My Keezer project

[PabloJ]

Hello Everyone.

After reading and watching videos, again and again, finally I have a clear view on what I want, so I started my own diy project building my keezer.

Target: painted Keezer with a 3 column tap. Big enough to hold 3or4 5gallon kegs but small enough to take it in my small trailer to some events

Parts: (sorry for links in French)

• SS 3 Tap Column: https://www.vevor.fr/systeme-de-bra...et-a-fermeture-automatique-bar-p_010375912307

Including isolation inside the column and 5ft 5/16ID on pipes.

• BallLock connector: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100....order_list.order_list_main.11.21ef1802aeRMEQ

• Gas Regulator (with bars & PSI) : https://www.amazon.fr/dp/B0CZLHXHY2

• Kegland 4way Gas Splitter: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100...o.order_list.order_list_main.5.21ef1802aeRMEQ

And the most important thing, I don't have an initial picture je but I bought a 2nd hand used 200liters chest freezer.

As I received all components before getting the freezer, I mounted temporally just to confirm everything was working properly.

The test went good.

Now into the process to build the keezer.

Keeps you update!

 

[PabloJ]

Sunday 11/3:

I drilled the lid to pre-mount the column:

And mounted my column.

Later I dismounted the top

A little sandpaper and dark rock paint.

After drying:

 

[SkyPilot]

Sunday 11/3:

I drilled the lid to pre-mount the column:
View attachment 861727 View attachment 861728

And mounted my column.

View attachment 861729

Later I dismounted the top

View attachment 861730 View attachment 861731

A little sandpaper and dark rock paint.

View attachment 861732 View attachment 861733

After drying:
View attachment 861737

Looking good

 

[PabloJ]

Collar built, now waiting to dry to set into the freezer.

Freezer already dried, I put a little wheels (up to 30kgs each) and now to wait for the collar.

Now I'm looking to buy some connector for my gas line. My co2 tank will be outside, it's ID 5/16" and OD 9/16.
Any ideas?

 

[day_trippr]

1/4" mfl-mfl bulkhead through the collar, then JohnGuest or other 1/4" ffl push-to-connect fittings sized for your tubing - preferably EVABarrier 8mm OD/4mm ID...

I can't tell how thick your collar is, but for the "two by" material typically used in the USA this would be perfect length. Size yours appropriately. Should be able to find these in Europe or Asia.

https://www.chicompany.net/flare-fittings-c-375_19_220_285/bulkhead-adapter-shank-long-p-2262.html

Cheers!

 

[PabloJ]

1/4" mfl-mfl bulkhead through the collar, then JohnGuest or other 1/4" ffl push-to-connect fittings sized for your tubing - preferably EVABarrier 8mm OD/4mm ID...

I can't tell how thick your collar is, but for the "two by" material typically used in the USA this would be perfect length. Size yours appropriately. Should be able to find these in Europe or Asia.

https://www.chicompany.net/flare-fittings-c-375_19_220_285/bulkhead-adapter-shank-long-p-2262.html

Cheers!

Great idea! Thanks

 

[PabloJ]

Et voila!

Yesterday evening I finished mounting the first and big step.

The lid support by itself, besides having only one spring working XD.

I'm controlling the temperature with my old stc-100, Later I will built a good housing and fix to the collar

Later my idea is to put the CO2 tank outside to free space and put bottles, yeast and other things inside.

Today I will test it and share some photos.

 

[PabloJ]

System is working good. Today I received more thing to arrange the gas piping inside and the bulkhead through collar to put outside my Co2 tank.
Will update soon.

But one thing I keep noticing is that the glass is filling too fast, I don't have problem with foam but I would like to be more "smooth".
Pressure at test: 12 psi.
Pipes: 5ft 5/16ID.
Column with internal isolation.

I'm planning to reduce pressure to 8psi, any other test?
Low pressure can affect the carbonation (both kegs are already carbonated)?

 

[day_trippr]

12 psi through five feet of 5/16" ID tubing probably approaches fire hose velocity
In contrast, a commonly used solution calls for 10 feet of 3/16" ID tubing and 11~12 psi, and provides proper pours and carbonation quality.
As well, I use 6.5 feet of 4mm ID EVABarrier tubing and get consistently excellent pour quality at 11 psi.

