New to kegging

This is a totally new venture in home brewing for me. I have a refrigerator and a co2 tank…That’s it!
From my research I believe I need the following to get started
-Ball lock keg
-co2 regulator
-gas and liquid ball lock fittings
-air and beer hose
-tap

Anyone see items Im missing?

Also, besides Craigs list and local store, how about a good source for kegs. Has anyone made some DIY containers?

Thanks

CO2 tank

looks good. as far as kegs, ive always bought new and looked for times when suppliers (northern brewer, midwest supplies) are running 10-20% of orders. i know many people buy used and clean up and replace any needed parts- and they are happy. i just like “that new car smell” and didn’t mind spending the extra cash.

ahh the obvious-good catch

I would not suggest a DIY container for beer that will be under pressure, could prove to quite dangerous or even fatal.

Please re-read the second sentence in the original post.

since you are just starting out may I suggest looking into pin lock kegs? assuming you are buying used pin locks are considerably cheaper than ball locks and the only drawbacks are that they have a slightly larger footprint than ball locks. the main reason most folks don’t use them is that they are already set up for ball locks and it can be a pain to switch between the two types of connections.

As I understand it, pin locks also don’t have relief valves.

They do if you add one. Kits exist to drill out keg lids and add. Personally, I would just switch the lid.

they have relief valves just not ones you can pull the ring on manually. you can push the poppet down on the gas in side to the same effect though.

as an alternative, I think I saw replacement lids that have relief valves installed.

EBay has the lids. The coke style kegs have static relief valves, Pepsi have the pull ring type. I personally just bought two kegs from Northern brewer with Static to which I plan to simply replace the lids.  Be sure your new lids come with seals and orings

You might look at beverage factory

AiH has replacement lids as well as the add on valves. Keg connection, MoreBeer, and I’m sure near any other “big players” as well.

Ooops!

I have a few pinlock kegs and the lids have a relief valve. They do not have a ring to pull, you need some kind of special tool to push down the relief valve. I think some of the keg merchants sell the tools to open the valve. I don’t have any of the tools so I’m not sure what they cost but you are fine using the gas post as a relief valve.

Unless you are contemplating the prebuilt systems, you need either worm gear clamps or petit er clamps and the oetiker clamp pliers.  Too obvious, maybe but the connections need to be made.  I would also opt for barrel swivels and male threaded QDC’s rather than barbed fittings.  (I like to be able to easily break it all down for cleaning and sanitizing.). Finally I use nylon gaskets in the barrel swivels to minimize leaks.

Unless you are contemplating the prebuilt systems, you need either worm gear clamps or petit er clamps and the oetiker clamp pliers.  Too obvious, maybe but the connections need to be made.  I would also opt for barrel swivels and male threaded QDC’s rather than barbed fittings.  (I like to be able to easily break it all down for cleaning and sanitizing.). Finally I use nylon gaskets in the barrel swivels to minimize leaks.

Dont forget to grab yourself some replacement O ring kits, keg lube…it will prevent a head ache

Hello all,

I am in the same boat as the OP. I have been looking a good deal on a regulator and have been having a hard time finding that good deal. Anyone know where to look? The best I have found was on kegoutlet for a kit that came withe everything you needed but a keg and co2 tank.