Beer Forum

My father managed to ...uh....procure 7 semi-empty 1/2 barrel kegs for me and I want to make my own HLT and kettle. I have acess to a plasma cutter, ss cutting tools, and welding equipment. I just need to know what I need for plumbing. I have an idea about what each item looks like, just don't know what I NEED. Any proven plans out there, ideas or suggestions on how I should attack this? Also, if anyone in the Rhode Island area need access to tools or (plasma cutters seem hard to come by) equipment, let me know, My old man has a full garage and loves to build stuff.

From the Brewer's code on page 2: viewtopic.php?f=10&t=930&start=15

HalifaxNick wrote:Thou Shalt not steal cooperage for thine own advancement.

"Procuring" a keg (or kegs) is not very cool for the brewery that owns them, especially in these times.

You can go to the brewery (breweries) and ask them if they have any dented/damaged kegs that they think would be suitable for you and that they would be willing to sell to you. They will be happy to oblige, because most of them are/were homebrewers too. Think about it. A keg in good condition costs them an arm and a leg and makes it harder on all of us. Being cheap isn't an excuse for a brewing brother to resort to stealing from another brewing brother. You can do it on the cheap and stay legit at the same time.

If it makes you feel better, they have been sitting on the dock of the Block Island ferry for a while, I guess my dad asked the harbor master about them and he said that because they are unmarked kegs no one would claim them (my father delivers beer), so there they sat.....Unmarked, Unclaimed....I believe they are now going to serve a higher purpose..

What sort of set up are you thinking about? Gravity fed 3-tier, single tier with pumps, combination? Morebeer and Northern Brewer (among many others) sell pre-configured ball valve set ups.