Getting started on Keezer

[baumer64]

So I'm starting to accumulate the parts of my soon to be keezer.
Found a 2 year old Magic Chef 6.9cf for $50. Had a friend who just gave me four ball lock corny kegs. They had pop in them and still were pressurized so I know they still hold. I've got some gaskets ordered and will be soaking in Oxyclean tomorrow. I've got a CO2 tank and regulator from our old kegerator at my mom's.

So far I've only had to spend $50. Plus $6.50 for gaskets. Now I need to buy the controller for temp, lines, taps. Won't be using this as a fermenter so just need cold control. Suggestions?

Once I start the build I'll post pics as I'm looking forward to the woodworking project

 

[Calaeb]

For a temp controller, just go with the inkbird itc-308. Bought mine from Amazon for $38 bucks, simple plug and play. Instructions are a little hard to get at first, but if you watch a youtube video on setting it up its a cake walk after that. As far as lines etc, keg connection is a awesome place to get your stuff from. Bought most of my gear there, taps i will purchase from williams brewing. Have read good things about the intertap faucets. Priced awesome, supposedly based off the ventmatic taps that no one can get. Otherwise seems like you have most of it down.

 

[baumer64]

Thanks. I've got that controller coming from Amazon now. Looking at those taps.

 

[jlindborg]

Check out Homebrewing.org. I picked up just about all of my hardware from them, and their prices always beat what I could find elsewhere. They also have different sales going all the time. I think right now the Perlick 630 faucets (both SS and chrome-plated) are on sale. I picked up most of my stuff last fall in a massive 'Cyber Monday' sale they had.

 

[baumer64]

So my daughter was visiting my mom and grabbed the old CO2 tank and regulator. The Regulator is a two gage Taprite model 440sn. Need to replace one of the gages as the glass is missing. (High pressure). I didn'the realize dad got this set up from our friend who was the Coke distributor way back as the 20# tank is from Coke. Also dated 87 so definitely needs to be Hydro tested but still has some CO2 in it.
Is this regulator ok? Is there a rebuild I should do? I'd like to use it as the main regulator if I can then manifold off to some secondaries.

Thoughts?

 

[day_trippr]

Only one way to tell if that reg needs servicing: hook it up to the cylinder and see what happens.
Make sure there's a gasket between the coupler and the cylinder valve face, it won't seal without it.
Also, close the reg fully before opening the tank valve - no sense freaking anyone out if the reg was left wide open

Make up a cup of soapy water and baste it on all of the plumbing joints to the body (coupler stem, gauge stems, output stem), slowly open the cylinder valve, and see if anything's leaking. Then slowly dial up the pressure and see if it'll hold steady.

If when you open the cylinder valve you hear a rush of gas and the low pressure needle goes nuts, the regulator diaphragm was probably dried out and crispy from old age and has cracked open. Less dramatic, but if the low pressure setting keeps drifting up, same thing is most likely.

It's a cheap and easy fix - if you can find a replacement part (I'm not having any luck with that model number)...

Cheers!

 

[baumer64]

So look what the FedEx man brought me tonight...

3 SS Intertaps, SS shanks and Bev-Seal Ultra Tube.
Have a bunch more stuff coming from Amazon and More Beer.com tomorrow. Then I should be able to at least get a keg hooked up and pouring while I build the keezer. I've got a Cream Ale ready to keg just need to be able to carb and pour it.

 

[baumer64]

The rest of my supplies came in and I've at least been able to hook up the old regulator to test it. Thankfully after sitting for over 20 years, no leaks. Have a keg doing a final soak and will transfer my cream ale over after football game tonight. It's been chilling in the carboy. Hope to be able to start on the actual Keezer build this weekend but will depend on the weather and if I can get a few things done outside first.