Need a small keg for making seltzer. Does a <1gal keg exist?

[grindMARC]

I want to make seltzer, but I don't want (or need) to make it in 5-gal batches in a soda keg. I want a small -- for lack of a better term -- "keg" that will accept a pin-lock fitting from C02 tank and has another fitting for a tap.

There are tons of little seltzer bottles on the market, but they all accept C02 cartridges.

Is there set of fittings that will allow me to carbonate one of those old school glass seltzer bottles that I see at flea markets?

 

[Natron008]

I found this on eBay. I'm not buying it because of the chemicals in it, but apparently they do exist!

http://cgi.ebay.com/9240-Cornelius-...0QQitemZ300350596369QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item45ee4a6511&_trksid=p3286.c0. m14

 

[Yooper]

I have a carbonator cap that fits on plastic soda bottles. I use it to make soda. I wouldn't try it on glass- there would be too great a danger of glass explosions- but if you don't mind using plastic bottles, that would work for you. They cost about $15 or so.

 

[david_42]

I believe Carbonator caps only come in ball-lock, YB.

OP - I've never seen a setup with both gas and fluid connectors, except the old seltzer bottles. Some people make caps using bicycle schrader valves. I suppose you could add a tap.

 

[jerry111]

I got one of these home seltzer makers. You can also use them to make soda at home.

im happy with it and its very convenient.

Got it thru http://makeyoursoda.com using a coupon on the site

 

[Yooper]

Wow- $100 for a basic model? Plus the bottles (2) and mixes, for $170?

That really seems like a major ripoff to me. You could buy a co2 tank and regulator for that, and keg beer, soda, wine, etc. I think that you got taken in that deal, sorry to say!

 

[samc]

http://www.chicompany.net/quick-disconnect-pair-pin-lock-mfl-end-365.html

They have all sorts of fittings for kegs that might be adaptable to your idea. I would however be wary as Yooper stated about overpressure on a glass seltzer bottle. You might be better off looking for a 2.5 gallon corny keg which will fit in a fridge pretty easily. You can find new 1 gallon containers direct from the mfg but they are expensive.

 

[Natron008]

This would need some modification (removing some of the junk on it), but it's an option...

On ebay, item# 190339843866 (for some reason I can't get the link to work).

 

[chuggs]

+ 1 on the Carbonator Cap for what you're looking for.

You can buy a carbonator cap for around $15...and a 1/4" swivel nut & barb for $1.30...and pinlock & ball lock disconnect $5.95 each. And just switch the ends of your gas hose from Pin Lock over to Ball lock for using the carbonator cap.

If hard on to get the 1 gal corny... buy a used 5 gal for $20...and take it to a welding shop. They can cut the thing down and weld it for you. I've seen a few of those kicking around. Make sure you draw an alignment line on the keg so they keep the bottom oriented properly to the top. The dip tube goes into a little well on most of them. So you want the well aligned with the coupler. You'll have to cut the liquid dip tube and reinstall it.

http://www.store.homebrew4less.com/prodinfo.asp?number=CB6752&variation=

Just leave a little extra head space...get your water nice and cold...and shake the heck out it. It will go into solution nicely.

Here's a guy that made his own carbonator cap and goes into great detail on making fizzy water:

http://www.truetex.com/carbonation.htm

 

[spotter]

I have the Carbonator Cap I use on PET bottles (tonic mostly). Like the OP I'd like to have the soda 'on tap'. Thoughts on if this would work, and if it does would it be worthwhile:

1 Carbonator Cap
1 rigged up dip tube
1 gas ball lock disconnect (hooked to CO2 like you'd expect)
1 cobra tap hooked up to a gas ball lock disconnect.

Insert the dip tube, screw on the Cap, charge the whole thing up, disconnect from gas, connect cobra tap. Serve?

I'm thinking that this would conserve CO2 since you're not releasing down to "room pressure" every time you open the cap. Obviously you may need to recharge with gas, but it will take less than recharging a 1/3 full PET bottle. Is that accurate?

