Pricing difference between Keg kit and building from scratch?

[mychalg9]

Lets say I want to get a 2 keg system, housed in a refridgerator with the shanks through the side wall....Ive seen keg kits at Midwest Supply and Keg Cowboy for ~$200. How does that compare to piecing the whole thing together on my own using individual parts? Im not sure I know all the components that make up the "kits".

 

[SweetSounds]

Lets say I want to get a 2 keg system, housed in a refridgerator with the shanks through the side wall....Ive seen keg kits at Midwest Supply and Keg Cowboy for ~$200. How does that compare to piecing the whole thing together on my own using individual parts? Im not sure I know all the components that make up the "kits".

It can be a lot cheaper than the kits.

You can keg with the following:
CO2 tank $25 (Check Craigslist! The $100 shiny aluminum tank will be gone the day you get it filled - Because just about everywhere you can go for CO2 will only swap your nice tank for a rusty old steel one)
CO2 tank fill - About $20
Single gauge regulator (Usually with check valve shut-off) - Check out ChiCompany - About $20
Some 3/16" beer hose (Use it for the beer and the CO2) - About $0.35/ft x about 15 feet
A black and a white (In and Out) quick disconnects - About $8
Some hose clamps - About free, if your garage is like mine
A picnic tap - About $2.00
1 or more kegs - About $25 each
You can start kegging for less than $100 if you look around.

All other things like towers, shanks, faucets, multi-stage primary regulators, secondary regulators, collars, keezers, and a million other things we waste money on are all optional.

Decide what you want, look around at prices, and add it all up. Don't forget shipping if you use multiple vendors.

Then compare that to the kits.

 

[mychalg9]

Thank you for taking the time to type that up! Its very helpful

 

[lotbfan]

craigslist can be your friend, I got a 2 keg setup including a 20# co2 tank for $100.00 and all I needed to do was replace one of the o-rings on one of the gas posts (there was even gas in the tank).

 

[philrose]

another thing about craigslist is that you can often buy some guy's kegerator, scrap the fridge and use the parts.

Or use the fridge for fermentation or something.

 

[BoundForBeer]

I pieced together A duel mini fridge kegerator on the real cheap. It also all depends on what your skill level is with building stuff. Not saying it is very hard but you do have to have some tools to make things go smooth. I say if your not in a rush to hunt craigslist for awhile. Good luck

 

[wilserbrewer]

Finding good used kegging equipment is like fishing, sometimes you do well, other times nada. If you have time and patience, deals can be had.