Kegs arrived, 30l

[barneey]

Basically no for the bastard clip, the tool I made (many pages ago) was based on the other "barney`s" tool + post on jims.



This just locates under the 2 tabs on the spear and allows the middle part of the spear to be screwed (pushed) down as far as possible, it was then a case of poking around with the screwdriver between the rubber seals to locate the clip.

I`ve haven't seen another spear clip like this before, so hence the post of the picture and the question are they always in the same location under the "s" tab. If they are in that location at least you know where to fish.

Its great to see Jaq has an official tool, all we need to do is either get a source for the tool or make one. In practice though if I get a "bastard clip" in the future the thing will be removed at the earliest opportunity.

EDIT

I`ve also got an unconfirmed suspicion that Bumblebee (also got his kegs from Crusader) has / may have the bastard clips

[bobsbeer]

Seems to me that if the spear removal tool could be sourced or made in reasonable numbers then sanke kegs would be the way forward for homebrewers. Although if a great number switched from cornies to sanke there would be a glut of cornies as people switched, and a shortage of sankies so their price would go up. Oh well nothing is ever simple in this game.

[barneey]

the Halfords socket at a tenner is IMHO the cheapest homemade tool and with a little cutting and filling it works very well.

As for buying any kegs with the quantities involved , you would need to ensure that they weren't supplies with the bastard clip.

The easiest way forward would also be for a single or small group to buy the kegs and sell them on, rather than a big group buy and trying to handle lots of cash from lots of members. BUT judging by the initial 23 votes and only 14 positives its seems as though this type of keg isn't sort after?

Still great fun learning something new and reverse engineering things tho

[Belter]

What we really need is MrLard to get a keg produced the size of a Cornie but exactly the same as a keg. So you could fit 2 in a standard fridge

[barneey]

Who do think is also working on getting the keenest prices

[Belter]

Brilliant. I could have guessed

[Jaq]

I think cornie kegs will still prove to be the most wanted due to there ease of storage, being a bit in the beer game I come across lots of new type kegs and I'm after trying one of the plastic collapsable one with the next ale I make.

[boingy]

All the hassle with different spears and diy removal tools that may or may not work is not exactly showing the kegs in the best light.
Cornies may not seal sometimes but at least they don't have a bastard clip....

As a result of this thread I've filed 'em under "ball-ache".

[barneey]

Not really, just order them without the spears fitted, remove the clip before putting the spear in place, therefore no clip to worry about. A single socket to unscrew / screw the spear in and out. Or dont order them with a bastard clip and use a 5pence piece, hardly rocket science.

Now list all the parts on a corny keg and what they all do, Ive also filed corny kegs under "ball-ache".

As for getting the group buy off the ground, far too many negative thoughts going on for the traditional kegs, guess the industry must have got things wrong all these years and should have stuck with corny kegs. Cant be arsed to contiunue the search for a supplier if anyone wants the info I have got so far PM me. I`m out of the keg discussion.

[barney]

I thought I had eleven cornies, I can only find nine.

I trip over my 50ltr kegs.

[Jaq]

The urban myth I heard was the reason the clip was fitted is because a dodgy land lord tried to take a spear out to refill
the keg with beer and it shot out hit him under the chin and killed him.
Allways make sure the keg is fully degassed before opening sounds like a no brainer but some people just undo them a bit to let the gas out .
the other thing about the Chinese ones at 30 or 40 psi is that some times regulaters have been known to let the pressure
creep up

[darkonnis]

I think the kegs are a good idea, I think that people are just looking at the kegs and seeing dollar signs after expense already with cornies fittings etc. Thing is though that the price seems to be about the same as cornies unless we get a considerable group buy. I quite like the idea of kegs that come in different sizes as a session ale belongs in 50L amounts and the stupid teeth melting IPAs definitely need smaller kegs. though the problem for the most part is solved by crusader kegs

[bobsbeer]

Probably been said, but just how much do Crusader charge for 20 & 30lt kegs? I think that sanke kegs are probably the way forward given that they 'should' be readily available as they are the commercial industry standard. And lets face it 19lt is the max a corny will hold, although a decent size from a Hb point of view. The beauty of the sanke keg is that the fittings are universal no matter what size of keg. So is a one time purchase. I'm hoping we can get this up and running as a group buy. I'd sell my cornies for about £65-£70 and replace with Sanke kegs at about £40-£50. The profit would pay for the sanke fittings required for both service and cleaning/filling. I have 6 cornies, so £20 x 6 =£120 profit. Sanke fittings from Candirect = £40 x 2 = £80. Seems like a good deal to me. And a spear removal tool is about £50 from Candirect. HERE Overall a good deal.

[Goulders]

I would definitely be interested in the 20lt kegs. Seems a good way to go long term and would look neater than bottles lying around!

[gnutz2]

Cant be arsed to contiunue the search for a supplier if anyone wants the info I have got so far PM me. I`m out of the keg discussion.

Never mind clive, if kegs dont take off on the homebrew market then at least sankey connectors will stay cheap on ebay

Im considering getting 2 more 30l jobbies myself.