Converting kegarator vs buying used

Discussion in 'Home Bar' started by Fluffhorton, Jan 31, 2015.

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  1. Fluffhorton

    Fluffhorton Initiate (0) Oct 11, 2012 New York

    Over the last couple months I've been periodically buying the equipment I need to keg some homebrew. I've got my kegs, co2 tank, regulator, quick disconnects, now all I really need is my beverage and gas lines, my faucet and somewhere To keep it cold. I was at my local Homebrew shop today and I was talking to one of the guys working there about converting a fridge and he was strongly steering me away from that idea, he urged me to just go on Craigslist and just buy a used kegerator because it would be much cheaper then converting.

    But the thing is, I already have a spare working fridge that I could use..now I just don't understand where the brew store employee was figuring it'd be more expensive to buy a used one (knowing that I wouldn't need to buy a fridge)

    So in a regular stand up fridge, what equipment would I need to successfully convert it to a kegerator and would would the initial cost be?
     
    #1 Fluffhorton, Jan 31, 2015
  2. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    if you have a fridge and you know the space you want to put it, then the answer is unequivocally convert. do not buy a used kegerator. we can't know the cost of the used kegerator, but the cost of converting is really not that much. and you have the fridge. don't bother buying a used kegerator. i can give you a few good reasons.

    1. new kegerators can cost between $500 and $1500. the low end units require a fair amount of tinkering to get right. purchasing new parts. there is no guarantee that an expensive used kegerator will last for months or years. once the compressor goes you have a brick. if you know and trust your fridge go with that. in other words, cheap kegerators ain't that great on day one. and expensive kegerators are very expensive.
    2. conversion is very easy. any dummy can follow simple instructions and it will take at best an afternoon.
    3. the quality of the parts used is very important. and you have those parts already.
    4. a home built kegerator is suitable for homebrew. you make your own beer. you keg your own beer. serve it from your own kegerator.

    you need a regulator.
    5/16" braided line for the CO2. it doesn't need to be special, the hardware store stuff is fine and about $0.80/foot.
    beverage line, 3/16" ID. get about ten feet for each faucet. buy some extra too, its cheap.
    shanks. with integrated tail piece. 3 1/2" to 5", roughly. enough to get through the door plus an inch or so.
    oetiker clamps. or just worm clamps.
    faucets. don't be cheap with the $15 faucets. spend $25 or more. we can discuss options.
    outboard temp control, Ranco or Johnson. digital is fancy but the old dial variety is just as good.
    drip tray.
    tools, hole saw.

    that's it.
    many of us have done the conversion multiple times. it is not difficult.
    Cheers.
     
    #2 billandsuz, Jan 31, 2015
  3. Genuine

    Genuine Maven (1,347) May 7, 2009 Connecticut

    I made my own kegerator - I found a 4.5cu ft fridge, purchased the tower, faucet, tank and lines along with a diy temp controller and I've been beyond happy with mine. There's just something awesome about having fresh beer on tap at home whether it be homebrew or some other craft beer. It's awesome to be able to pour a pint of your own beer. If you already have a fridge, just convert it to a kegerator and be done. That'll be the simplest and more cost effective, i would imagine. I just scored another mini fridge off of craigslist that I'll be converting for a friend so that we can have a couple homebrew's on tap over at his place.
     
    #3 Genuine, Feb 1, 2015
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