Thoughts on if would would come out of the tap be serve-able or a soda-sposion?

 

[IrregularPulse]

I have the Carbonator Cap I use on PET bottles (tonic mostly). Like the OP I'd like to have the soda 'on tap'. Thoughts on if this would work, and if it does would it be worthwhile:

1 Carbonator Cap
1 rigged up dip tube
1 gas ball lock disconnect (hooked to CO2 like you'd expect)
1 cobra tap hooked up to a gas ball lock disconnect.

Insert the dip tube, screw on the Cap, charge the whole thing up, disconnect from gas, connect cobra tap. Serve?

I'm thinking that this would conserve CO2 since you're not releasing down to "room pressure" every time you open the cap. Obviously you may need to recharge with gas, but it will take less than recharging a 1/3 full PET bottle. Is that accurate?

Thoughts on if would would come out of the tap be serve-able or a soda-sposion?

That what I was going to suggest. I don't know if anything is different inside the actual ball lock connectors though. If not then why would they make to different connectors and posts. They're not interchangeable. I'm guessing there is something different inside the actual connector to allow gas vs liquid transfer.

 

[chuggs]

Oh...sorry. Did not catch that you had to have "On Tap" soda water.

I'd go with the cut down corny keg as my first option.

My second option would be to get:

Chill Plate
Carbonator
High Pressure CO2 regulator (0-160 psi)
Soda Faucet & Shank...

You can find used Carbonators for less than $100 on eBay. You can plumb your cold water line...route it through a filter...then to the Carbonator. The Carbonator hooks up to 110VAC to run the pump. It takes an input from your CO2 cylinder...I believe it takes around 105PSI...but don't quote me on that. THe output from the carbonator tank goes through your chill plate (which if you don't chill it...the co2 will just come out of solution way too fast)...and then to the shank & soda faucet. You could probably get away with a beer faucet if you use around 25' of 3/16" ID restrictor tubing...but I haven't tried it.

Kegman carries the soda faucets..but they are expensive...just to warn you.

https://www.kegman.net/sodafaucets.html

 

[chuggs]

Another thought came to mind.

If you go with really huge soda bottle...make a holder so that you can put the soda bottle in the holder upside down...and the ball lock connector will have clearance under the bottom.

You'd have to put a T in the liquid line close to the bottle...with a check vavle to allow the CO2 gas to enter the line in one direction. I'd fashion a bulkhead on the fridge so I could keep the CO2 tank outside...and make sure the co2 tank has a shutoff/check valve on it. Use clear gas tubing...so you can see if your check valve down by the ball lock connector isn't working. (ie...water backing up your gas hose).

In theory...you can...

Turn off the co2
Open the Carbonator cap and add frigid water to the jug...replace the cap
Place the jug upside down in the holder.
Turn up the pressure on the co2 and open the shutoff vavle. Shake the bottle vigorously.
Leave the gas attached until ready to dispense
When ready to dispense...turn the gas shutoff off...
Dispense carbonator water from the tap...
When complete...open the gas shutoff.

The only co2 you'd waste is the little bit that would maybe go into the liquid line when adding gas.


Of course if you get it out of sequence...you'll get a blast of co2 in the glass.

 

[bad coffee]

Wow- $100 for a basic model? Plus the bottles (2) and mixes, for $170?

That really seems like a major ripoff to me. You could buy a co2 tank and regulator for that, and keg beer, soda, wine, etc. I think that you got taken in that deal, sorry to say!

I have a Soda Club at work. It's great, and much cheaper than buying 100 1 liter bottles of soda. There's 4 people who use it, and we all have our own bottles. Well worth the $129 the boss paid for it.

For home use, I'd probably get one and figure out a way to hook up the machine to the regular CO2 tank. I think you'd have a hard time finding a cheaper/easier way to do it.

B