GE FCM5 Keezer Build

I've started work on my Keezer and it's got a lot of work to go, but I figured I'd start up a thread to show off my progress.

I'll try to keep a running parts list so if anyone wants to emulate or build parts of it, you'll know what I used. Prices include shipping.

Parts:

• GE FCM5 (5 cu) - $75 - Craigslist
• Mini Digital Aquarium Thermostat - $30.98 - Ebay member quality_link2000 (Arrived in 8 days)
• 8' Flat plug extension cord - $4.97 - Lowes
• 20A 125V Outlet - $3.16 - Lowes
• 1G 18CI Work Box - $0.25 - Lowes
• Wire cap - $0 - Had one lying around
• 2x8x10 - $8ish - Lowes
• Taps Perlick 425ss x3 - $67 (Note: Not sure if these are real and/or stainless. Asking for theories here)
• 2.5" Screws for Collar, 1lb - $8ish - Lowes
• GE Silicone I, Clear - $5 - Lowes
• Liquid Nails, Interior Projects - $1.74 - Lowes
• Great Stuff, 16oz Gaps and Cracks - $3.88 - Lowes

Running Total: $201.98

Tools:

• Knife/Box cutter
• Wire Cutters
• Multi-head screw driver
• Multimeter
• Circular Saw (can be avoided with a. miter box or b. measuring correctly and having the store cut it to lenght
• Power drill
• Caulk gun
• 90 Degree Clamps

To Buy:

• Shanks (Ordered from Morebeer.com)
• 10' Beer Line x2 (Ordered from Morebeer.com)
• Second Corny Keg
• Wood for collar and platform
• Casters
• Drip Tray

Flickr Pics

I have the exact measurements for the freezer, will update them when I find them again.

My general plan of attack is to build a platform with casters (for rolly awesomeness) or get casters that will screw into the feet pegs, build a collar (high enough to accommodate another corny) for it, stick the taps and the thermostat through the collar. Pretty sure I don't want to do a tower at this point.

As always, suggestions and comments are welcomed.

John

----------------------------

Project started, no real mods yet. Outside with thermostat hooked up:


Close up of the loose thermostat:


Inside of the freezer:


Redone thermostat:

Looks good except those bottles on the right don't look like beer!

Redid the thermostat last night.

The whole thing fits in a 2 Gang box with a standard plate (trimmed a little) over it. The box I picked up was a little too short, so it's not flush but that doesn't really matter. I can get a deeper box later.

Front:


Right Side:


Back:


Left Side:

Made the collar tonight. Need to remove the lid, attach and insulate.

Shanks and beer lines are on order from MoreBeer.com.

Corner:


Collar:


Collar in place:

Notes/Thoughts

• 2x8x10 is not actually 2"x8"x10' - I was unaware and did not adjust my measurements so when they cut the lumber at the store, it was off. Which lead to me buying a circular saw. Awesome.
• I'm going to consider this a work in progress. Work will be completed as money/time makes itself available.
  • Build it so it can easily be taken apart/opened for access to Keezer and transportation.
  • First, add collar, put shanks/taps through collar.
  • First point five, add base with casters.
  • Second, add bar top
  • Third, add side paneling, move taps to tower on bar top, fill old shank holes with
  • Fourth, add wine rack on the side paneling (for the SWMBO)
• Circular saws are awesome.
• When putting screws through wood, to avoid splits, (if you're impatient) drill closer to the center of the board, or (do it the right way) predrill holes. (dummy).
• Circular saws with lasers on them are double awesome.
• Measure twice, then measure again after measuring your materials, then cut once.

I assume that the gang box/temp control/outlet will be mounted into the collar (retangular cut hole). Is that the case? If so, is there any concern with condensation/rust on the leads on the outlet?

Sorry...I'm electrically challenged if that seems to be a stupid question.

John

johnodon said:

I assume that the gang box/temp control/outlet will be mounted into the collar (retangular cut hole). Is that the case? If so, is there any concern with condensation/rust on the leads on the outlet?

Sorry...I'm electrically challenged if that seems to be a stupid question.

John

Click to expand...

I think I'm actually going to leave it out for now. I was planning on mounting it in the collar, but I'm going to add side paneling so I'll just leave room in there.

If I was going to mount it in the collar, I'd enclose the gang box to make sure condensation didn't get in there, but it's probably best to just leave the thing out of the freezer. The less holes for cold air to escape from the better, so I think the only holes I'm going to be putting in the collar will be for the tap shanks.

And, now that I think about it, the power cable is coming out of the back of the box, so I'd have to figure out a way to route that out too.

Maybe I can hook this thing into the panel covering the compressor...

Made some progress. Added casters to for beer dispensing mobility and stained, poly'd, sealed and gasket'd the collar.

Tomorrow I'll attach the lid to the collar and the collar to the freezer. Should be getting the shanks in early next week to make the beer-star fully operational.

I'm also planning on eventually making sides and a bar top for the thing so it doesn't look like a freezer and the SWMBO stops saying things like "why is there a freezer in our living room." My other goal it to make it so I can disassemble it with out difficulty. We rent and I don't want to make this thing hard to move.

