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02-26-2012, 11:37 PM
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#1
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Soos Creek Brewing
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Posts: 108
Liked 2 Times on 2 Posts Likes Given: 6
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Vending Machine Fermentation Chamber
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I thought some folks would get a kick out of this.
My 1st chamber was a chest freezer, but it went TU. So, I was considering my next move for a chamber...I didn't want to buy another used chest freezer and have it fail...and I surely didn't want to buy a new one. So I considered building a "closet" out of wood and using a refrigeration unit from a vending machine. I work for a "Large Beverage Company" and vending machines get sent to the scrap yard after a certain age....so I have certain perks when it comes to equipment such as this. Then it came to me....why build something from scratch when a complete vending machine has everything I need...
It's sealed, secure, insulated and has a refrigeration unit that is replaceable without brazing if it fails.... I can just remove it, and put in another one...So...I saved a vendor from the metal grave yard and gave it a new home!!
I removed the vend stack and installed some brackets, wood shelves....put in a ranco temp controller and.....that's it....my new fermentation chamber was born. As you can see from the pics, I can fit quite a lot in there. I have been using it for 2 years and it has worked wonderfully. I run the refrigeration unit in the summer, and power a 100 watt light bulb in the winter.
I know that not everyone will want...or have access too...a large vending machine...but if you do, it is a great way to ferment or age your beer.
I still plan to dress it up with some plywood...and get rid of the graphics....obviously I smudged up the pic to hide the brand...but I'm sure I didn't fool everyone.
Enjoy!
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02-26-2012, 11:56 PM
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#2
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,856
Liked 52 Times on 51 Posts Likes Given: 35
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Damn, that's awesome. Very clever.
__________________
"There is no strong beer, only weak men"
"Pretty women make us BUY beer, ugly women make us DRINK beer" - Al Bundy
"Give a man a beer, he'll drink for a day. Teach a man to brew, he'll be drunk for the rest of his life."
Primary: Hoppy Wheat, Porter
Kegged: Reaper's English Mild (OO), BBK Jr., Lagunitas IPA, Fireman's #4
Bottled: None
Notable Empties: Oaked Black IIPA, BBK I, Red IIPA, Burning Bush, Apophis "The Destroyer", Vanilla Porter
On-Deck: The Titan BW, Ale of Olympus
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02-27-2012, 12:21 AM
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#3
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Posts: 36
Likes Given: 1
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Now if only it could automate the process and when you pushed a vend button a conditioned and carbed bottle of beer would come out. Nice job.
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02-27-2012, 12:24 AM
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#4
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Edmonton Ky
Posts: 1,318
Liked 13 Times on 13 Posts Likes Given: 40
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Got to love job perks
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Back Nine Brew&Wine
Life don't get better than a beer and a pepper.
What I am brewing is now a mystery
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04-16-2012, 06:24 AM
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#5
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Corpus Christi
Posts: 328
Liked 2 Times on 2 Posts Likes Given: 1
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very nice, I have a vendomatic to work on, glass bottle 8,12, 22oz plus can rack
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04-16-2012, 06:35 AM
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#6
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Soos Creek Brewing
Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Tacoma, Washington
Posts: 108
Liked 2 Times on 2 Posts Likes Given: 6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CCBrewer
very nice, I have a vendomatic to work on, glass bottle 8,12, 22oz plus can rack
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Is that an older model "Vendo"? Sounds fun...are you planning on using it for what it's designed to do...or butcher it like I did? 
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04-16-2012, 06:44 AM
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#7
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Corpus Christi
Posts: 328
Liked 2 Times on 2 Posts Likes Given: 1
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nope I have all parts, i cut the r12 deck out and am modifying a r134 mini fridge with a muffin fan in there. bottle is 25cents a vend green dr pepper glass door on left pull to vend.
I did get a glass door 7ft tall merchandiser and mod that into a ferm chamber I posted it on here
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04-16-2012, 06:45 AM
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#8
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Corpus Christi
Posts: 328
Liked 2 Times on 2 Posts Likes Given: 1
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i removed refrig deck whole fyi. easy install, I can get a charged system in there
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04-16-2012, 07:02 AM
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#9
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Warminster, PA
Posts: 314
Liked 6 Times on 6 Posts Likes Given: 7
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That's cool!
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Wrecked Brewery - "Prepare to be WRECKED!"
Primary: None
Secondary: None
Kegged: Watermelon Wheat, Schwarzbier, Cream Ale
Bottled: Seduction (Double Chocolate Strawberry Cream Stout), Oktoberfest
"Beer, it's the best damn drink in the world." -Jack Nicholson
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04-16-2012, 01:58 PM
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#10
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Feedback Score: 0 reviews
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Bronson, Fl
Posts: 956
Liked 50 Times on 37 Posts Likes Given: 28
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Oh, I so want one of those. It would be perfect for my man cave/lab. It would fit the decor and could be a conversation piece to beat all. I wonder if the local large bottling and distributing co here locally would sell one of their old units for a decent price? I'd be willing to bump it above the standard scrap metal price a bit. That could work out nicely if I could get a few and convert them for sale. It would reduce the cost of mine to almost zero. That would be a big happy in my book. Hmmmm, now you have me thinkin, and thats a dangerous thing fer me.
Thanks for the great idea.
Bob
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What do you mean "no Kidneys"???, WTF now I gotta drink less beer...
Join the Automation sub forum in Electric brewing for a discussion of components and control systems. I did!!!!
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