I ordered the parts I need to make my keezer the other day and they are on the way. Yay! I had meant to post here but forgot to ask if a faucet wrench is necessary. I assume it’s just a convenience and that I can install with conventional tools. Is that correct? They are perlick 650 series if that matters. Also, even if it’s not necessary are they handy or just a gimick.?
They are good to use as they don’t scratch up the collar. You can use other tools, but a faucet wrench is best and not expensive. They range from $3-8 depending on quality.
That’s good to know. I’ll order one but probably won’t wait on it to install. I’ll just try to be careful.
I hand tightened and got away with that for a couple of weeks while I waited on a faucet wrench.
PS. You may be able to borrow one from a friend.
Definitely handy and allow you to get everything nice and snug without damaging any of the finish as already mentioned.
A cheaper all-metal one came with my tower, but I bought one that is covered in rubber/silicone from the wrench head down and like that one much more (other than the point that goes in the hole on the faucet, the contact points are rubberized).
I would get one that has a hex nut wrench as well as a spanner.
What’s the hex side for?
It tightens the large hex nut on the inside of the kegerator. The nut secures the faucet to the shank, otherwise when you spin the faucet with your faucet wrench, the shank will just spin around too.
Thanks. I’ll go ahead and get that. Any other specialized tools people get for their serving system I should be aware of. I’m thinking I should get caps for the faucets before fruit fly season.
Line cleaner - a bunch of ways to approach this. I use a modified garden sprayer (Google diy beer line cleaner). I plan on building a recirc system at some point.
That does not sound like the most fun part about beer on tap. Obviously something I need to think of though. FWIW I sprung for the antimicrobial lines.
You will still need to clean them.
I pump BLC from a spare keg. Same idea. Still need to build the garden sprayer.
If you don’t already have them, 7/8" and 11/16" wrenches for keg posts (the kind with the 12 point ends). Similar to the below, though the ones I bought at Home Depot were half the price.
Also, if you are using stepless ear clamps (which I highly recommend), you’ll need an ear clamper. They are a bit pricey, but you can usually find a good deal on Ebay.
This kit actually isn’t a bad deal unless you already have some of the tools: Home Brew Kegging Supplies & Equipment
I assume you are setting everything up with MFL connections rather than using barbed fittings?
Teflon tape is also necessary, and keg lube is nice to have around. I like this stuff as it is fairly easy to wash off: https://www.morebeer.com/products/cip-film-keg-lube-4-oz.html?site_id=7
Yep. Sounds like they might last longer though?
They do (allegedly). I like to run the cleaner through the faucets too though, to break up any deposits inside them. Kind of a win-win.
I do have the wrenches and work so infrequently on cars and machinery these days that they have moved from the shop to the brewery. I actually don’t like those clamps and am going with worm clamps for now. I know they are probably better I just don’t like dealing with them. Yes to MFL connections and I do have Teflon tape and keg lube.
So it sounds like you leave lines hooked up to faucets and run cleaner from a keg through the lines and collect what comes out of the faucet in a bucket or something.
Yep, exactly.
That’s what they say, but beer line is cheap enough. I just bought a roll on Amazon for $10