|
Another Keezer build - Sunbeam 7.2, 4 faucet tower
So, I just thought I'd go ahead and start a thread with pictures of my build since I received a lot of inspiration from the builds I have seen on the forum.
I'll just post updates as the project progresses. Everything has been ordered so it's just a matter of waiting for the shanks and rest of the supplies to arrive. The freezer is a sunbeam 7.2 cu ft. chest freezer. I'm going for 4 taps with CO2 inside on the hump (it all fits with no collar). I am leaving the draft box big enough so that I can add a 5th and 6th tap if I ever desire (it would require building a collar). So for some pics of the progress so far: The draft box: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z..._3528353_n.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z..._4414096_n.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z..._4694788_n.jpg The tower dry fitted: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z..._1343911_n.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z..._2056943_n.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z..._7265077_n.jpg That's the progress so far. I just need to do some sanding and get it all stained. Then in a few days the shanks and everything else should be arriving to get it finished up. More pics to come...... |
Just curious - which method are you using to cool the beer lines?
B |
Well my plan was just to insulate the draft box and column. I'll add a small fan if foaming is an issue but I'd rather not. I have a friend who has a stainless tower on top of his freezer and foaming isn't too bad. My box isn't much taller so I woulde guess it would be similar. I am going to block off (with insulation) the dead tower space where the potential 5th and 6th taps would be. So the open space in the box above the column will only be an inch or two wider than the vertical column.
|
Progress
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/DSC07253.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/DSC07236.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/DSC07237.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/DSC07248.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/DSC07259.jpg http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/z...3/DSC07255.jpg It turned out pretty much exactly as I pictured it before I started the build. I only wish that I had gone with 1X8 for the "depth" of the box rather than 1X6. It was a little tight by the time that I put the 3&1/8" shanks & elbow nipples in there. I probably could have gone with 2" shanks. Anyways, it all fit pretty nicely actually just a little snug. Total invested in the wood tower is only about 50 bucks for pine, screws, dowels, glue, & stain. The idea was to build a functioning and good looking tower while purchasing all the keggin hardware so that I could easily pimp it out completely "jester style" once I have a dedicated basement/beer room (this will be a couple years). I didn't want to have to rebuy anything once or if I decide to redesign the tower. So i think it's mission accomplished .......... Poured the first beer from it last night. Now I just need a drip tray and some tap handles. |
Just wanted to post some comments in case anyone is considering a similar design.
I don't have any fan or cooling in the tower (other than the freezer below). I have been getting perfect pours even the first pour of the day out of the warm faucet. There is about 3/4-1" of head. I don't really think that the insulation does much for me so I would recommend not going overboard with insulation or cooling. I'm using 3/16" I/D tubing. 5' lines. I have yet to see a reason to go with longer lines or stress about cooling the tower. There is only about a foot of uncooled beer line that goes up into the tower and it hasn't had ANY noticable negative effect on pouring or foaming. |
|
Nice bro!
|
Awesome!
Nice build Brother! I'm sure you'll enjoy it!:mug:
|
"Finished" :confused: Nothing in this hobby ever seems to be finished!
That tower looks great, I really like your use of wood instead of flashy chrome! And your staining is very well done. As a later project, I did a tower build when I first started with kegging, another thing that is relatively easy to do is build a countertop that covers the lid of your freezer http://i106.photobucket.com/albums/m...0/IMG00084.jpg The staining was a lot of extra work, but I have been really happy with the results. Easier to do with a door on the front rather than the top, but conceptually, they should be similar... |
Yeah I wanted to do something a little different and like I said above I wanted all the shanks and stuff so that if I decide to rebuild it I have all the necessary kegging hardware. I had a buddy who went the chrome tower route about a month ago and it looks good. I just felt the need to do something different. I really like how the stainless faucets look on the dark stained wood.
I agree that it's not finished lol. Finished for now is more what I meant. It will eventually go through a transformation. I don't know exactly know the details on phase two of the project or the transformation. It's food for thought at this point. Feel free to offer suggestions if anyone has any. It is put to rest for a little bit anyways until I decide to tackle the part that involves hiding the freezer. |
| All times are GMT. The time now is 08:21 AM. |
Copyright ©2000 - 2013, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.