My Keezer Build Begins.........

[brewagentjay]

So I'm working on keezer and looking for a keg kit. cheap as I can find is a 150 to 160 depending on if I want pin or ball lock..........seems ball lock cost more.

Anyone got any better prices. I'm looking for at least a compelete 1 keg kit but love two kegs.......

 

[brewagentjay]

Bump!!! Looking for a 2 Keg Kit. Any ideas on who to get a good price from on that? Need CO2 tank. Also need a good price on temp control for freezer.

 

[mosquitocontrol]

You've been neglecting your keezer build for 3 months! Don't even have the kegging equipment yet? Shame on you! Once you get it going you will kick yourself for putting it off for so long.

Good luck

 

[brewagentjay]

Time & Money & Time..........

I bought the freezer. I just haven't had time to devote to building the thing........

I got 20 Gallons to bottle right now so I'm feeling the pain already.

 

[brewagentjay]

So I got me a few hundred dollars to throw at this project. I think I'm going with collar. So my plan is to spend the money on a kit(2 kegs) and a temp controller.

Then see what were I stand.

 

[kmat123]

http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=329

 

[freefallnick]

Nice find on the freezer! Mine doesnt look so great on the outside but the inside was kept perfect, no smell or stains or anything so I was stoked on that and it was only 60$. Good luck with your build!

 

[Chap]

I just ordered this system for my 5.0cuft keezer http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=430 with the upgraded Perlick faucets. I plan on adding an 8" collar and having a keg on the hump as well. I also ordered a Johnson A419 from Amazon for $70.

I spent the last two days reading through the "show us your kegerator" thread and have a pretty good idea of how I want it to look. Unfortunately time is not on my side. The movers will be here in August to ship everything to Okinawa for us. July should be a heavy drinking month for me LOL

Good luck with your build.

 

[brewagentjay]

I think I'm going to go with a 4 Keg kit with 4 port gas manifold, 4 cornies, with everything but the co2 tank which saves me ton on shipping and price.....

Righ tnow I think I can get 4 keg system minus the perlick faucets as I'm going with picnic versions until I get the collar stuff worked for $220ish plus 25 shipping.

 

[brewagentjay]

Now I need a Temp Controller? Any Suggestions?

 

[brewagentjay]

purchased the 4 way keg system so now need temp controller so still open to suggestions.

 

[Chap]

I'm using a Johnson A419. Set it to 48° and forget it. Great piece of gear, even on my little 5.0 keezer.

 

[brewagentjay]

Digital or Manual? Where did you get it and for approx cost?

 

[brewagentjay]

How do you guys handle force carbing co2 levels? I mean if I got three kegs in and need to force carb another can I just cut off co2 level to the good 3 then force carb 24 hours then put all three on serving co2 level or?

 

[brewagentjay]

Bump

 

[mvdilts]

brewagentjay - when I bought my keg setup this past february I was debating between two setups (http://www.midwestsupplies.com/dual-double-cornelius-keg-system.html and http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brew-logic-quadruple-tap-draft-system-with-4-way-gas-manifold.html) and what finally tipped me to the first option was the ability to have two separate pressures out of one tank so I could force carb one beer while having another on tap, under the assumption that it would be easy to split either or both gas lines at a later date.

With what you have I think you will have to disconnect the 3 kegs that are at serving pressure, connect the keg to force-carbonate and increase your gas pressure.

 

[Beernip]

How do you guys handle force carbing co2 levels? I mean if I got three kegs in and need to force carb another can I just cut off co2 level to the good 3 then force carb 24 hours then put all three on serving co2 level or?

That's what I do. Seems to work fine.

 

[Hang Glider]

Digital or Manual? Where did you get it and for approx cost?

Google is your friend, but Northern Brewer has the digital and manual on sale...your choice...

 

[shot0rum247]

whatever you get just put a thermometer inside the keezer and glance at it every once in a while to make sure your freezer is what you think it is at. Remember that if your temp probe is near the side walls it will register a colder temp (due to the chill coils) and the middle of the fridge wont be as chilly, so put the thermometer that you look at in the middle or wherever your kegs are and adjust your controller based off that.

 

[Grimm]

the Johnson a419 is one of the easiest to use and wire.
I went with the Love Ts2 which I flush mounted in the collar of my keezer.

Temp Controller flush mounted

Temp Controller flush mounted

Inside of the keezer and back of the temp controllers

 

[sigfried]

brewagentjay - when I bought my keg setup this past february I was debating between two setups (http://www.midwestsupplies.com/dual-double-cornelius-keg-system.html and http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brew-logic-quadruple-tap-draft-system-with-4-way-gas-manifold.html) and what finally tipped me to the first option was the ability to have two separate pressures out of one tank so I could force carb one beer while having another on tap, under the assumption that it would be easy to split either or both gas lines at a later date.

With what you have I think you will have to disconnect the 3 kegs that are at serving pressure, connect the keg to force-carbonate and increase your gas pressure.

I am in the process of building my keezer and I went through the same thought process. Being able to force carb without taking you beer offline seemed more beneficial to my setup as well.
I was able to find an awesome deal at keg connection:
http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=324
Seemed to be the same setup as Midwest Supplies... but $50+ cheaper. I already had my CO2 tank when I ordered and they took $60.00 off the kit price and threw in 2 sets of replacement o-rings!

 

[brewagentjay]

I got the Brew Logic Quad deal. I working getting my Co2 tank and temp controller. Thanks for all the advice............

 

[sigfried]

I got the Brew Logic Quad deal. I working getting my Co2 tank and temp controller. Thanks for all the advice............

Didn't your Brew Logic Quad Deal come with a CO2 tank? I picked mine up at compactappliance.com on 4th of July sale... $53 shipped.

As far as the controller goes a lot of people (including myslef) installed one of these:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ebay-aquarium-temp-controller-build-163849/

Aside from the temps being displayed in centigrade, it's amazing and cheap. I put mine in a romex box form Lowes and it works great. It can only handle up to 10A though, so make sure you check your keezers amperage needs.

I'm about a week away from completion of my keezer and then i'll be posting pics of the whole project.

Best of luck!

 

[brewagentjay]

I ordered it with out the co2 tank cause I only had a 5lb option with midwest. I want a 10 lb tank. Thanks for the info can't wait to see your finish keezer.

 

[brewagentjay]

Anyone with cleaning freezer advice....I need to clean and kill a fishy smell from my freezer.....Thanks. I have only tried a cold soak in oxiclean.

 

[surreal_trip]

Anyone with cleaning freezer advice....I need to clean and kill a fishy smell from my freezer.....Thanks. I have only tried a cold soak in oxiclean.

activated charcoal and after a few days a nice coating in bleach

 

[brewagentjay]

I bought some bleack for it yesterday.

 

[brewagentjay]

Temp controller is in route. Ordered last week. I'm one 10lb co2 tank away from keezer.

My plan is to start off with no modification and use pic nic taps for now. Save my cash and get rest of my equipment needed.

The question still have on my mind is to collar or to tower?

I'm leaning toward collar for current space. However a tower would keep taps out of reach of small ones passing by. Either way I think adding wood counter to top.

Any pluses for each I need to take in consideration?

Thanks.

 

[brewagentjay]

Alright so trying to nail down price on a 10lb co2 tank. Anyone got any suggestions on who to get it from?

Also any folks in bham area know good place for co2 refills?

so far 65 is as cheap as I have been able to nail down the cost on a new tank.

 

[Hang Glider]

consider Industrial Gasses in the yellow pages; you can probably get away cheaper putting a deposit on a used 10lb tank, and refills/swaps there will probably run you $12