Jockey box/draft box with PVC tubing

[bluenosebrewery]

I'm looking to construct a cheap jockey box. I'm wondering if I can just use the same PVC tubing I'm currently using with my cornie keg and run that though my cooler filled with ice. I will have a shank pass through with faucet and nipple to terminate the line. Will the PVC tubing be inefficient in getting the beer cold enough? How much length would I need? Any tips would be greatly appreciate.
Thanks

 

[JetSmooth]

I don't think you'll get near enough thermal transfer through the PVC.

I've never built a jockey box, but I have a hunch that won't work.

 

[Jota21]

copper is expensive - if PVC worked, jockey boxes wouldn't use copper...

just a guess, I've never made one.

 

[JetSmooth]

OT: I thought you wanted to avoid copper lines post-ferment, which is why jockey box coils are typically stainless steel.

I've seen some people dispute this, but that's the general consensus.

 

[Bsquared]

If you want to build a jockey box on the cheep, look in to Aluminum cold plate . I picked one on ebay for $30, it was a 7 pass. I now have a compact 6 tap jockey box. The shanks a faucets are the expensive part.

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-pass-aluminum...320?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item33698cbd78

 

[gnef]

I have multiple Jockey boxes, all using used cold plates that I found on the cheap, like bsquared (I have a 2 pass, 5 pass, and 6 pass).

For the jockey box, I use the chrome plated brass shanks and rear-sealing faucets, because I flush it out soon after using it. (I use stainless everything on the kegerator with forward sealing faucets).

There really isn't a 'cheap' way to make a useful jockey box other than finding used equipment inexpensively.

The cheapest way to serve your beer from a keg outside of your kegerator is to get a decently sized trash can, a lot of ice, and submerge the entire keg in the ice, and use a picnic faucet to serve with. Or you can transfer it all into bottles and bring bottles.

 

[bluenosebrewery]

Thanks a lot guys for the input. Not sure whether to go make a kegerator, or build a box. We'll see....i appreciate the help.

 

[Bsquared]

you should definitely build both!

 

[gnef]

If the options are either a kegerator or a jockey box, definitely the kegerator.

In my mind, the jockey box is only for temporary portable setups. If you want to be able to drink your beer daily without having to worry about ice and balancing the gas pressure each time, you definitely want to go for the kegerator.

I started with a kegerator, then added the jockey boxes later one at a time.