Portable igloo cooler kegerator

[smagic14]

This is my pin lock kegs (from adventures in homebrewing) and 2 will not fit. They were stuck for a half hour and the cooler started making cracking noises. If I cut off the black plastic will they? It doesn't seem like the plastic will make that much of a difference

 

[brewmasterorr]

I got a Coleman cooler from Lowes... It will fit the two pin locks but I converted to ball lock. Not sure if the pin lock posts would be too high....

 

[pedimac]

I got a Coleman cooler from Lowes... It will fit the two pin locks but I converted to ball lock. Not sure if the pin lock posts would be too high....

That's the cooler I ended up needing to use. Ordered two ball lock kegs from Adventures in Homebrewing, didn't fit in the cube cooler I've had for several years.

 

[brewmasterorr]

Here are some dimension pics on mine.

 

[AndyInHD]

This is my pin lock kegs (from adventures in homebrewing) and 2 will not fit. They were stuck for a half hour and the cooler started making cracking noises. If I cut off the black plastic will they? It doesn't seem like the plastic will make that much of a difference

I had the same question since I already have one of those pin locks from adventures in homebrewing and need to figure out if I should buy another one, or if I should just buy two other kegs for this build.

 

[30Bones]

I have a cooler I can sacrifice, but also have a huge 100qt I can use without molesting. As little as I would use this, this might be my best option. We have a somewhat remote wedding to attend this Labor Day and I think this would be an easy way to serve a few kegs during the week at a cabin

 

[insanim8er]

Wow... Check this out!

I just bought a huge lot of all grain and kegging gear off Craig's list. It literally came out of a barn in BFE Oregon.

Part of the lot was this really old and short pressure vessel. At first I thought it was about 3 gallons and I thought it was used for milking cows. But then I realize it looks identical to my 10 gallon corny keg except about half the height.

It has writing on it, "7-up Vancouver 67" it's a REALLY old soda keg with ball lock posts and a track lid. I filled a 5 gallon corny keg and dumped it into this one. It didn't even fill it. I think this thing can hold about 6 gallons.

And check it out. It fits the maxcold cooler like a freaking glove! The handles are taller than the rest, and they don't even stick past the opening of the cooler. Plus there's plenty of room for the co2.



It's dirty as hell, but it'll clean up. It's going to make a bad ass single tap kegerator.

 

[BungBrewing]

Here was mine... A 10-gallon cooler for 3-gallon kegs. The before and after with the parts and assembled. This one has enough room for ice to keep it cold for a couple of days. I may do a 5-gallon cooler later that can hold a 2.5-gallon kegs for when I don't need a lot of ice to keep it cold for more than a few hours.

 

[nosnhojm20]

Awesome build, y'all. I'd love to see how you have the CO2 run in, BungBrewing. You happen to have a pic?

 

[BungBrewing]

I'll see if I can find a picture (it's not at home right now). All I did was drill a hole just below the lid though. In order to take off the regulator I used quick disconnects (shown just to the right of the regulator in the parts picture).

Awesome build, y'all. I'd love to see how you have the CO2 run in, BungBrewing. You happen to have a pic?

 

[smagic14]

Any idea how to keep cool when it's in my apartment? No room for a mini fridge in my apartment and ice doesn't seem to last as long as I thought?

 

[Hello]

Any idea how to keep cool when it's in my apartment? No room for a mini fridge in my apartment and ice doesn't seem to last as long as I thought?

Dry ice?

 

[BBBF]

I am using pin lock kegs, but they're the spartan kegs with no rubber on the side.

I also use one of these pin locks.

 

[GRBC]

I also use one of these pin locks.

Where did you guys find the 3 gallon spartan pin lock kegs?

 

[insanim8er]

Where did you guys find the 3 gallon spartan pin lock kegs?

Off CraigsList. I got 29 of them from one guy. Isn't that how everyone gets them

 

[ekjohns]

that is amazing how much did you pay for each one?

 

[GRBC]

Awesome!

 

[insanim8er]

that is amazing how much did you pay for each one?

Well I paid $1000 for all of those plus 2 of the same keg in 5 gallon size. But then I bought the rest of his 5 gallon kegs as well as a bunch of regulators and manifolds and y splitters (both primary and secondary) I think I paid $1450 for everything.

Then I resold a lot of it. I kept all the 5 gal and I still have 13 of the 3 gal and a few regulators/manifolds.

So bottom line is I made a bunch of money off it and still have a bunch of free gear.

