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**wfowlks** · 03-15-2012, 01:42 AM

So, after my failed attempt at a detachable freezer for use in the living room, due to wood being to heavy of a material, I have decided to go with a tall collar.

I have the Summit 10.6 cubic foot freezer which I was 3 months old and I scored it off Craig's list for 150$.

The main reason for having the tap tower was because I'm a tall person and I hate bending over, and after exploring several build designs, none of the feasible ones were approved by SWMBO (She who must be obayed).

So Ive gone with the 12 inch collar not because I need it for space, but because I need it out of convenience for my back.

Taps and shanks aside, i've spent ~$27 for this collar.

$20 for wood and $7 for stain, Ive decided to go with the cherry stain.

I'll be updating the thread frequently with my build, as I'm hoping to have it done by the weekend. (St. Patricks day)

grendelrt · 03-15-2012, 03:00 PM

For a 12" collar you will definitely want to insulate and prob put a fan in. Since that's a really tall collar there will be no lines running through a large space leaving a dead space. The fan should help keep that air moving. You may already know this, but figured I would throw it out there just in case ahha.

The_Mad_Scientist · 03-15-2012, 03:07 PM

I 2nd the insolation and fan. But have you thought about a Coffin style or a tap tower ounted to the lid (or wood lid if you make a new one)?

It may solve your hight issue with out buildin a large collar.

**wfowlks** · 03-15-2012, 07:07 PM

I didn't want to drill in the lid because the lady friend says its a really nice freezer, and that when we get a bigger place, she will want it as a freezer, and I'll be forced to scrounge again for a freezer.

Thats why I was trying to go for a detachable tap tower, but that didn't pan out.

I was definately going to insulate, I was probably going to use the Pink board looking insulation, and then have some weather strips on the bottom of it, as well as the top where the lid touches it.

I was planning on also putting in a fan, I have not yet decided on how big of a fan I will need, or what will be easiest/cheapest. I've read a few forums of how to modify computer fans, but I would have to buy it anyway, so I have all my options open.

Any suggestions are appreciated

The_Mad_Scientist · 03-15-2012, 07:13 PM

If you wanted to you can take the lid off and build a completely new one out of wood that you just need to insulate. But going the fan route.....cheapest is a computer fan wired to a old cell phone charger ext. And if you wanted to save power you could split the "out" using a 2 way plug on your external temp controler. that way the fan only runs while the compressor runs. And since the small computer fan draws so little "amp/watts" should not affect the freezer at all.

**wfowlks** · 03-15-2012, 07:40 PM

Good call on the old cell charger!

I had picked up a 9' extension cord which I was going to chop and splice with the cord from the fan, however, the cell phone charger would have a power converter already, instead of me having to buy a 120v fan

Good tip

**wfowlks** · 03-16-2012, 02:43 AM

So I didn't mention before, but most of my tools are limited to the basic handy man tool kit and a mitre box that I borrowed from my landlord, and the drill the lady friend let me buy, because I said that it was for hanging up her drapes.

So, I got some more time to work on it tonight, and I got to put the skirt on it. However the mitre saw that I was using was not able to cut all the way through because the board was to long.

So I ended up having to saw by hand the last bit of it.

When I got to screwing in the boards, the measurements were off by just about 1/4-1/3 of an inch. I tried to put the gaps in the back and hope that no one would look back there.

Got wood putty?

Yes, that is a snow shovel with a flash light hanging from it, there are no lights out on the deck so that's what I came up with

I also bought a 3$ roll of weather stripping today, which I will put on the bottom of the wood where it touches the fridge so that I get a better seal, as well as some foil tape to tape the sides, and some styro foam for insulation. I am still trying to figure out a way to get the styro foam to attach to the wood. I know that some glues will actually melt the foam, so I think I may use a nail, but I will probably be doing it tomorrow after work, so if anyone has ideas, I'm all ears.

Also, anyone have an idea of how I could fill in the gaps without cutting a new board? I returned the saw after I cut it, and I really don't care enough about it to re-cut it. I am thinking i may go get caulk, and fill it in then get putty to put over it.

**wfowlks** · 03-16-2012, 11:15 PM

So I sanded down the divots that I filled in with wood filler left from the screws.

I bored the holes for the tap shanks:

And I ended up using a few of the spare boards to prop it up.

Then as I was getting ready to fill in the gaps with some silicon, the tube exploded... Brand new tube and caulk gun:

Time to return that to Lowes tomorrow.

After all that I got the first coat and hopefully I'll have the 2nd coat on so that I can then put it on the freezer and get that bad larry fired up

**wfowlks** · 03-17-2012, 04:25 PM

Finally finished just in time, here is the collar

Also a new cheap easy to have the temp controller in liquid

**lylo** · 03-17-2012, 04:43 PM

Did you not poke a hole in the tip of your silicone tube?