Corny Keg Showdown

[mashdar]

FWIW I finally finished a torpedo keg and looked at the post threads. Mine look perfectly cromulent.

 

[Gerrit Wessels]

Hi guys, just a question, would the AEB and Kegland have the exact same fittings to the inlets and outlets of the kegs?

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Hi guys, just a question, would the AEB and Kegland have the exact same fittings to the inlets and outlets of the kegs?

If you have ball lock QD's and are attaching to ball lock kegs, AEB or Kegland, they should be the same. The gas QD is usually grey color and the beer QD black, those are normally not interchangeable.

 

[mashdar]

I read fittings to mean the post fittings, not the QD.

If talking about the post fittings, they may be slightly different heights and not fit in one direction, but they sure look similar.

(Gerrit, do you mean the fitting that screws to the keg, or the fitting that the hose attaches to?)

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I read fittings to mean the post fittings, not the QD.

If talking about the post fittings, they may be slightly different heights and not fit in one direction, but they sure look similar.

(Gerrit, do you mean the fitting that screws to the keg, or the fitting that the hose attaches to?)

OK, as you pointed out it could be that question. Good to get it clarified.

 

[Broken Crow]

Hi guys, just a question, would the AEB and Kegland have the exact same fittings to the inlets and outlets of the kegs?

No. The AEB posts are a bit larger; a 7/8" wrench is s bit loose..I think it's metric. Also Kegland uses the same universal poppets they sell, AEB uses their own.
Kegland:

AEB:

PS: Since this thread started, I'm now up to 5 Kegland kegs and still very pleased with them, but also still love my AEBs.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I've got to admit that I had no idea there were so many brands out there and there would be a following for each. I'm not surprised, I just wasn't aware.

My favorite brand is CraigsList. I own several of them.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I've got to admit that I had no idea there were so many brands out there and there would be a following for each. I'm not surprised, I just wasn't aware.

My favorite brand is CraigsList. I own several of them.

I think it was simpler twenty years ago when the only kegs available were the used ones from Pepsi.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I think it was simpler twenty years ago when the only kegs available were the used ones from Pepsi.

Uh-greed. The big choice back then was ball lock or pin lock. Many discussions on the pros and cons. Although that dilemma still exists, now we have sub-categories to quibble over.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Uh-greed. The big choice back then was ball lock or pin lock. Many discussions on the pros and cons. Although that dilemma still exists, now we have sub-categories to quibble over.

I have all ball lock kegs, single handle and the dual handle rubber tops. Many still have the "property of Pepsi" stickers. Keep them clean and rebuild when necessary, not much else to do.

I have since taken some of the single handled ones and used for emergency water storage. They have come in hand during our more frequent power outages.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

I have all ball lock kegs, single handle and the dual handle rubber tops. Many still have the "property of Pepsi" stickers. Keep them clean and rebuild when necessary, not much else to do.

I have since taken some of the single handled ones and used for emergency water storage. They have come in hand during our more frequent power outages.

That's a great idea. I was only using them for emergency (and non-emergency) beer storage. I guess I should have a keg or two of water ready to go.

 

[mashdar]

What is best practice for treating water for potable storage? Some iodine or something?

 

[FloppyKnockers]

What is best practice for treating water for potable storage? Some iodine or something?

I kinda had the same question. I would think distilled and purge the oxygen should be good enough.

 

[day_trippr]

4~5 drops of fresh unscented bleach (containing 4~6% sodium hypochlorite) per gallon of water will do that job...

Cheers!

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

4~5 drops of fresh unscented bleach (containing 4~6% sodium hypochlorite) per gallon of water will do that job...

Cheers!

Yes, from what I have read the bleach trick is safe for water storage as well as a product called water preserver drops. It claims to be safe for five plus years.

The keg needs to be sanitized too. I tag mine with the fill date and rotate them every year so I don't have "old" water.

I keep four five gallon kegs for emergency water. Also I have a large supply of emergency beer and my battery bank keeps that cooler running.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

...and rotate them every year so I don't have "old" water.

I used to work for a company that flushed fire hydrants. 'Old' water will gag a maggot. You can't un-smell things.

 

[Deadalus]

I think it was simpler twenty years ago when the only kegs available were the used ones from Pepsi.

