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sicklesr · 01-29-2013, 01:52 PM

Well. I guess I'm going to start kegging my beer.

While perusing Craigslist for an old fridge to store bottles/yeast/hops and to lager in, i found this beauty. It's an old Perlick 3 tap keg fridge. It came with all the tap hoses, co2, and kegging lines.

It is however, a mess on the bottom. The inside of the cabinet is dirty, but not rusted. The bottom layer is just trashed. I'm going to work and restore it.

For those of you who dont know, the design is pretty simple on these. It is created as a box inside a box, with insulation between the two layers. There is an external compressor (or a "condensing unit") that feeds coolant to a fan heat exchanger on the top of the inside.

I plan to remove the soggy/nappy/rotted insulation and rusted bottom cover and replace them with some new insulation and a plywood bottom. I want to take the tower apart, and clean each faucet/tap individually. Does anyone have an idea of a guide to taking these taps apart?

Obviously, I'll also clean the inside cabinet to the best of my abillity.

These pictures are from the Clist ad. By the time I got the beast home last night, it was snowing and dark. I'll take more pictures tonight.

I can't wait to get started on this project! PLease let me know if you have any comments/questions/ideas!

thargrav · 01-29-2013, 02:00 PM

These are nice units and they are designed so that everything is serviceable, even the door gaskets.

I've not seen this tower but my best guess is the rear panel is removeable.

sicklesr · 01-29-2013, 03:08 PM

Yup! The tower has standard screws holding the casing of the tower on. I should be able to take that apart.

To replace the bottom; I'm thinking a 2x4 brace, with solid foam insulation, then a peice of plywood to rest on.

Monster Mash · 01-29-2013, 09:04 PM

The only thing I can see it it needs more taps....

FuzzeWuzze · 01-30-2013, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monster Mash

The only thing I can see it it needs more taps....

Yea, it seems gigantic for only 3 taps...

rdann87 · 01-30-2013, 01:23 AM

Nice Pick up.

I assume the 3 is for half barrel kegs. How many taps you thinking you'll add? Out of curiosity.

sicklesr · 01-30-2013, 01:50 PM

Rdann nailed it. It was made for 3 - 1/2 barrel kegs.

I'm thinking that I'm going to keep it at 3 taps for now. In a perfect world, I'd like to have 1/3 set up for bottles, 1/3 for 3 corny's, and 1/3 for a lagering chamber. I know I'll need to segment off the lagering chamber, and allow it to be slightly warmer than the bottles/keg side.

Which brings me to more pics...

The first picture is of the bottom after tearing out all the rusted steel, and rotten insulation. I don't have a picture of that, because it was gross and I wanted to get it out ASAP... Or because I forgot to take one.

I decided to cut off the bottom 5" of the back wall as well. It had started to rust, and was a thin gauge steel. I plan to cover this with some of the building materials I'll describe later. You can see the awesome work in picture 2.

I thought I might have to replace 100% of the insulation batting, but once I got a few inches up in the back wall, it looks clean and fresh. You can see what I mean in picutre 3!

sicklesr · 01-30-2013, 01:55 PM

As for the replacement bottom, I'm just going to use some 2x4s, 1.5" solid foam insulation, and HardieBacker.

The picture below has the layout for the bottom. The HardieBacker will enclose the bottom fully. I'll also be using GreatStuff expanding foam to seal all cracks and crevices. Once I get the bottom back together, I'll flip it right side up and start the arduous task of cleaning out the inside!

bknifefight · 01-30-2013, 02:53 PM

Looks like a nice restoration project. You can clean and polish up that stainless with some Barkeepers' Friend. Make it look perty!

sicklesr · 01-31-2013, 01:27 AM

Nightly Update!

Framed out the bottom, insulated it, sprayed some foam, then trimmed it off. Just about to put the HardieBacker on!