Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:30 pm

I recently completed a chest freezer kegerator conversion and I wanted to show it off because I'm pretty proud of the way it turned out.

It holds 6 cornies and my 20# CO2 bottle. I'm looking into a stout faucet and nito mix bottle for next fall. Right now I have an APA and a Kolsch on Tap.

I've used my cornies with picnic taps on and off for years. I recently moved to a house where I would be able to have a bar set up so I went right to work on it.

I bought my wife a new deep freeze and used our old one for this. It took 2 months to complete because I only had 5 or 6 hours a week to devote to it but now all that is behind me.

Image

Image

More pictures available in my photobucket account along with some brief explanation of how it works to keep the freezer cool and to chill the taps and shanks.

I got the idea from something similar on another forum a few months ago. As soon as I saw it I had to do that! I had help from a friend with a lot of woodworking skills...
Well that keg disappeared fast!

On Tap at the Firkin Pub: Hazelnut Brown Ale, Firkin Stout, Gatorale, Ginger and Green Tea Metheglin, Firkin Pils, Firkin Bitter
In the Firkin Fermenters: Cassis Mead, Dunkelweizen
Up Next: Planning for next season.
manwithbeers
 
Posts: 93
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:13 pm
Location: Campbell River, BC, Canada

Re: Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 7:18 am

That is absolutely gorgeous. Great job.
http://www.sceneembargo.com/Media/Music ... dy_Blades/
Greatest Band Ever! Download MP3s at site above.
User avatar
passlaku
 
Posts: 144
Joined: Sun Aug 05, 2007 5:57 pm
Location: Alabama

Re: Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 10:28 am

Really nice work. I like the air ducting on the base to remove the heat from the skin. Did you reverse the fan, to suck all the heat down and away, or is it just sucking from the ground and blowing up through the cabinet? Is that fan on the same circuit as the compressor?

Did you have to reinforce, replace, or just retention the hinge for the additional weight of the top?


Mylo
"Life is too short to bottle homebrew." - Me

"HEINEKEN? Fuck that shit! Pabst Blue Ribbon!!!" - Dennis Hopper, in Blue Velvet
User avatar
Mylo
Global Moderator
 
Posts: 4722
Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 10:50 pm
Location: Scottsdale, AZ

Re: Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 1:50 pm

Mylo wrote:Really nice work. I like the air ducting on the base to remove the heat from the skin. Did you reverse the fan, to suck all the heat down and away, or is it just sucking from the ground and blowing up through the cabinet? Is that fan on the same circuit as the compressor?

Did you have to reinforce, replace, or just retention the hinge for the additional weight of the top?


Mylo


The fan blows from the floor up and it is on the same circuit. Total draw on the circuit is at compressor start-up and it is just under 8 amps. This includes the circulation fan in the Irish coffin as well. The compressor only draws 6 amps the fan is 1.6 amps (50 CFM), and the 12V computer fan 100ma. The LED lights only draw 300ma.

The hinge attachment to the chest is really good. No reinforcement needed. The door is attached to the hinges with 8 screws. I didn't reinforce it any as when the lid is lifted the weight is transferred to the hinge on the chest not the screws. I did however add posts to the front corners for the weight to sit on so it does not crush the seal.

I am looking at attaching a chain to hold the lid near the balance point when it is open. This would keep it from opening all the way because the weight is on the axis of the hinge if it sits that way and is probably enough to tear the thin metal covering that the hinges are attached too. Should be simple to do.
Well that keg disappeared fast!

On Tap at the Firkin Pub: Hazelnut Brown Ale, Firkin Stout, Gatorale, Ginger and Green Tea Metheglin, Firkin Pils, Firkin Bitter
In the Firkin Fermenters: Cassis Mead, Dunkelweizen
Up Next: Planning for next season.
manwithbeers
 
Posts: 93
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:13 pm
Location: Campbell River, BC, Canada

Re: Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Sun Mar 21, 2010 8:24 pm

I hope you never find pictures of my geto-rator. :shock:

Truly great stuff. Loving it. :jnj
ApresSkiBrewer
-
Siebel Fall '09 - BREW CREW.
User avatar
ApresSkiBrewer
 
Posts: 1108
Joined: Sat Jun 23, 2007 7:38 pm
Location: VT'er now in the Bay Area!

Re: Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Thu Mar 25, 2010 5:33 am

Sweet setup! Where does the drip tray tube go? Also, how did you cut the lid for the tubing?
Private First Class - Philly Division

Drinking:
Tasty APA
DFH 60 Min
CYBI Dad's Little Helper
Black Velveteen - Oatmeal Stout
Fermenting:
Barleywine
Lagering:
Notta
Next up:
brews for NHC
In the Funkhouse:
empty
atomicpunk
 
Posts: 249
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2009 5:20 pm
Location: Plymouth Meeting, PA

Re: Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:59 am

atomicpunk wrote:Sweet setup! Where does the drip tray tube go? Also, how did you cut the lid for the tubing?


The hole for the Drip tray nipple was drilled with a hole saw. The tubing runs to a 2L pop bottle sitting on the floor of the freezer. The Square holes for the air/beerline duct were cut using a rotary tool with cut-off disks for both the outside metal and the plastic liner inside. I used Duct tape to seal the insulation space in the lid. The plastic sheet reinforcing the inside liner was drilled and I used a jigsaw to cut those squares. The holes through the lid for the anchor bolts were drilled as well.

Click the pictures to see more photos in my photobucket account to see more details.
Well that keg disappeared fast!

On Tap at the Firkin Pub: Hazelnut Brown Ale, Firkin Stout, Gatorale, Ginger and Green Tea Metheglin, Firkin Pils, Firkin Bitter
In the Firkin Fermenters: Cassis Mead, Dunkelweizen
Up Next: Planning for next season.
manwithbeers
 
Posts: 93
Joined: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:13 pm
Location: Campbell River, BC, Canada

Re: Another freezer converted to chill draft.

Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:22 am

That's really nice work. Excellent job!
On Tap: NB Peace Coffee Stout Porter, Bug's Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Amber
Conditioning: Cherry Vanilla Bourbon Porter
Fermenting: Squirrel Witbier
On Deck: Hefeweizen
Sergeant: BNArmy Washington DC Paper Pusher Division
squirrelpirate
 
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:29 pm
Location: Rockville, MD

Next

Return to Kegging, Bottling and Dispensing

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users

A BIT ABOUT US

The Brewing Network is a multimedia resource for brewers and beer lovers. Since 2005, we have been the leader in craft beer entertainment and information with live beer radio, podcasts, video, events and more.