Which Equipment Should I buy?

[tenganis]

Hello!

I have recently gotten into making hard cider! I initially was looking at home carbonators (pure fizz, perlini, etc...) but the advice was overwhelmingly against it! (what did I expect in a home brew forum? ). In any case, I have now come to my senses, mostly. I am considering a set up such as this one, although I might look into buying the parts separately:

http://www.kegoutlet.com/sp202-taprite-soda-carbonating-kit-taprite-regulator-5-lb-co2-tank.html

Doing this will allow me to carbonate my beverage without spending, for now, too much money for an additional keg and fridge (no space in my little apartment fridge!). However, if I do get really into it, I will have the possibility to buy the additional needed equipment (the fridge and the keg) so that I can use a beer gun to bottle my cider.

I have a few questions that I was hoping you could help answer:

1. What size of CO2 tank should I get? I generally prefer smaller set ups, but is 20 oz too small?

2. If I do decide to get a keg (probably 2.5 or 3 gallon max), what is the difference between ball and pin kegs?

3. I am assuming I should go for a metal carbonater (the cap thing on the soda bottle), rather than the plastic one?

4. What is a tap rite regulator?

5. If I wanted the full set up (I know I will ), what else could I possibly need that I might not be thinking of (fridge, keg, regulator, co2 tank, beer gun...anything else?)

Thank you so much everyone for your help!

 

[zach976]

I don't think I would go smaller than a 5lb tank if you are going to use it for carbonating. As far as the kegs , the connections are your big difference. Ball locks are a little taller and skinnier than the pin locks. I don't have any experience with the soda cap carbonators. Tap rite is the brand of the regulator. The one in the picture is a standard two gauge regulator(one gauge for tank pressure and the other for the regulated pressure you are dispensing). I hope that helps. Good luck.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[day_trippr]

[...]I have a few questions that I was hoping you could help answer:

1. What size of CO2 tank should I get? I generally prefer smaller set ups, but is 20 oz too small?

A 20 ounce paintball tank might be adequate for dispensing but it'll be a negative for carbonating, and the refills will hurt. I'd go with the 5 pounder.

2. If I do decide to get a keg (probably 2.5 or 3 gallon max), what is the difference between ball and pin kegs?

Aside from the connector difference, ball lock kegs tend to be about 1/2" smaller diameter and a couple of inches taller than pin locks. Otherwise they're equivalent.

3. I am assuming I should go for a metal carbonater (the cap thing on the soda bottle), rather than the plastic one?

My plastic carbonator cap was always a bit hit or miss wrt making a tight seal with the gas disconnect. My stainless steel one has no such problems, so I'd favor that one over potentially losing gas. As it turned out the ss carb cap I bought through Alibaba cost less than the plastic one I bought from my LHBS years ago. And this thing is a nice looking hunk of carved stainless. It feels good just holding it.

4. What is a tap rite regulator?

Taprite is the name of the company that manufactured the regulator in your link.

5. If I wanted the full set up (I know I will ), what else could I possibly need that I might not be thinking of (fridge, keg, regulator, co2 tank, beer gun...anything else?)

Tubing, clamps, disconnects...

Cheers!