cswant88
Well-Known Member
Hey all, this post may be a bit long. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read through it all. I’ve got an opportunity to purchase some 1/6 barrel sanke kegs from a guy locally for $25 each. While I’ve not laid my own eyes on them, I’ve seen pictures. They appear in pretty good shape, and supposedly have been used half a dozen times or so. He claims to have 20 of them for sale, all in the same condition.
I’ve recently put together a keezer. I currently only have 1 ball lock keg, with plans to add an additional 3 over time, so I’m not yet too heavily invested in ball locks.
If I get the kegs for $25, I’ll need couplers ($30), and probably some beer shut-off valves ($20). This puts the cost exactly the same as a new ball lock keg from AIH.
Price being equal, the factors I have to consider are really just ease of use/cleaning, and reliability. I can tell you right now that I’ve already experienced a couple minor gas leaks from the gas post o-ring. The the o-rings are brand new and undamaged, and I’m using the higher quality cm Becker plastic disconnects. The liberal use of keg lube has stopped this leak a couple of times, but I can lightly jiggle the disconnect and reproduce it, even make it worse to the extent where I can hear the gas escaping. I’ve ordered some squared off o-rings to put on it to create a larger sealing surface. May try the quad-seal ones as well if that doesn’t work. Is this a common thing for ball lock kegs, and can I expect to deal with this sort of thing on all ball locks I get going forward? Do sanke kegs have this sort of finicky seals causing leaks?
I’ve also read that the spears on the sanke can be difficult to remove. There are purpose built tools, and I know some here have improvised tools for removing them. I guess my main concern is the smaller access for cleaning the interior of the kegs. What is the easiest method you’ve found for cleaning them?
Another concern of mine is filling the sanke. I like to do the closed pressure transfer from my fermenter. I fill the keg with star San, and purge it by pushing it all out into a bucket, then I have hose from the gas post going into the bucket to act as an airlock when I’m filling the keg through the liquid post. Is this technique possible with sanke kegs for low exposure to O2? I’m not exactly sure how the spears work inside, I’m assuming similar to a ball lock with the liquid intake at the bottom, and gas input up at the top.
So if you stuck it out and read all of that, considering all the factors, which would you choose? Any experiences with sankes are welcome, I’ve never used one so I know nothing except what I read. Thanks.
PS I planned to upload a picture of the kegs, but I’m being told that the single image I’m trying to upload is too large.
Edit: I forgot to mention line cleaning. How do you clean you sanke couplers. Do you remove it entirely and clean it separately, or is there a good way to hook up and run cleaner through the coupler and beer line simultaneously?
I’ve recently put together a keezer. I currently only have 1 ball lock keg, with plans to add an additional 3 over time, so I’m not yet too heavily invested in ball locks.
If I get the kegs for $25, I’ll need couplers ($30), and probably some beer shut-off valves ($20). This puts the cost exactly the same as a new ball lock keg from AIH.
Price being equal, the factors I have to consider are really just ease of use/cleaning, and reliability. I can tell you right now that I’ve already experienced a couple minor gas leaks from the gas post o-ring. The the o-rings are brand new and undamaged, and I’m using the higher quality cm Becker plastic disconnects. The liberal use of keg lube has stopped this leak a couple of times, but I can lightly jiggle the disconnect and reproduce it, even make it worse to the extent where I can hear the gas escaping. I’ve ordered some squared off o-rings to put on it to create a larger sealing surface. May try the quad-seal ones as well if that doesn’t work. Is this a common thing for ball lock kegs, and can I expect to deal with this sort of thing on all ball locks I get going forward? Do sanke kegs have this sort of finicky seals causing leaks?
I’ve also read that the spears on the sanke can be difficult to remove. There are purpose built tools, and I know some here have improvised tools for removing them. I guess my main concern is the smaller access for cleaning the interior of the kegs. What is the easiest method you’ve found for cleaning them?
Another concern of mine is filling the sanke. I like to do the closed pressure transfer from my fermenter. I fill the keg with star San, and purge it by pushing it all out into a bucket, then I have hose from the gas post going into the bucket to act as an airlock when I’m filling the keg through the liquid post. Is this technique possible with sanke kegs for low exposure to O2? I’m not exactly sure how the spears work inside, I’m assuming similar to a ball lock with the liquid intake at the bottom, and gas input up at the top.
So if you stuck it out and read all of that, considering all the factors, which would you choose? Any experiences with sankes are welcome, I’ve never used one so I know nothing except what I read. Thanks.
PS I planned to upload a picture of the kegs, but I’m being told that the single image I’m trying to upload is too large.
Edit: I forgot to mention line cleaning. How do you clean you sanke couplers. Do you remove it entirely and clean it separately, or is there a good way to hook up and run cleaner through the coupler and beer line simultaneously?
Last edited:
When I talked to this guy initially, he said he had 20 available, and sent me pictures. He's been ghosting me ever since. I tried calling him up multiple times, left messages, sent texts, emails. I haven't even gotten so much as "piss off" in reply.
