better for a kegger setup.

http://www.tastybrew.com/calculators/carbonation.html

 

[gratefulgolfer14]

Did you do anything to address tower cooling?

 

[jbb3]

The 630's are nice but if you are building, consider dropping the extra ~$20ea for the 650's. I bring this up now because flow control is something I never even considered when I got my first kegerator. Say you want to go from a pale ale at 12 psi to a Weizen at 28 psi. the Weizen will require a longer line than the pale ale because it needs more resistance to get the foam right. The longer the line, the more resistance it has. However, there is a balance. Too much resistance=not enough foam. Too little resistance=too much/nothing but foam. With a flow control faucet, you just play with the little knob on the side to simulate resistance and it will solve your foam problems. BTW, the kegerator I got from the factory had 1/4" tubing and I had nothing but issues with it. IMO 3/16" works better for a kegger setup.

http://www.tastybrew.com/calculators/carbonation.html

You mean like these??

 

[Genuine]

I ended up building mine. I got the fridge off of a friend who didn't need it anymore, then it was just a tower, USB computer fan to keep temps somewhat steady through it and then a STC-1000. SO for well under $100 I was able to build mine.

 

[gratefulgolfer14]

Did you move that fixture on the roof or just put the tower behind it?