Keg Lube Alternative

[Guidry]

First time legging and following an article in BYO to "recondition" my keg. I have all of the rings and parts but the article advises coating the rings with "keg lube" which I can't find locally.

Question(s): Is this really necessary? And is there something else I can used?

Thanks

 

[ryandlf]

Keg lube is simply a food grade lubricant so i'm sure you can find something similar but probably not any easier than you could just get some keg lube from your next online purchase. For now...don't sweat it, its just meant to help maintain your o-rings as well as help create a better seal, but you can do without it if you have to.

 

[pernox]

Check out a restaurant supply house and get petro-gel. It's a sanitary lube that's used on ice cream/milk shake machines. In a pinch, Vaseline will work.

 

[MrFoodScientist]

I purchased a silicone based lube at Home Depot near the kitchen sinks and faucet repair items. It works wonders.

 

[mky375]

Although I've never used it I heard KY jelly will work... at least you know its food grade.

 

[beaksnbeer]

Never needed lube myself, I understand that O-rings have a limited life and replace.

 

[DeafSmith]

Mine is called Petrol-Gel Sanitary Lubricant packaged by McGlaughlin Oil Company, Columbus, OH. On the tube it says it is a Technical White Grease and is NSF rated.

 

[mattd2]

I purchased a silicone based lube at Home Depot near the kitchen sinks and faucet repair items. It works wonders.

Yeah I use faucet lubricant, basically I thought if it can go on a faucet that I drink out of it can go on my kegs. Keg lube is not needed but it sure does make things slide in and out much easier

 

[wyzazz]

Regular old petroleum jelly works just fine.

 

[malkore]

If the o-rings are actually rubber, petroleum jelly will degrade the rubber.

I would only use it in an absolute emergency, then clean the seal and use silicone lube as soon as you can afterwards.

silicone lube won't eat rubber seals at all...but it will melt silicone seals/tubing.

 

[beninan]

as she said, "Just spit on it."



Or maybe you shouldn't...
I would stay away from petroleum-based products (vaseline), as it may degrade the rubber (ever heard not to use vaseline on a condom? It breaks.)
If I were in a pinch, I would look for some unscented KY jelly (or some other form of sexual lubricant.)

 

[ClaudiusB]

For my set-up I use the following lubes.

Cheers,
ClaudiusB

 

[mattd2]

...silicone lube won't eat rubber seals at all...but it will melt silicone seals/tubing.

Is this true? Silicone will melt silicone?

 

[jmf143]

I purchased a silicone based lube at Home Depot near the kitchen sinks and faucet repair items. It works wonders.

Agreed

 

[Clifton]

One of my o rings is red. That means it is silicone right? The high temp silicone o rings I used for my kettle bulkhead were red. That's why I am making this assumption.

 

[beninan]

One of my o rings is red. That means it is silicone right? The high temp silicone o rings I used for my kettle bulkhead were red. That's why I am making this assumption.

Nope. Colors don't indicate the material. It's just a color

 

[Steve-n-Son]

Could I use any of these above substitutes for the gaskets on y flip-top bottles?

 

[sheephrdr]

just looking at home depot for plumbers lube or grease to lube O-rings, plumbers grease says not to use on rubber or plastic. the guy in the plumbing department gave me like 6 moen o-ring kits.. they are free, and each one comes with o - ring lube. im set for life.

so if you need some go to home depot and ask for a moen o-ring kit and they will hook you up for free.

 

[Dynachrome]

Could I use any of these above substitutes for the gaskets on y flip-top bottles?

I have not done this on any of my flip top bottles. I think it would be unnecessary.