This CO2 utility line lets you easily swap out homebrewing devices that need CO2. You can use it for:
- Making a CO2 blow gun to purge fermenters and bottling buckets.
- Hooking up a dedicated gas line to “crank and shake” your kegs.
- Connecting a Blichmann Beer Gun and include a splitter.
Kent Quick Disconnects go great on a utility line because they make it easy to swap devices in and out. I picked up mine from MoreBeer.
You will need one female quick disconnect that stays attached to the regulator and one male quick disconnect for every device you want to hook up. I use 3/8″ QD's and they fit great on my 5/16″ gas line.
If you want to make a Blichmann Beer Gun assembly like mine, you will also need a Tee.
If you use a single CO2 tank and it's connected to your kegs, you can add a quick disconnect to it so you can easily remove the tank to use it for other things. Alternatively, you can get a second CO2 tank and make that your dedicated utility line. I waited too long to do this. It's well worth it and I don't need to disturb my CO2 tank that is sitting at just the right serving pressure.
It's just one more thing to make your homebrewing easier. Enjoy.
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Chris says
January 16, 2013 at 9:37 amDo you think you could use those to build a flexible manifold? For the price it seems like that might be a better deal than an off the shelf or even building one from brass parts.
Billy B. says
January 16, 2013 at 9:48 amSo just using tees, QD’s, and gas line? That should work. It might be a little tricky to mount it (if you wanted to) but I’m sure you could figure that out.
Sheppy says
January 16, 2013 at 12:49 pmBrilliant. Wish I would have come across this when I started kegging. Just the ease of disconnecting the CO2 tank when it is time to re-fill it would make these worth it…. and don’t get me started on what a pain it currently is for me to hook up the beer gun.
Very cool Thanks for posting, Billy.
Billy B. says
January 16, 2013 at 4:58 pmThanks Sheppy. lol I had major trouble with the beer gun before this. Let’s just say I would wind up with pools of beer in the bottom of my keezer.
Luke says
August 5, 2013 at 5:03 pmAny particular reason that you prefer the Kent system to the Luer system? I’ve used neither, but will probably go in this direction. I wish there was a more affordable solution that has check valves.
Also, why did you choose to make the disconnect near the CO2 tank rather than having it at the end of the CO2 line? It seems that you could just have a bunch of short fittings to attach to the end of the CO2 line, rather than having several lengthy single purpose connection lines.
Billy B. says
August 6, 2013 at 11:50 amHey Luke, I read an article somewhere comparing the two types of locks and it said the Kent locks were more secure. As for the where you put the disconnect, it’s really a matter of personal preference. I have two CO2 tanks and switch out regulators a lot so I like having the short end attached to the regulator. You could do it either way.
Scott says
January 26, 2015 at 8:35 pmNice! I’m not yet kegging, but I love the idea of a CO2 blow gun! But since I don’t need a big tank and regulator, I wonder if there’s something out there to use a CO2 cartridge to make one. Hmm… Maybe I will have to rig something up, lol
Jason says
March 4, 2015 at 9:29 amThat’s awesome man! Thanks! I’ve got the beer gun and an extra tank! This is gonna help immensely! YOU ROCK! :))
Jason
Eric says
May 29, 2015 at 11:19 amAfter using the Kent valves for a couple years now, any comments on the quality of them? Morebeer seems to be pushing these quick disconnects these days, but they’re about twice the price:
https://www.morebeer.com/products/beer-gas-tubing-quick-disconnect-14-barb-male.html
They still have the Kents, but wondering if it might be worth it to spend the extra money, especially since they’re pretty well reviewed.
George says
July 2, 2015 at 5:50 amwhere did you get the red tubing?
Sean says
December 15, 2016 at 10:26 amAny reason why you wouldn’t split at the regulator using a wye adapter and then make one side a utility line while running the other to your keg? That should eliminate the need for the beergun assembly and while you’re using your utility lines your keg is still pressurized. Or am I missing something?
Also, how are those kent QDs holding up 3 years later?
Billy B. says
December 15, 2016 at 10:52 amYou could definitely do that. I probably wasn’t clear enough on this, but I have a second CO2 tank. It’s sorta my “utility tank.” So I leave my primary CO2 tank undisturbed in my kegerator. And this second tank I can bring all over the house. E.g. to my basement so I can purge fermenters before transferring beer into them. The Kents hold up great! They really don’t take much abuse though.
Brook Petrie says
December 19, 2017 at 4:50 pmHi, where did you get the filter? And what is the best micron size to use? Cheers!