What's your view on Plastic Pressure Barrels (PBs)?

[CD]

I have four 3-and-a-bit gallon PBs which must be 25 years old now, and just go on and on. Sadly the shop I bought them from told me they are no longer available. The cheapo 5 gallon variety, marketed by Youngs, have declined in quality over the years, and I suspect their country of origin has changed. No marks for guessing to where.

I always use Vaseline (as recommended by the supplier), and have never had any trouble with the small injection rubbers coming off. A good source for these is the silicon fuel tubing used on glow-plug model aircraft engines by the way.

I was far too set in my ways when corny kegs appeared on the scene, and viewed them as just an expensive way of not knowing how much beer you had left, and an open invitation to over-carbonate beer in the same way the big brewers did in the sixties, and which led to the formation of CAMRA. I have no doubt a lot of people will tell me how wrong I am!

 

[Timberwolf]

 

[Timberwolf]

Got a pic?

put a picture on (somewhere)!!!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

View attachment 29179

That looks more like one of the baddies on Dr Who than the baddies on Dr Who!

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

I have four 3-and-a-bit gallon PBs which must be 25 years old now, and just go on and on. Sadly the shop I bought them from told me they are no longer available. The cheapo 5 gallon variety, marketed by Youngs, have declined in quality over the years, and I suspect their country of origin has changed. No marks for guessing to where.

I always use Vaseline (as recommended by the supplier), and have never had any trouble with the small injection rubbers coming off. A good source for these is the silicon fuel tubing used on glow-plug model aircraft engines by the way.

I was far too set in my ways when corny kegs appeared on the scene, and viewed them as just an expensive way of not knowing how much beer you had left, and an open invitation to over-carbonate beer in the same way the big brewers did in the sixties, and which led to the formation of CAMRA. I have no doubt a lot of people will tell me how wrong I am!

Well I don’t think you’re wrong CD. As someone who almost always over-carbonates bottled beer, my kegs are my best friend and produce beautiful beer for me - every pint a beautiful head (just occasionally, a little too beautiful!).

 

[Clint]

Sealing the lid seems to be the on going theme..are the square section seals that much better? I seen some on eBay..£6 odd each! Although a Google brings up a 4" automotive square section round gasket for £2...
I'm tempted to buy a KK and see how it goes...if I can find anyone who's got one!
Does anyone use the "lid spanner" device to tighten the cap down?
Also..has anyone tried doubling up the seals and using less torque on the cap?

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

Sealing the lid seems to be the on going theme..are the square section seals that much better? I seen some on eBay..£6 odd each! Although a Google brings up a 4" automotive square section round gasket for £2...
I'm tempted to buy a KK and see how it goes...if I can find anyone who's got one!
Does anyone use the "lid spanner" device to tighten the cap down?
Also..has anyone tried doubling up the seals and using less torque on the cap?

I use the round-section seal as supplied. I do use a cap spanner (trust me you HAVE to) and when I tighten that cap I grip the barrel between my thighs like I’m wrestling a crocodile!

 

[kelper]

I only need the spanner to undo it sometimes. Buy two spanners and tape together as they are ridiculously thin
If you grease the threads and seal you will NOT need the spanner to tighten it.

 

[Hazelwood Brewery]

I only need the spanner to undo it sometimes. Buy two spanners and tape together as they are ridiculously thin
If you grease the threads and seal you will NOT need the spanner to tighten it.

Whatever works for you, I’m still gonna choke that sucker!

 

[AnimatedGIF]

I have three king kegs. On all three I have changed the taps to ball valves, copper pipe and tank connectors;, They look good and simply don't leak.

My cornies work out-of-the-box!!! Admittedly one has to have the associated CO2 set up etc, but no mods necessary!

 

[rolando]

Looks good

 

[rolando]

View attachment 29179

This is awesome, is it as simple as buying something like this? I guess you'll probably need a couple of washers etc, could you do a quick guide?

 

[Buffers brewery]

View attachment 29179

FYI the purists would advise against using copper and copper alloys in contact with fermenting/fermented beverages, pre-fermentation is OK apparently. Nice idea though in stainless.

 

[Old Geezer]

Sealing the lid seems to be the on going theme..are the square section seals that much better? I seen some on eBay..£6 odd each! Although a Google brings up a 4" automotive square section round gasket for £2...
I'm tempted to buy a KK and see how it goes...if I can find anyone who's got one!
Does anyone use the "lid spanner" device to tighten the cap down?
Also..has anyone tried doubling up the seals and using less torque on the cap?

Square section seals for king Keg £2.75 on Ballihoo

 

[rolando]

Sealing the lid seems to be the on going theme..are the square section seals that much better? I seen some on eBay..£6 odd each! Although a Google brings up a 4" automotive square section round gasket for £2...
I'm tempted to buy a KK and see how it goes...if I can find anyone who's got one!
Does anyone use the "lid spanner" device to tighten the cap down?
Also..has anyone tried doubling up the seals and using less torque on the cap?

I've only just got mine, but I got a square seal, and I'm going to use the spanner as well, along with ptfe tape

 

[Old Geezer]

The leak I had on mine (King Keg) was where the tap fits the barrel when I tried to tighten the nut it kept jumping the thread so, in the end, I got a Brewgas deluxe sparkler tap to replace it.

Far better tap than the original.

 

[rolando]

The leak I had on mine (King Keg) was where the tap fits the barrel when I tried to tighten the nut it kept jumping the thread so, in the end, I got a Brewgas deluxe sparkler tap to replace it.

Far better tap than the original.

Would these work with the flotation deice on the top tap kegs ?

 

[kelper]

Would these work with the flotation deice on the top tap kegs ?

Probably. They are 3/4" BSP threads normally so the ID should be standard. If it's a sloppy fit use thread tape over the o-ring or buy slightly thicker o-rings 0 2.5mm instead of 2mm - this adds 1mm to its diameter.

 

[Sandozer]

Sealing the lid seems to be the on going theme..are the square section seals that much better? I seen some on eBay..£6 odd each! Although a Google brings up a 4" automotive square section round gasket for £2...
I'm tempted to buy a KK and see how it goes...if I can find anyone who's got one!
Does anyone use the "lid spanner" device to tighten the cap down?
Also..has anyone tried doubling up the seals and using less torque on the cap?

I had severe problems undoing the lid, had to drift it with a hammer initially, definitely not good. Mentioned to my engineering buddy who happens to have a CNC machine about the problem. He produced this, a tad over kill, the material being 17mm thick but it works like a dream.
To get it off, how do you grip a slippery barrel. Solution a wire coat hanger bent with two clips. I put the barrel in the kitchen sink, circular clip on the sink tap base, other end clips to one of the KK handles. Simple, no more wrestling.

 

[Buffers brewery]

Would these work with the flotation deice on the top tap kegs ?

Yes. I have 2 top tap KKs fitted with these taps.