Alternative to Bucket blaster?

[aamcle]

This is a blaster :-

https://www.themaltmiller.co.uk/product/bucket-blaster-keg-and-fermenter-washer-kit/

It's a pumped keg (Corney) or fermenter washer.

Are there any others that wash kegs that I should consider?


Thanks All. Aamcle

 

[RichardM]

You could build your own for less money, but the bucket blaster is great if you can't be bothered with DIY.

There will be plenty of people along soon to tell you that you don't need one, just soak with oxy cleaner or spray with TFR

 

[fluketamer]

yep im one of those "people"

it sits in the corner and never ever gets used anymore.

they say it is more efficent cause it uses less solution but its actually less efficicent cause it never cleans as well as the soak. and you just end up soaking and rinsing stuff anyway.

its also only really good if cleaning several things at once like say kegs fermenters secondaries etc., cause by the time you take it out set it up add solution and then disassemble and take apart its not worth all that for one item.

however if you must its very easy to put together. 20 $ amazon pump. and 5 $ lowes bucket. you will need a 1/2 inch threaded ss or pvc tube to attach to the pump . any oven rack over the top of the bucket will hold your vessel and allow for the pump tube to spray into the keg etc.


the brand name one does have the duotight qd connects to flush keg poppets and diptubes but that too never really got used. the brand name also has the nifty metal keg holder that sits in the bucket but the oven rack works almost as well.

i know cause i would set up two. the brand name and my own then run the kegs throught the blaster then throught my own with freshwater rinse.

if you put a spigot tap on the bottom of the bucket you can replace the rinse water in the top as it is draining from the bottom to ensure good rinsing vbut at that point its using a lot of water.

my 2 cents

 

[RichardM]

yep im one of those "people"

it sits in the corner and never ever gets used anymore.

they say it is more efficent cause it uses less solution but its actually less efficicent cause it never cleans as well as the soak. and you just end up soaking and rinsing stuff anyway.

its also only really good if cleaning several things at once like say kegs fermenters secondaries etc., cause by the time you take it out set it up add solution and then disassemble and take apart its not worth all that for one item.

however if you must its very easy to put together. 20 $ amazon pump. and 5 $ lowes bucket. you will need a 1/2 inch threaded ss or pvc tube to attach to the pump . any oven rack over the top of the bucket will hold your vessel and allow for the pump tube to spray into the keg etc.


the brand name one does have the duotight qd connects to flush keg poppets and diptubes but that too never really got used. the brand name also has the nifty metal keg holder that sits in the bucket but the oven rack works almost as well.

i know cause i would set up two. the brand name and my own then run the kegs throught the blaster then throught my own with freshwater rinse.

if you put a spigot tap on the bottom of the bucket you can replace the rinse water in the top as it is draining from the bottom to ensure good rinsing vbut at that point its using a lot of water.

my 2 cents

I disagree with most of this.
It is very quick and easy to set up, so is worth it for one keg or fermenter.
It cleans perfectly well without the need for additional soaking.
Being able to clean the keg ball locks in situ saved time by not having to dismantle them.

 

[aamcle]

Thanks All.

After talking to some people last night I don't think I'll get one.
I would only do 1 keg at a time and could use a simple and small beer line cleaner pump/device to back flush the posts.

Atb.

 

[AnimatedGIF]

I have a bucket blaster and mine also sits in the corner unused now - I honestly find soaking does a better job.

 

[MashBag]

TFR & a loo brush. Will beat them all hands down.

 

[JockyBrewer]

I also have one. If I had a lot of kegs to clean it would be great, but I’m not convinced for one or two.

 

[YeastFace]

I like it. Fill with hot water and cleaner, turn on and leave for 15 mins to half hour. Dump and replace with water, then sanitise.

Ideally would use non-foaming sanitiser, but if you half fill with Starsan you can sanitise before the foam takes over.

Use for my fermenter too.

I don't really like the disconnects, but perhaps I need to trim the line.

An in-line switch would be useful (have only turned on at the plug once without a keg in place and hopefully won't repeat).

I don't have an external drain so this is a tidy solution for me.

 

[MashBag]

It's just a pity they take so long to do a very very very very very very very very average job.

 

[JockyBrewer]

I’m using it today. I guess if you can get it set up and don’t have to break it down and set it up each time then it works ok. On the up side it makes cleaning the dip tube simpler.

Also worth noting that if you want to use it with your usual oxi/percarbonate/PBW cleaner that foams then a drop of silicone based anti foam (e.g. Brupaks) stops it foaming like crazy.

 

[Davegase]

I used the keg king version.
The Fermenter king corny keg washer and fermenter cleaning kit. I am happy with it, but originally I only bought it because the keg king chubby opening was too small to get my arm in.
I use it for all my corny keg and Apollo and Fermzilla fermenters.

​

 

[stripeyjoe]

I use mine mainly to clean my Apollo stainless FV, stick 5l of solution into it, stick the disconnects on and leave it to do its thing whilst I tidy away everything else. I chuck anything else that needs a clean into the bucket as well for a soaking.
I’ll then use it to clean out any kegs, I tend to give those a rinse out when empty and save them until I’m cleaning the FV.