Tue Dec 19, 2006 6:07 pm
One of the few things I remember that day is Doc's Keg Cleaning/Power Washer, Binford Model 210. I will build one as soon as I get back because cleaning kegs suck almost as bad as cleaning bottles - maybe not now that I think about it.
Basically it is an immersible water pump (those that you might use for pumping out a flooded basement). To the outlet, he has water hose fitting to a quick disconnect. The Washing Stem is made out of copper pipe (it looked like 3/8" copper tubing) with a cap. The cap he used was from a water hammer arrester that had an oval top. A flat cap on top will not allow you to direct the spray in different directions. The other end is the quick disconnect to attach to the pump. Keep the the tubing you use as short as possible so it stands as vertical as possible from the pump (pictures would be helpful here). Drill several holes in the top of the cap to direct sprays in different areas, about halfway down from the top, drill a few holes along the post (this is for cleaning the krausen ring in a carboy). The whole post is about 20" in length from the pump to the end (give or a take). Teed off the bottom of the post is another quick disconnect - this one will feed a hose assembly that goes to both input and output fittings on the keg. This assembly is basically two keg fittings on seperate sides of a tee, the third side goes to the QD. Doc put a small piece of plastic tubing in front of one of the keg fittings (in the hose) to reduce water flow in one direction so output of both tubes was close to equal. This will clean both tubes in the keg.
Doc has the whole assembly in a square plastic bucket half full of PBW solution (it will foam some). He uses a square tub because a carboy will seal itself in a plastic bucket. If you do not have access to a crap load of buckets to replace the one you just had to cut off of the carboy then I would stick with the square ones (keep it fairly small - just big enough to hold an inverted carboy). Place the keg over the washer, hook up the QD to the dip tube assembly (already attached to the Keg) and turn it on. The pump will heat up the solution to a nice temp for cleaning, so you may want to keep the first keg on longer than the others as the pump warms up. Come back in 15 minutes and wash everything out with warm water. It is nice if you have another quick disconnect for your sink faucet to hook up to the assembly on the keg ball valves (or pin-locks of course) so you can wash those out as well. Sanitize and use, or put it all together and add a little pressure and store.
I think I have it about right, someone can correct me anywhere I have it incorrect - but it is pretty close. One other thing - dump out any remaining crap in the keg before inverting it on the PBW solution, this will help keep your solution clean for multiple uses.
Cheers!
Brian
Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. - Benjamin Franklin (or not?)