There were multiple manufacturers much further back than that of both ball (Pepsi) and pin lock (Coke) style kegs. Also oval race track lids and other lid configurations.

 

[Agent]

There were multiple manufacturers much further back than that of both ball (Pepsi) and pin lock (Coke) style kegs. Also oval race track lids and other lid configurations.

For true!
I got a lot of used kegs where one liquid line was too long for that keg and got flared at the bottom when it was compressed. Cutting that off with a dremel by feel to remove it was quite an adventure.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Definitely better options today for new kegs but years ago there were zero. Used kegs were all there was if you wanted bulk storage/serving. Luckily the design has remained the same. Lots of connection options that work for my forty year old kegs as well as the 2024 vintage ones.

 

[Deadalus]

Definitely better options today for new kegs but years ago there were zero. Used kegs were all there was if you wanted bulk storage/serving. Luckily the design has remained the same. Lots of connection options that work for my forty year old kegs as well as the 2024 vintage ones.

That's for sure. Once the soda companies went to boxed syrup there was a massive decades long glut of used kegs out there with only so many homebrewers using them. It was getting harder and harder to pick up anything in nice shape. It's good to see there are more readily available new kegs. I've seen references of these types of kegs used in some chemical capacity but have no idea where. They were also used in portable eye wash stations but seemed ridiculously priced. I've got 10 and 15 gallon kegs in very nice shape going that route but generally they are overpriced used as part of an eye wash station.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

That's for sure. Once the soda companies went to boxed syrup there was a massive decades long glut of used kegs out there with only so many homebrewers using them. It was getting harder and harder to pick up anything in nice shape. It's good to see there are more readily available new kegs. I've seen references of these types of kegs used in some chemical capacity but have no idea where. They were also used in portable eye wash stations but seemed ridiculously priced. I've got 10 and 15 gallon kegs in very nice shape going that route but generally they are overpriced used as part of an eye wash station.

Yup, on the eye wash station uses. I snagged a ten gallon one from a work project. It was scrap since the eye wash top section was damaged. Being a good guy I took it out of service. The keg was in perfect shape; I replaced the gaskets and the fluid out post.

I also saw ten gallon corny kegs used for painting. I spotted them at a hardware store, very pricey but an interesting use.

 

[TheBluePhantom]

4~5 drops of fresh unscented bleach (containing 4~6% sodium hypochlorite) per gallon of water will do that job...

Cheers!

Bleach can pit stainless. I think I would rather use a HDPE container for the water than risk my investment in the kegs. City tap water has chlorine already in it, and a bit more wouldn't hurt for long storage, but not in my kegs.

 

[day_trippr]

If 4~5 drops per gallon is too high ppb for SS then one shouldn't even store municipal water in an SS keg...

Cheers!

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

I'm on my own well, my water is filtered and my emergency water storage in SS kegs are only kept for a year then used for outdoor plants and replenished - I think I'm OK unless the end of the world comes, then I won't care about bad water or pitted kegs.

 

[TheBluePhantom]

If 4~5 drops per gallon is too high ppb for SS then one shouldn't even store municipal water in an SS keg...

Cheers!

That was my point. I would rather use an HDPE. 5 gallon Hedpacks are less than $20 on Amazon.

 

[day_trippr]

Ok, but sometimes folks have to use what they have.

It appears that 2ppm sodium hypochlorite concentration is acceptable for potable water storage and is below the threshold of concern for 304 and 316 SS...

https://www.penflex.com/chloride-chlorine-levels-and-stainless-steel-alloy-selection/

Cheers!

 

[mashdar]

Does anyone make 316 kegs? I thought they were all 304.

 

[day_trippr]

All kinds of vessels are made with 316. I wasn't narrowing the scope of the linked article to just kegs...
[edit] And yes, you can find manufacturers using 316 SS to fabricate beer kegs...

Cheers!

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Ok, but sometimes folks have to use what they have.

It appears that 2ppm sodium hypochlorite concentration is acceptable for potable water storage and is below the threshold of concern for 304 and 316 SS...

https://www.penflex.com/chloride-chlorine-levels-and-stainless-steel-alloy-selection/

Cheers!

Titanium kegs?

 

[day_trippr]

Titanium kegs?

haha! Not on my 401K!

Cheers!