Keg / Carboy Washer (yes another) . . .

[SpartyParty]

So i wanted a washer that would wash not only a carboy and corny keg but also my boil kettle. This is what I came up with. There is a valve just under the surface of the blue plastic pan which I use when I want to divert the pressure to the hose attachments for the corny keg. (took the photo with my phone and for the life of me have no idea how to rotate them on here...sorry)

 

[shmEk]

That's awesome Sparty!

 

[DPBISME]

all these pretty pictures and no Parts List: (at least I did not find one.

I don't know enough about Plumbing stuff...

May be I will just take my Laptop to the Plumbing Supply Store and see if they can help me....

DPB

 

[SpartyParty]

all these pretty pictures and no Parts List: (at least I did not find one.

I don't know enough about Plumbing stuff...

May be I will just take my Laptop to the Plumbing Supply Store and see if they can help me....

DPB

Its not an actual list but it shows you what you need. The parts may vary a bit based on the pump you use. Sorry about the photo I still have not idea how to rotate that from my phone. One edit would be the three parts that are in the top left of the photo, with the threads, (looking at if it was rotated correctly) I only needed two. Also not pictured would be the 1/2" pvc pipe and the pvc primer and cement.

 

[jbrewkeggin]

Where did you pick up that blue pan that the keg fits in?

 

[SpartyParty]

Where did you pick up that blue pan that the keg fits in?

Your local Fleet Farm store. It's a watering pan/tray for large animals. I may go back and get an even larger diameter. Any round tub should work.

 

[limulus]

Just this past weekend, I was making a huge mess cleaning a corny keg. Now, I'm going to build one of these for the garage. While looking at Harbor Freight, I did notice a 3/4 HP stainless steel pump that is on sale for $55. I know how everyone here likes stainless. The only drawback I saw was it has a 77F temp rating. I like to use really hot water.

 

[SpartyParty]

Just this past weekend, I was making a huge mess cleaning a corny keg. Now, I'm going to build one of these for the garage. While looking at Harbor Freight, I did notice a 3/4 HP stainless steel pump that is on sale for $55. I know how everyone here likes stainless. The only drawback I saw was it has a 77F temp rating. I like to use really hot water.

Stainless really does nothing for you in this application. If you can get a higher temp rated pump in plastic for that go for it vs the SS version

 

[Whut]

Just this past weekend, I was making a huge mess cleaning a corny keg. Now, I'm going to build one of these for the garage. While looking at Harbor Freight, I did notice a 3/4 HP stainless steel pump that is on sale for $55. I know how everyone here likes stainless. The only drawback I saw was it has a 77F temp rating. I like to use really hot water.

Mine is only rated to 77˚ as well but I've had the water well over 100˚ and it's still going strong.

 

[limulus]

Thanks, that is good info about the temp rating. The stainless means nothing to me in this application, but it is 3/4hp so I may get that one. I don't have carboys, so it will only be used for kegs

 

[DPBISME]

Just picked up things to make one from home depot...they had the right parts this time! Since I hate going to HD and trying to find the right parts which they never seem to have (this was my 4th time trying to get to HD and buy what I needed) - I thought I'd post the parts I bought so anyone else can just try and order these online. I'll be assembling this tonight to make sure everything works as planned.

I have the 1400GPH Harbor Freight 1/4HP Pump which has a 1" FPT outlet. If your pump has a different outlet fitting, adjust accordingly. Also - I didn't have room for the 10ft length of 1/2" PVC, and nobody was around to help me cut it so i just got 2 2' PVC pipes instead...same price as 10ft, but they were there...and it'll get it done.

In any case here are the parts I used

012871626494 @ $0.64
1" x 1/2" PVC Bushing

012871626050 @ $0.50
1" PVC Male Adapter

2x 012871623714 @ $0.36
1/2" PVC Elbow 90 SlipxFPT

012871624810 @ $1.21
1/2" PVC Cross SlipxSlipxSlipxSlip

012871628283 @ $0.26
1/2" PVC Cap Slip

2x 697285604889 @ $2.14
3/8 Barb x 1/2MPT PEX Brass Male Adapter

2x 611942112579 @ $0.94
1/2" x 2' PVC Pipe

Total Cost $9.49 + Tax + Pump

Marked for the parts list

 

[DPBISME]

I was wondering whay all the designs have elbows in them?

Why not just attach the brass parts to the "x" part?

 

[SpartyParty]

I was wondering whay all the designs have elbows in them?

Why not just attach the brass parts to the "x" part?

I did it to be sure I would not kink the hose.

 

[SpentGrains]

I did it to be sure I would not kink the hose.

I made one without the elbows and it is a really tight fit in the bucket, no kinks but I would put the elbows in next time. I went from 1.25" PVC cross to 1.25" to 1/2" reducers to 1/2" to 1/4" barb.

 

[DPBISME]

I did it to be sure I would not kink the hose.

Ya... I saw that on a couple of the comments... something to consider.

Thanks

 

[Yesfan]

Bump.

I finally got my washer done today.

The only issue I have is connecting my ball lock disconnects. The tubing I got is good on the 3/8" barb end of the washer, but the swivel barbs on my ball lock disconnects are too small. Any ideas? Thanks.

EDIT: Nevermind. I just figured out the line will slide over the threads of the disconnect. No barb needed. Think before you post! :smack:

 

[limulus]

I built my version of one of these a couple of weeks ago:

I had intended to buy a 1/6 HP pump at Harbor Freight for $52 minus 25%. But it is a pain in the arse to get there. I was driving home from somewhere and saw a Tractor Supply store. I wound up buying a 1/4 HP pump there. It was $10 more but I did not have to drive 30min each way to Harbor Freight. I used an old fermenter and bought a large 18gal round tub at Home Depot for $5.99. The PVC was also picked up at Home Depot and the whole thing was assembled in under an hour.

The pump:






The large hole fits over the pump and the small holes drain the water.


The PVC assembly with a valve to isolate the flow to the keg disconnects.


18-gal container


The assembled pump. The whole thing sits inside the large blue container.


A nozzle made from lawn irrigation parts

 

[limulus]

This thing should have it's own infomercial. If only Billy Mays were still with us, he could pitch this thing. The ShamWow guy is apparently making a comeback, but this thing is so cool, I'm afraid he may try to mount it

Today, I brewed and got to try out some of the "extra attachments". I have a shorter post for things like kettles and I discovered that the nozzle on the top is great for blasting a jet of water through my hoses.

Tall pipe removed and short pipe installed:


15gal brew kettle fits very nicely with the short pipe. The handles rest on the sides of the round container:


For my MT, I put the lid back on the smaller bucket:


The MT sits on top. This is my version of a funky Braumeister. There is a false bottom that sits above the cutout:




This little nozzle makes cleaning tubing easy:

 

[Whut]

*Bump for newer brewers*

I was absent for a while but you all have done great with the design and build ideas. Keep them coming.

 

[milldoggy]

I have used a sump 1/8 hp pump for one of these and my line cleaner for a while. Having an oil sealed motor finally convinced me to get a new pump.

I ended up selecting a lifegard pg 6600. It cost me 155 on sale, but no oil and work similar to a sump. Hardest part was stepping down from a 2" outlet to 1".