PITA Budget Barrels

[shearclass]

Hi

Had numerous problems with my budget barrels, some mt fault some due to the barrel being shoddy.

I had a leak at the bit where the tap screws into barrel. Advice was to remove tap (after chuffing on to remove beer from barrel) turn washer around, and screw tap in as far as it would go.

This didnt work 100%, so have removed tap, added a metal washer which keeps the rubber washer in place and tried to screw tap back in. Now however, the thread appears to be damaged and I cant screw the tap in tightly. If I try, the thread slips, and it becomes loose.

Before I do anything stupid, can someone advise what I should do? Is there any reason why I cant glue this in place and tighten it as much as I can without the thread slipping? Or is there a better solution than glue?

Cheers

 

[Smokey.]

I've not used my budget barrels since getting cornies but, I used to put PTFE tape on the thread to stop them leaking where the rubber seal is before filling it up with beer. You could also try releasing some of the pressure in the barrel when it starts to lift. My barrels used to come up off the 3 feet things and the middle part of the bottom would be pushed down if you know what I mean? I don't see any problem with gluing the tap in place as long as what ever you use is food grade safe. Only plastic keg I've never had a problem with is my King Keg.

 

[Mike1981]

When i used them I was advised to put vaseline around the seals to stop the leaks and it works 100%. All i done was remove the tap, generously smear vaseline on the seal and refit.

 

[Smokey.]

I used vaseline on mine but all it seemed to do was make it easier for the rubber seal to pushed out outwards when tightening?

 

[Mike1981]

I used vaseline on mine but all it seemed to do was make it easier for the rubber seal to pushed out outwards when tightening?

Was that the cap sal or the tap seal? My cap seal done that but i found not tightenening it hard stopped it. Had no issues with the tap seal :hmm:

 

[Smokey.]

I used Vas on the seal on the cap lid which I had no problems with but, the rubber seal on the tap always caused me problems on both my Wilko's brought budget kegs. I tried Vas but as said it just made it easier for the rubber seal to be pushed outwards which is why, after some researching, I started using PTFE on the thread instead of Vas on the seal and released a bit of pressure every now and again which worked for me. All this messing about is what helped me decide to get cornies.

 

[hairybiker]

You may have found that the tap doesn't have enough thread to allow an extra washer on it, some of mine (red caps for boilers) have SHORT threads 1/2" my barrel ones have long threads 1".
it maybe a cost cutting issue with the manufacturer. I would get a tap with a long thread on it.

 

[shearclass]

It appears the be the thread on the barrel that is worn, not the thread on the tap.

Same issues occurs with or without vaseline, and with or without the extra washer.

I dont think vaseine stops eaks, it just allows you to screw the tap or lid on tighter.


Think my onlu solution is to afix the tap in the barrel, but wonder if there is something better than superglue to do this?

Am I going to poisen myself with glue in the barrel?

 

[anthonyUK]

Superglue is not that effective on certain plastics and I would probably look toward some type of silicone sealant myself.

 

[hairybiker]

Ahh the tap SCREWS into the barrel not pushes through and is sealed with a nut?
I have found epoxy resin works on most plastic (araldite etc)

 

[shearclass]

Ahh the tap SCREWS into the barrel not pushes through and is sealed with a nut?
I have found epoxy resin works on most plastic (araldite etc)

Yes! Apologies, I am a DIY idiot, I should have explained better.

Can i just get araldite for any general hardware store?

Superglue is not that effective on certain plastics and I would probably look toward some type of silicone sealant myself.

You mean like what is used to seal bathtubs etc?

 

[Runwell-Steve]

For a Silicon sealant you should use FERNOX LS-X

However you said the thread had gone so will the tap not screw in now and stay in, if thats the case then I don't think some silicon will hold it. Silicon will prevent leaks but not hold the tap in the barrel.

Is it the thread on the tap or on the barrel thats gone, you can buy replacement taps.

 

[shearclass]

To me DIY idiot eyes, i think its the thread on the barrel.

I have bought some araldite, so I'll try and glue it tonight. It can get reasonably tight before it slips.

I have also bought some thread tape as it was only 50p, so i might use some of that as well, but don't know if that will be at all useful.

 

[soupdragon]

If it's the thread on the barrel you could fit a drum tap......

