Clean beer kegs for storage

[danno]

I've never used kegs to bulk store syrup, but I know some guys do and I've found a resource that can provide me with kegs.

How can I tell whether the keg is stainless or aluminum, I don't expect a magnet would stick to either. Can syrup be stored in an aluminum keg? If I go this route, I plan to punch or cut out the exisiting tap and weld on a male thread for a cap, so they will be air tight.

For those storing in kegs, what is your experience - good, bad?

[tuckermtn]

Danno- how many can your supplier get a hold of? I would buy 3 or 4 more in a heartbeat.

I took the guts out of the tap neck, cut it off, and welded a 2" female neck on the keg. work great. especially like them for when I open a larger barrel and don't jug up everything at once.

you around after christmas this year? I'll be visiting the in-laws in Solvay between xmas and new years...

[danno]

Eric - check your pm's.

[Amber Gold]

I bought 12 of the older style last year and they worked great just with an expansion plug. This summer, I bought another 8 more (some 1/4 and some 1/2 barrels) that are the new Sanke style. I'm undecided if I'll continue to use the expansion plugs on these (best price I've found is ~$15 each, not including shipping) or cut off the neck and have a 2" coupling installed. There's one which has a threaded neck, which I can't get the guts out because there's some kind of catch I can't find to release it.

Eric, how did cut the neck off?

I'd also buy more in a heartbeat. For me, they're a conveniant size to store syrup in. It bottles enough so I don't have syrup sitting on the shelves for too long. They're also easier to move around than a 30 gal drum.

[tuckermtn]

Josh- i confess it was the local guy who does my welding who cut them off...not sure if it was torch or cut off tool...

I ordered 2" stainless couplers from McMAster-Carr- more expensive, but very stout..

-Eric

[Dennis H.]

I think the easiest way would be to just pick them up.
SS would be way heavier than aluminum.

[Dennis H.]

Ambergold I have been searching for kegs and found a youtube video in how to remove the ballvalve.
Not sure if it is the same as you are talking about but you might want to check it out.

The guy show how to remove the spiral spring retainer then how to turn the ballvalve to align the slots and pull the whole thing right out.

[Dennis H.]

Oh by the way where have you all found is a good place to buy used sanke kegs?
I am interested in the 1/4 kegs.

[500592]

I've got a 13 gallon aluminum keg would this be ok to store syrup in?

[adk1]

A friend of mine made a SUV gas tank out of a full keg. that was interesting

[Z/MAN]

Oh by the way where have you all found is a good place to buy used sanke kegs?
I am interested in the 1/4 kegs.

When dropping off scrap at the local scrap yards I always see tons of old beer kegs on the stainless pile. You can buy them for the price of the stainless.

[jasonl6]

When dropping off scrap at the local scrap yards I always see tons of old beer kegs on the stainless pile. You can buy them for the price of the stainless.

I have a local high end recycle center near me that saves them for me he sells them at %10 above scrap price. This is the best way to pick them up. A few i picked up have had slots cut in the bottom by the brewery so they can't be reused. These were not a problem for my welder and his tig machine to repair.

Jason

[Amber Gold]

Eric, Do you have a p/n for the couplers?

Dennis, All the other kegs are the standard snap ring, twist to line up tabs, then pull out. This one though the assembly is actually threaded into the keg and there's some sort of catch on the outside which I can't get to release. I've tried twisting, turning, pulling, etc. but to not avail. Sanke's are hard to come by, but are preferred. The older style are much more common.

[500592]

The one I have had ring inside that I had rip out and it was a pain then I came right out.

[Amber Gold]

How did you rip it out? I've tried prying on it with a hammer, but supposed I could pry harder w/ a crowbar or something.

[500592]

I used a hammer and a screw driver to get end out to where the tabs come up from then pried it a little and used needle nose pliers to pull it out a little then put the screw driver in gap you just created and hold on tight and just yank it may take you a couple of times but you will get it eventually

[Z/MAN]

How did you rip it out? I've tried prying on it with a hammer, but supposed I could pry harder w/ a crowbar or something.

Youtube has plenty of videos showing how to remove the inner tube. Just search sanke keg.

[tuckermtn]

Josh- I got them from Mcmaster-Carr- I think these were them 446K478 or it could have been the 4464K359 Then I just use the trisure bungs you can get most anywhere.

[markct]

i use kegs for syrup storage, i had in the past been using stainless half pipe couplings and tig welding them in after cutting out the original neck, worked well except that sometimes a barrel plug that was on the high end of dia tolerance and a coupling on the low end would not want to thread in far enough to get a good seal since the pipe coupling are tapered thread not straight thread like a barrel bung is. i found that for about the same price you can get stainless lock nuts which are straight thread and work perfectly so far, they are item 4464K589 from mcmaster carr and are around 13 bucks a piece so very reasonable.

[steam maker]

i also use beer kegs, what we did was pull out guts wash with hot water washer real good, took a zip wheel on a angle grinder and cut off the neck. then i went to the dairy supply guy and got 2 inch long neck ferrels welder welded them on then i use a cap , gasket and a milk line clamp . work perfect . remember if u use a normal threaded plug most people use thread tape , so when u loosen it up the thread vtape can break off and fall in syrup

[markct]

i dont use a pipe plug, as those require sealer, i use a barrel bung plug that has a gasket just like a regular barrel would have

[tuckermtn]

Mark- thanks for the suggestion- will give it a try. Coming home from Syracuse with 19 kegs in a small uhaul trailer. About ten of them still had beer in them as they came out of a Hooters which closed and was liquidated...

[adk1]

well, a guy I know converted a keg into a gastank for his car....

[Amber Gold]

Bascom's lists the bung in the link below. What's the difference between this one and one needed for a stainless drum? I looked in their catalogue and couldn't find anything else.

https://www.bascommaple.com/item/dbun2/

Steammaker, I'm unfamiliar with dairy fittings. Do you have links to parts and costs so I can see what's involved? Thanks.

Josh

[steam maker]

amber gold, when i get home from camp up here in pittsburg ill look through my stuff to try and find some info to share. and maybe a few pics... just so happened last year we worked at a yogurt factory in brattleboro. so they seemed to have some extra stuff for me ..