Corny Keg advice

[TastyFishLips]

Good evening all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I've just got back into brewing after a couple of years off and am thinking of investing in a corny keg setup, but I'm baffled by getting Co2 into it?

I understand that a pub gas system is probably the most hassle free way of doing it, but I've been looking into some form of sodastream system. If I was to go down the sodastream route, aside from the in and out connectors and lines etc, would the following bits of kit enable me to connect the sodastream bottle to the keg?

http://www.co2supermarket.co.uk/sodastream-adapter.html
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/180889649769?nav=SEARCH

Would I need some sort of adaptor to connect the outlet of the regulator to the JG fitting on the keg?
And one last stupid question, if the regulator is screwed all the way in, does that effectively turn off the gas?

Thanks in advance

Adam

[woblylegs]

im not sure but i think the soda stream rout will work out a bit pricey in the long run. the regulator looks just the job
i use a co2 fire extinguisher which seems to do the job well and you can pick them up easily enough

[Jonnyconga]

I get through a pub size co2 gas bottle every 6months or so. That would equate to a load of soda stream cylinders. My local place sold the bottle for about £60 and them £10 per refill. Bargain. I asked another place about gas bottles and they wanted to rent me one for a load of cash or sell me one for even more. Phone a few places in your local area - bound to be a good deal somewhere.

Is extinguisher gas okay for food? Don't see why not though...!

[Derek1]

[quote="TastyFishLips"]Good evening all,

Long time lurker, first time poster. I've just got back into brewing after a couple of years off and am thinking of investing in a corny keg setup, but I'm baffled by getting Co2 into it?

I understand that a pub gas system is probably the most hassle free way of doing it, but I've been looking into some form of sodastream system. If I was to go down the sodastream route, aside from the in and out connectors and lines etc, would the following bits of kit enable me to connect the sodastream bottle to the keg?

http://www.co2supermarket.co.uk/sodastream-adapter.html
http://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/180889649769?nav=SEARCH

Would I need some sort of adaptor to connect the outlet of the regulator to the JG fitting on the keg?
And one last stupid question, if the regulator is screwed all the way in, does that effectively turn off the gas?

Thanks in advance

Adam[/quote]

Hi Adam
The previous advice is very sound - the cost comparison of using a pub size CO2 cylinder or fire extinguisher makes the use of Sodastream cylinders an expensive option. I've currently gone down the Sodastream/Hambleton Bard S30 cylinder route as I need to have the gas cylinder in the fridge with my cornys, and a commercial one wouldn't fit.
The bits you provide links to look fine if you decide to go down the Sodastream route, and I found that part FH17/14 on this page:-
http://www.aerohydraulics.com/p-60-cone ... 54865.aspx
provided a good fit between my regulators, (which look very similar to yours and were a similar price - don't know how they do it!) and my gas line. My gas line is used with John Guest 5/16 fittings, the tubing fits snuggly over the end of the adaptor I've linked to, and can/should be secured with a small jubilee clip.
Works a treat, util you connect it to the out post, as I did on Friday.....Doh!
You shouldn't be able to do that.....
Cheers
Derek

[TastyFishLips]

Cheers for the responses guy's.

At the moment I think I'm going to go down the sodastream route, I wouldn't know where to start with a fire extinguisher based system, and I can't seem to find anywhere local to me that can supply a pub style bottle!

If I could manage to find a Co2 supplier what size bottle would be suitable?

Cheers again.

[chickenbroot]

It isn't super cheap, but I ended up getting a pub gas cylinder online, something like this: http://gascylindersuk.co.uk/shop/index. ... ct_id=1059

The deposit (£40) plus shipping (£11 - £15) bumps up the cost, but actually I got my first pub gas cylinder (donated to my Dad, hence the need for another) from a localish supplier, and it cost about the same all told! Plus I had to drive all the way to Slough to get it... Online was good because I could get a smaller cylinder that fit in my fridge, and I didn't have to go through the whole supplier craziness again. It might be a bit less cost effective to refill if you have to send it back, but there's always a chance someone can refill it for you. Because of that I am very cautious about leaks!

[chickenbroot]

Just realised I linked to the 8.47L cylinder - I actually got the 5L one so it fit in my fridge.

I actually have one of these regulators spare too http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PARWELD-CO2-S ... 417a07ee94 (the same regulators that come with the brewuk cornie starter kit), because I upgraded to one of Cpt. Fredrickson's regulators that he has for sale occasionally. I also have a tail nut and nipple that connects to the gas line from the regulator (which should then go into the gas in on your keg, most likely via a JG disconnect). Happy to sell on to you for a bit less than cost if you end up going down this route as it's just sitting in my (newly minted!) spares box - I also was a bit daunted by the whole cornie setup when I started so I'm happy to pass on any (limited) knowledge I've gleaned so far!

[och29]

The CO2 supermarket fitting doesn't fit standard regulators(or at least my one). There's one in Australia that apparently works and is made from steel. Can't find it in the UK though.
Stick with proper bottles.

[alexlark]

I know it's obvious but do Google searches for: co2 , carbon dioxide, cellar gas, welding gas (for your area, then branch out a bit).

I had some silly prices when I was looking and they were not even local! Then I got lucky and found a place 2 miles up the road Turns out it was on an industrial estate I go jogging through

I had a 20Kg bottle last May for £20 (£70 deposit). I've gone through 6-7 20L kegs and the bottle weight seems the same!

Good luck