I wouldn't suggest it if the thread is still sound but if it's gone I believe the drum taps will screw in to a budget barrel. They're a tight fit as the thread is different but you don't need the nut on the back, you wouldn't be able to fit it anyway with the 2" top. Works well I'm told :
Sorry if the info is a bit late to be of use though.........

Cheers Tom

 

[shearclass]

I don't know what a drum tap is?

I put on a little thread tape added araldite, and screwed the tap in as far as i could. I added the beer, sugar and a little CO2 yesterday, so i should start to see over the enxt week if this has worked.

annoyingly, the tap on my other budget barrel is now leaking. This is dripping from the tap itself rather than the thread. The tap is not pushed all the way back, as i know this makes it drip. I really am losing the will with these things, they are so shoddy they should not be sold. They really are not fit for purpose.

Aer all plastic pressure barrels like this, or just the cheapo budget ones?

 

[hairybiker]

I would say the budget ones. Never owned one myself - when I bought mine there wasn't such a thing.
I use HB Beerspheer's. Have got <gulp> 5 of them :thumb:
Most I have had for over 10 years. I have I Boots Metal one that I have had since the 80's :thumb: (don't make them like that any more unfortunately) I started on Boots kits with that when I was a lad :grin: I loved the 30 pint "Special" they had then.

But if it is only the taps then look at getting a proper W&D tap to fit (something like this http://www.hopandgrape.com/public/detailv1.asp?itemcode=KEG2002612 & NOT this onehttp://www.hopandgrape.com/public/detailv1.asp?itemcode=ONO20012330 which is what I assume you have?)

I use the cheap one on my hlt only because it was spare and only used for about 2 hours :shock:

 

[Mike1981]

This is dripping from the tap itself rather than the thread. The tap is not pushed all the way back, as i know this makes it drip. I really am losing the will with these things, they are so shoddy they should not be sold.

My 2 are like this, leak from the tap, not much but over a week or so it leaves a small puddle. Thats why i went down the corny route, bit expensive to start with but worth it in the long run. I only use my budget barrels to store beer in until a cornie is empty, which isn't usuall long ! :

 

[shearclass]

But if it is only the taps then look at getting a proper W&D tap to fit (something like this http://www.hopandgrape.com/public/detai ... KEG2002612 & NOT this onehttp://www.hopandgrape.com/public/de ... NO20012330 which is what I assume you have?)

The first link doesn't bring anything up... what is it you are referring to? Yes, you are correct with the 2nd link, that is what came with the barrel.

Funnily enough, i work 5 mins from the hop and grape shop, so it's very handy for me to pick stuff up from there, even though i think it's expensive for yeast and hops. Kits are comparable with online stores tough, and there is no postage if i jsut pick them up, plus always happy to help with nay questions i've had in the past.

My 2 are like this, leak from the tap, not much but over a week or so it leaves a small puddle. Thats why i went down the corny route, bit expensive to start with but worth it in the long run. I only use my budget barrels to store beer in until a cornie is empty, which isn't usuall long !

i am not bying cornies yet, i only started brewing in january and have bought all sorts off stuff. i now have everything I need to brew, just need to sort out these damn kegs. Perhaps i'll ask my parents to get me a cornie for christmas... :hmm:

 

[evanvine]

i am not bying cornies yet, i only started brewing in january and have bought all sorts off stuff. i now have everything I need to brew, just need to sort out these damn kegs. Perhaps i'll ask my parents to get me a cornie for christmas... :hmm:

I think the term "Budget" speaks for its self!
Draw back with cornies is that they only hold 19 litres (5 US gallons).
King Keg, Rotokeg and Beersphere are all good.

 

[BigYin]

I used vaseline on mine but all it seemed to do was make it easier for the rubber seal to pushed out outwards when tightening?

if the seal is deforming, you are screwing it in too tight. Only captive seals will not deform under pressure - because they are 'trapped' by the surrounding metal.

Unfortunately if you've been over tightening things, the plastic threads will suffer, in which case I'd recommend witting a tap with it's own collar, so you aren't relying on the kegs threads.

Plenty of vaseline (I use a silicon grease as long term it won't rot the rubber seal - an old scuba divers trick) will create a good seal, without needing to screw the whole thing up so tight it breaks :thumb:

PTFE tape is very, very cheap, and is the best way to get screw threads sealed

Best of luck!!