King Keg to Corny Keg / Pressure Fermenter Conversion

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floydmeddler
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King Keg to Corny Keg / Pressure Fermenter Conversion

Post by floydmeddler » Mon Jul 05, 2021 8:35 pm

Hi guys,

I bought two old King Kegs from Ebay for around £25 each and fitted Corny posts and a floating dip tube. Very happy with the results. Have been using them much more than my Fermzilla.

I've even been able to collect yeast from very heavily dry hopped beers (300g / 20L) without any hops making it into the storage jar. I do this by swirling the hell into the fermenter before crash cooling to get the yeast into suspension. The hops fall out first and the yeast settles on top of that. After I empty the keg, I simply scoop out the yeast using a ladle.

In short, I'm getting the same benefits as my Fermzilla at a fraction of the cost. The only thing I miss (slightly) is that it isn't transparent.

Here are links to all the parts if any of you fancy giving it a go. Pics are attached too.

Corny posts. Take both gas and liquid. Designed hold a floating dip tube:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3300335 ... 4c4d0P8kkU

Floating dip tube:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000594 ... 620f12ef-2

Blanking plug as the S30 valves on the King Kegs I bought were removed:
https://www.screwfix.com/p/flomasta-blanking-plug/472fy

I used a bit of silicone on the posts. No washers. Just tightened them really tight. Holding pressure no probs.

Happy brewing :-)
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MashBag
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Re: King Keg to Corny Keg / Pressure Fermenter Conversion

Post by MashBag » Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:12 am

Excellent idea.

From one serial modifier to another.. Well done.
It's always nice when ideas work well after you have built them.

Good write up too.

What pressure are you using?

ElthamBrewer
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Re: King Keg to Corny Keg / Pressure Fermenter Conversion

Post by ElthamBrewer » Tue Jul 06, 2021 8:54 pm

Love this. I started modding my KK as I was frustrated with the 8 and 16gm CO2 tubes, and having a tons of sediment after priming meaning the last few pints were murky. I went with a pressure gauge, schrader (car tyre) valve and corny gas post. All AliExpress stuff too.

It’s worked well on some regards - easy to top up C02 but forced carbonation is difficult due to lack of temperature control. I’ve also noticed the built in S30 valves at the top tend to leak a bit - so some kegs start emergency venting at 10psi, whereas others go above 20psi.

So, now I tend to use them for conditioning before moving to the kegerator. Just trying now to figure out oxygen free transfer from a plastic fermentor to the KK (as the KK doesn’t fit in my fermentation fridge), and then onwards to a corny.

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floydmeddler
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Re: King Keg to Corny Keg / Pressure Fermenter Conversion

Post by floydmeddler » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:53 am

MashBag wrote:
Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:12 am
Excellent idea.

From one serial modifier to another.. Well done.
It's always nice when ideas work well after you have built them.

Good write up too.

What pressure are you using?
It sure is MB. Much more satisfaction when you build it yourself.

So far I've only kept the keg at 10psi tops. I can't see my self ever having to go above that for fermentation TBH. I haven't used it as a dispensing keg yet, but may do in the future. As I usually force carb, I'd be tempted to give it a 24 hr 30psi blast then. Not sure if it would cope!

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floydmeddler
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Re: King Keg to Corny Keg / Pressure Fermenter Conversion

Post by floydmeddler » Wed Jul 07, 2021 6:59 am

ElthamBrewer wrote:
Tue Jul 06, 2021 8:54 pm
Love this. I started modding my KK as I was frustrated with the 8 and 16gm CO2 tubes, and having a tons of sediment after priming meaning the last few pints were murky. I went with a pressure gauge, schrader (car tyre) valve and corny gas post. All AliExpress stuff too.

It’s worked well on some regards - easy to top up C02 but forced carbonation is difficult due to lack of temperature control. I’ve also noticed the built in S30 valves at the top tend to leak a bit - so some kegs start emergency venting at 10psi, whereas others go above 20psi.

So, now I tend to use them for conditioning before moving to the kegerator. Just trying now to figure out oxygen free transfer from a plastic fermentor to the KK (as the KK doesn’t fit in my fermentation fridge), and then onwards to a corny.
Nice idea on the tyre valve. Cheap and cheerful.

You're going to need a bigger boat... If I were you, I'd pick up a bigger fridge that the KK can fit into then ferment and condition in that as an all-in-one. Transfer straight to corny from there oxygen free.

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