Bottom line (npi) you need to go thinner - or waaay longer...

Cheers!

 

[PabloJ]

4mm? woow, that is thin.

I will test at 10 and 8 psi, to understand how my system reacts

 

[day_trippr]

You might check out this line length calculator that's been well considered here...

https://www.mikesoltys.com/2012/09/17/determining-proper-hose-length-for-your-kegerator/

Cheers!

 

[Broken Crow]

4mm? woow, that is thin.

I will test at 10 and 8 psi, to understand how my system reacts

Nah, it ain't that thin... That's a truly nice looking unit you've got going and in the interest of providing feedback on what you might in future find annoying: The required length of line tends to leave you with a coil that just hangs there, possibly getting in your way when changing kegs or simply be annoying to look at for some primal reason. Smaller ID lines make for shorter lines and the required 10' of 3/16" line can easily be replaced with about 5'-6' of 4mmID EVABarrier or even shorter.. As a side note: EVABarrier is not subject to O2 permeation as are the vinyl lines and you really can taste the difference, especially on your first pour of the day when beer has sat for a period of time in the vinyl. I started with 10' of Bevlex 200, was annoyed by the hanging coil of line and replaced it with 6' of 4mmID EVABarrier and was surprised at just how much difference it made to the taste. Nevertheless; I was still annnoyed by the hanging 6' coils, so I swapped out to 37" of 3mmID EVABarrier. At the time, there were no MFL Duotight adapters available in that size, but owing only to my disability, I had poor luck with the otherwise awesome Duotight system, so I did this: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...mm-monotight-connector-duotight-shank.730515/
If you get the idea we're trying to talk you into swapping out to EVABarrier; Yeah we are! Please consider it, you're palate will be rewarded.
Either way; That's a beautiful Keezer!

 

[PabloJ]

Thanks! I really appreciate the info

By the time I purchased the tower, I believed 5ft 5/16ID - 9/16OD was the standard pipe to get good results. In fact I am really good that I don't have issue with the foam, honestly it was my biggest fear.
I want to improve and keep building the keezer and for sure EVABarrier will be my next big upgrade

These arrived today

 

[PabloJ]

Ok. Yesterday I reduced serving pressure to 8psi.
I got a very good result, 9s to fill the glass and 12s to finish serving

Does serving slowly improve flavour&taste?
I'm still learning and maybe I'm wrong, but I think the taste was better.

 

[day_trippr]

It's not so much the "serving slowly", it's the "not knocking the carbonation out of the pour", that affects the "taste"
The problem with reducing the gas pressure is the keg slowly losing carbonation...

Cheers!

 

[PabloJ]

Yes! I'm kind of fear of that.

I need to move faster with the size & lenght of the pipe.
Meanwhile, I should close the CO2 valve, and only open when use. This way I won't lose carbonation....

 

[day_trippr]

By "lose carbonation" I was referring to you reducing the CO2 pressure in hopes of improving your pour quality with the existing set-up. With lower pressure, as the keg head space increases over time the beer will give up CO2 to maintain equilibrium...

Cheers!

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Great work.

What's the collar for, if you have a tower? Is it because the keezer isn't tall enough without it?

I built my first keezer with no collar back in '02. Back then, people were calling them "kegerators" and "beer freezers."

 

[PabloJ]

By "lose carbonation" I was referring to you reducing the CO2 pressure in hopes of improving your pour quality with the existing set-up. With lower pressure, as the keg head space increases over time the beer will give up CO2 to maintain equilibrium...

Cheers!

Perfect! I understood

 

[PabloJ]

Great work.

What's the collar for, if you have a tower? Is it because the keezer isn't tall enough wihtout it?

I built my first keezer with no collar back in '02. Back then, people were calling them "kegerators" and "beer freezers."

I built it to increase space, because the top of the keg almost hit the lid, so to avoid having everything so tight.
I want to arrange all gas piping in the inside part. I have some ideas to keep adding into the freezer.

Also the wood kind of gives a great nice looking