I also split some of the dual primary regulators (turned them back into single) and made the other bodies into Portable regulators

 

[BBBF]

Where did you guys find the 3 gallon spartan pin lock kegs?

A couple of craigslist purchases.

 

[wantonsoup]

That's the cooler I ended up needing to use. Ordered two ball lock kegs from Adventures in Homebrewing, didn't fit in the cube cooler I've had for several years.

Just curious to hear from pedimac or brewmasterorr - I'm going to same exact route (3gal pin locks from AIH in that cooler) - what size CO2 tank fits? Thanks.

 

[dsdr]

I'm waiting optimistically to see if anyone has successfully used two of the AIH 3-gal pinlock (rubber base/top) into the Igloo Ice Cube Maxcold Roller, 70-Quart. Website states 9" wide for the kegs but want to hear if cutting up the base works or if necessary. Thx!

 

[brewmasterorr]

Just curious to hear from pedimac or brewmasterorr - I'm going to same exact route (3gal pin locks from AIH in that cooler) - what size CO2 tank fits? Thanks.

I use a portable co2 paintball tank setup. You may be able to get a 2.5 lb tank that will fit but the 5lb will not fit.

 

[insanim8er]

I'm waiting optimistically to see if anyone has successfully used two of the AIH 3-gal pinlock (rubber base/top) into the Igloo Ice Cube Maxcold Roller, 70-Quart. Website states 9" wide for the kegs but want to hear if cutting up the base works or if necessary. Thx!

It probably will work if you totally take the rubber off both ends. They're the same as a 5 gallon corny keg just short... so measure the circumference of the metal part of a 5 and go from there. Just remember they have a domed bottom, so they'll never stand on their own. Or you can cut the hell out of the inside of the cooler (I wouldn't)

I think your best bet is to find a different cooler or spend the money on some older spartan kegs.

I originally made mine with the new Spartan challenger 3 gal keg. I had to use a hot chisel to shave off a small 1/8" bump of the rubber (I posted a pix a few pages back) After that, it was a very tight fit often warping the cooler so the lid had issues with popping up sometimes and it was a pain getting the kegs adjusted properly and removed...etc.

Then I got some old spartans with only the rubber feet nothing on the sides. They work perfect. They even work well with one old spartan and one new spartan.

 

[dsdr]

Unfortunately, I was going to buy the cooler online and then the AIH 3 gallon kegs. With the deal of 4 for 125 (or around there) it sounded too good to pass up but maybe I will have to. If needed I could "sacrifice" two of them if I have to for the cooler project but prefer them not be a handicapped girls named "Eileen" in the kegerator later (I could create "kegerator walkers" for them though!).

I wanted a cooler with a handle and i thought that was one of the largest out there for mobility purposes but if you have a reasonable larger alternative I am all ears I agree cutting the inside of the cooler is asking for trouble.

So should I shift my target to the same cooler but use those 2.5 Gal AIH new ones, it seems they taper at the bottom so I would think these should be okay. I could live without the missing gallon and just have two instead of four. I was only going to use them for soda, mixed drinks and big "to-go" cups.

Thanks!

 

[wantonsoup]

Dsdr, my understanding is that the AIH 3 gallon kegs fit in the Lowe's Coleman 75 qt rolling cooler. I just ordered the kegs and bought the cooler so if they don't I'm in trouble

 

[dsdr]

wanton soup - that is extremely good to know!!! I see the cooler sells for $54 @ Lowes, which is better than the other prices I see for the same cooler. If anyone thinks different let us both know

 

[wantonsoup]

Not only that, but the one from Lowe's apparently is different and the only one that works. The others are 75 qt but different shape.

Right now Lowe's also has a $10 Off $50 Coupon code: "47000LOWES0664S"

 

[wantonsoup]

To wit: The one sold everywhere as the 75 qt Xtreme has Interior Dimensions: 15 in. x 10.75 in. x 16.25 in. The one at Lowes as the 75 qt Xtreme has Interior Dimensions: 20 in. x 15 in. x 17 in. Much bigger. Don't know how that's possible that they're still called the same number of quarts. The Lowe's one has molded side handles vs the other one with white moving handles. Both are listed as 5-day coolers. Who knows.

 

[insanim8er]

Yup just look at the posts a few back #302

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/portable-igloo-cooler-kegerator-172047/index16.html#302

It has what you're looking for

 

[dsdr]

wantonsoup - Thanks, pulled the trigger on the cooler as I happened to be going to Lowes anyway by coincidence. Used your coupon online and just picked it up while I was there. I expect to buy the kegs sometime this week if all goes well