so I'm in the process of building a keezer and was wanting some input from the experts out there. I plan on having 6 taps minimum on my keezer. I am looking at buying a 6 body secondary regulator with gauges that'll allow me to control co2 on each beer. What is the recommended size tubing I need for this? I currently use 3/16" on my kegerator but I'm thinking I may need to go to 1/4" now. Also, what websites are you guys using to purchase your equipment for your keezer build? Thank you and cheers!
Neither. Tubing for gas is 5/16" ID x 9/16" OD. Barbs are provided to fit the 5/16" ID on the coupler and on the regulator though you can change the tailpiece to whatever if you want. You can use most any type of tubing that can handle the pressure, but gas line has two nice properties. It stays flexible in at 38. It is dual layer, and will withstand some abuse. You also want it to be food grade, even for CO2. If you get red gas line it looks professional, but you can't see if beer got up into it by accident. Still, red, that's the best color. I mean, red. You can also use braided PVC from Lowes or HD but that material is not nearly as flexible and usually won't be FDA, but it is used with no problems. We buy from a wholesale supplier and pay ~$40 for 100' of "Bevlex PVC", plus shipping. Highly recommended. Micromatic Blue gas line is good stuff too but like all MM stuff just plain highway robbery. Expect to pay about $0.35 per foot retail for Bevlex. Buy more than you need of course. Bevlex can also be used as beer line but you'd need 3/16" Cheers.
As billandsuz said, gas tubing is traditionally 5/16" ID. I would strongly recommend sticking with that standard since most gas connectors are 5/16" and you won't need to cuss every time you hook something up. Oh, and red. definitely red.
Red is cool. Use red for your gas line and tell the world "I have arrived." Clear. Red. Blue. Same shit. Just looks better is all. And you won't confuse it with liquid line. Cheers.
Color is critically important to many things that are traditionally associated with men (the superficiality gene is found in the Y chromosome). Take a Gibson ES-335, for example. Cherry Red sounds the best. I can't explain it, it just does. But it's not just red. A Telecaster doesn't sing unless it's Butterscotch! (though, oddly, one of mine is Red). And a Les Paul -- Gold Top, hands down! Red Corvettes are the fastest, as are Orange Chargers (with honorable mention going to the Yellow Super Bee).
Is this http://www.kegconnection.com/6-body-secondary-regulator-choose-taprite-or-chudnow/ worth it? I'm looking to get the taprite. I already have a 4 way manifold with check valves but I'm thinking it'd be nice to go with this. In your red opinion, is it worth it?
That is exactly what you need. I am partial to the Taprite myself. They are rock solid and not overly expensive. You can also add regulators if you like, they are ganged together with a terminal nut at one end and a hose barb at the other. You can add the manifold off of one regulator and force carb up to four at once. Or have all 4 at one serving pressure. I want to point out that while having separate regulators is very nice, you probably wont be adjusting them very often. Maybe for homebrew, but for commercial beer it is not likely you will even know the packaged vols, and if you did very people have the desire or patience to dial it all in. But separate regulators with red gas line is by far the best choice. Taprite. One opinion. Cheers.
Nice looking secondary unit...just keep in mind that you will also need a primary regulator to hook up yo the CO² tank. You will want to set it at 18-20 psi. And without exception the CO² line should always be red: http://www.beveragefactory.com/draftbeer/hoses/airtubing/553R_beer_air_line_red.shtml
If I walk into a cooler and see blue air line I think the poor bastard paid way too much for the install. If I see plain vinyl I think the poor bastard got a cut rate system. But red, now that's fancy.
Yes sir! Already have a primary regulator. Thanks for letting me know what to see the primary to. I was actually wondering about this. Lol, I'll be the fancy guy then.
Guys, one more question... Am I better of with a ss shank with the nipple welded on or get one that I can take on and off? Can't seem to make up my mind. The downside to the welded one is that it can't be taken apart to clean, but is that a huge issue?
Welded nipple makes life easier. Beer nut and washer has been used forever with no problems. I wish all shanks had a welded nipple option. The beer nut and washer allows you to swap out the tailpiece (nipple) and it is used in other places within the system so that is why it is still around. But either or. Welded is my preference in this situation. Cheers.
I'm with Bill with one caveat... In the past I've had a hard time removing Oetiker Stepless clamps from the welded off nipples without snapping them off. For that reason, I've always recommended the beer line/tailpiece option as tailpieces are relatively inexpensive as opposed to new shanks. YMMV