Casters:


Caster closeup:


Collar:


Collar Corner:

Updated Parts/Tools


Parts:

• GE FCM5 (5 cu) - $75 - Craigslist
• Mini Digital Aquarium Thermostat - $30.98 - Ebay member quality_link2000 (Arrived in 8 days)
• 8' Flat plug extension cord - $4.97 - Lowes
• 20A 125V Outlet - $3.16 - Lowes
• 1G 18CI Work Box - $0.25 - Lowes
• Wire cap - $0 - Had one lying around
• 2x8x10 - $8ish - Lowes
• Taps Perlick 425ss x3 - $67 (Note: Not sure if these are real and/or stainless. Asking for theories here)
• 2.5" Screws for Collar, 1lb - $8ish - Lowes
• GE Silicone I, Clear - $5 - Lowes
• Liquid Nails, Interior Projects - $1.74 - Lowes
• Great Stuff, 16oz Gaps and Cracks - $3.88 - Lowes
• Polyshade - $9.97 - Lowes
• Handle/Pull Bar/Towel Rack - $14.79 - Home Depot
• Extended Screws for Handle - $0.98 - Home Depot
• 2" Swivel Caster with Breaks - 2@$3.98 = $7.96 - Home Depot
• 2" Swivel Caster - 2@$3.47 = $6.94 - Home Depot
• Metal Screws for Casters - 8@$0.29 = $2.32 - Ace Hardware

Running Total: $244.94

Tools:

• Knife/Box cutter
• Wire Cutters
• Multi-head screw driver
• Multimeter
• Circular Saw (can be avoided with a. miter box or b. measuring correctly and having the store cut it to lenght
• Power drill
• Caulk gun
• 90 Degree Clamps
• Staple Gun

To Buy:

• Shanks (Ordered from Morebeer.com)
• 10' Beer Line x2 (Ordered from Morebeer.com)
• Second Corny Keg
• Drip Tray

I would be so happy to see an update.

Finally posting an update. Actually got the thing in serviceable condition about 6 months ago, but life got in the way of HBT.

Partially finished, in the brew closet. It works but I want to make it look nicer, add a tap and drip tray.


Inside. There's room for 3 kegs and 5# of CO2


Perlick 425s I found on eBay @ about $22 a piece. I have a 3rd that I want to add.


Beer lines, 10'. Kind of picked that number arbitrarily, no calculation, but it's what people seem to think is appropriate.


Cheapy DIY distributor. What I settled on after wasting money on cheap air regulators and sinking too much money into low quality secondary regulators.


Notes
I got hosed on a few items (mainly the shanks, pretty pissed about that) because I didn't do my research (probably too many HBs deep when ordering) so make sure you check several sites before you order. I've found that it's hard to beat Rebel Brewer for almost everything, so I always start there and price compare from there. Don't forget to measure from the top of the disconnects, not the top of the keg. Measure 3 or 5 or 7 times before you cut. Try to knock it out in a weekend, not a year, like I am. Don't, don't, don't go cheap (inexpensive is fine) if you can avoid it. I sank a bunch of money into Harbor Freight crap (air regulators, fittings, etc.) that were so crappy I had to scrap the project.

Updated Parts/Tools/Misc

Parts:

• GE FCM5 (5 cu) - $75 - Craigslist
• Mini Digital Aquarium Thermostat - $30.98 - Ebay member quality_link2000 (Arrived in 8 days)
• 8' Flat plug extension cord - $4.97 - Lowes
• 20A 125V Outlet - $3.16 - Lowes
• 1G 18CI Work Box - $0.25 - Lowes
• Wire cap - $0 - Had one lying around
• 2x8x10 - $8ish - Lowes
• Taps Perlick 425ss x2 - $44.66
• 2.5" Screws for Collar, 1lb - $8ish - Lowes
• GE Silicone I, Clear - $5 - Lowes
• Polyshade - $9.97 - Lowes
• 2" Swivel Caster with Breaks - 2@$3.98 = $7.96 - Home Depot
• 2" Swivel Caster - 2@$3.47 = $6.94 - Home Depot
• Metal Screws for Casters - 8@$0.29 = $2.32 - Ace Hardware
• 4' SS Shanks and tail pieces - 2@$28.95 = $57.90 - Morebeer.com (totally got hosed on the price for these. Rebel brewer or Farmhouse have way better prices. By about $20.
• Beer Line - 20ft@$0.65/ft = $13
• Ball Lock Liquid Disconnect 1/4" Barbed - [email protected] = $11.50 Rebel Brewer

Running Total: $289.61

Things I didn't include because I had them:

• CO2 tank, regulator, fittings - $139.95 Rebel Brewer
• Ball Lock Gas Disconnect 1/4" Barbed - [email protected] = $11.50 Rebel Brewer
• Keg, Used - 3@$32.95 = $98.85 Rebel Brewer
• Air Manifold - $3ish Harbor Freight
• Brass Ball Valve - 2@$4ish - $8ish Harbor Freight
• Misc Air Hose - $5 - $15 Home Depot
• Ball Check Valve - 2@$2.50 - $5.00 Northern Brewer

Tools:

• Knife/Box cutter
• Wire Cutters
• Multi-head screw driver
• Multimeter
• Circular Saw (can be avoided with a. miter box or b. measuring correctly and having the store cut it to length
• Power drill
• Caulk gun
• 90 Degree Clamps
• Staple Gun

To Buy:

• Wood paneling and molding, probably around $50-$60 worth
• Drip Tray, wide enough for 3 taps
• Something to cut down moisture in the keezer

Stuff I bought but didn't use:

• Liquid Nails, Interior Projects - $1.74 - Lowes
• Great Stuff, 16oz Gaps and Cracks - $3.88 - Lowes
• Handle/Pull Bar/Towel Rack - $14.79 - Home Depot
• Extended Screws for Handle - $0.98 - Home Depot
• Taps Perlick 425ss x1 - $22.33 (to be used to add a third tap)

I'll try to update quicker than 6 months next time...

how many kegs can you fit in here total, including co2 tank?

I got 3 in there, but subsequently sold it.