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Dewey316 The Lama

Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 7295 Location: Bringing the tech
1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:09 am Post subject: My latest project... |
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Well, every now and again I actually get something done. Obviously not car related though.
This was my newest project. After bottling the beer that Bart and I brew for several years, we both got really tired of the bottling process, and descided that kegging was in order.
So.... Here is what I did.
Got ahold of Barts credit card...and ordered.
Tower with the faucets bolted on.
Perlick forward seal stainless steel faucets (for those who are interested in such things)
Selection of 5gal kegs. Next mission will be to fill them up with homebrew!
Then, bought a chest freezer, and went to town...
Hole drilled, tower installed.
I had bought some Rogue tap handles when Rogue had one of their garage sales going. They look supersharp. And the whole thing is assembled.
Testing it out for leaks, and running cleaning solution and sanitizer through it.
Great Success! I guess that I don't take good pictures while giving the new toy a good testing. I had to make sure it worked...several times!
So that is that.
Next on the list... 2 more taps, and I think I am going to make a wooden counter-top for it, and I need to get a driptray installed.
Cheers,
John _________________
"Ever see a Motorcycle in front of a Psychiatrists Office?" Me neither |
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Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)

Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:45 am Post subject: |
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I want to run a 4 pony setup.
What do you figure the final cost with 4 taps minus the actual kegs is? _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
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Dewey316 The Lama

Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 7295 Location: Bringing the tech
1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:48 am Post subject: |
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| Twilightoptics wrote: | | What do you figure the final cost with 4 taps minus the actual kegs is? |
Well, that can vary quite a bit. We spent quite a bit extra on some stuff, like getting the whole tower and and everything is Stainless instead of chrome and brass. We also we with multiple regulators for diffrent pressures and such.
Part of it will also depend on what fittings your kegs use, if you need connections for Sanke kegs, it will be more expensive also.
Check out www.kegconnection.com for an idea on some prices. They were good to work with, and did a custom kit for us.
I would say, you should be able to do it all for under $500 pretty easy, it is all a matter of how overboard you want to go. Also, if you go into a fridge it will be cheaper since you won't need the towers, you will just need shanks and faucets.
--John |
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IROC-stangs Member
Joined: 06 Jan 2010 Posts: 374
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 8:56 am Post subject: |
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might not be time for me to say this but... Thats awesome lol! i want one, hell just for looks... for now anyhow
sweet though! |
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GREG DAVIDSON Member

Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 1159 Location: Salem
1989 Pontiac Formula
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:27 pm Post subject: |
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So when are you going to invite a few crewbies over to give it a really good test run ??  |
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Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)

Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:48 pm Post subject: |
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What's the tower bit? _________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
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Dewey316 The Lama

Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 7295 Location: Bringing the tech
1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Twilightoptics wrote: | | What's the tower bit? |
the tower bit is the big shiney thing.
or do you mean the price? |
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Twilightoptics Hardcore (12sec Club)

Joined: 13 Jan 2004 Posts: 9191 Location: Auburn , WA
1987 Chevrolet Camaro IROC-Z
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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| Dewey316 wrote: | | Twilightoptics wrote: | | What's the tower bit? |
the tower bit is the big shiney thing.
or do you mean the price? |
That's what I thought, but this was confusing:
| Quote: | | Also, if you go into a fridge it will be cheaper since you won't need the towers, you will just need shanks and faucets. |
_________________ A redline a day keeps the carbon away! |
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Dewey316 The Lama

Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 7295 Location: Bringing the tech
1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:27 pm Post subject: |
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If you are using a fridge (instead of a chest freezer) you will just drill through the doors, and install the faucets there. Since I did the chest freezer, I wanted to the tower.
You can get things like this:
They are like $20 each, and it is what will pass the beer through the door, and what you bolt the faucet up to.
If you wanted to do 4 pony kegs, with the handles through the door of a refriderator, you would want something like this:
http://stores.kegconnection.com/Detail.bok?no=261
But, if DON'T get the C02 tank, just pay the rental fee for a bottle from air-gas, then you can just go pick up a new bottle when you need one, its not worth paying the price for a brand new bottle, if you are just going to trade it in with air-gas, or have to deal with waiting for it be filled somewhere else.
The other thing to get, is the Perlick faucets. They are designed differently than a normal faucet, and seal much better. They are also less maintenance and less likely to stick shut. They are like $25 more per faucet than normal SS faucets, but IMHO are well wroth it. |
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Dewey316 The Lama

Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 7295 Location: Bringing the tech
1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| GREG DAVIDSON wrote: | So when are you going to invite a few crewbies over to give it a really good test run ??  |
When I am actually home. I have been working 60 hour weeks since I built it, so I haven't really even gotten to enjoy it as much as I would like.
Any crewbie who stops by during the week (since i work weekends), is more than welcome to test out the magic handle! |
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iansane Member

Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 5742 Location: Bothell
1991 Pontiac Trans Am
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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Ooooh. Fancy faucets! Looks good.
What are you using for temp control?
I put together a copy of one of those tower cooling kits and that made initial foam almost a thing of the past! _________________
| Quote: | | Sometimes I actually think I'm slightly retarded in the mouth. |
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Dewey316 The Lama

Joined: 08 Jan 2004 Posts: 7295 Location: Bringing the tech
1990 Chevrolet Camaro RS
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Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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| iansane wrote: | | Ooooh. Fancy faucets! Looks good. |
You bet, they are SO nice.
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What are you using for temp control?
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I'm using an analog johnson controls thermostat. I just dialed it with a thermometer in the freezer to get the beer right at the temp I want. I figured I didn't need to pay extra for a digital controler, since I could just dial it all in on the temp I wanted, and leave it.
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I put together a copy of one of those tower cooling kits and that made initial foam almost a thing of the past! |
Did you do a liquid cooled kit, or air?
I just used a CPU fan and used an old AC to 12v DC converter from an old dsl modem I had. Wired it all up, and then built a little box for it that mounted under the tower washers to circulate the air into the tower. That combined with 12' of 3/16 beverage line, and I have the perfect foam. I might be a little long on the lines, but it still pours quick enough for me.
Here is the little CPU box i built (mostly out of duct tape!)
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iansane Member

Joined: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 5742 Location: Bothell
1991 Pontiac Trans Am
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Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:09 am Post subject: |
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| Dewey316 wrote: | Did you do a liquid cooled kit, or air?
I just used a CPU fan and used an old AC to 12v DC converter from an old dsl modem I had. Wired it all up, and then built a little box for it that mounted under the tower washers to circulate the air into the tower. That combined with 12' of 3/16 beverage line, and I have the perfect foam. I might be a little long on the lines, but it still pours quick enough for me.
Here is the little CPU box i built (mostly out of duct tape!)
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Air. Actually, exactly like that sans the duck tape. Same components too. I only had about 8' of bev line though. |
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