Glass Door Refrigerator Used as Fermentation Chamber

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joety

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Glass Door Merchandising Coolers work great for fermentation cabinets as well as their intended purpose.

Here's mine with two 6.5 gallon carboys and room for 3 more. There is also two half-barrel kegs and two 1/4 barrel kegs in it. Free just for picking it up, (wouldn't cool and the door was fogged). I cleaned it up, recharged the Freon, put a sheet of stainless on the bottom to slide kegs in and out, painted the door black and put in a better temperature controller. It's been working great ever since.

I also got a few small ones for free. Just had to clean up the black one, replace a fan in the little gray one and clean out the condenser coil in the Pepsi cooler. (Previous owner had some very furry cats.;))

Ferm Cab 01.jpg


Ferm Cab 02.jpg


More GDMC.jpg
 
Thanks, what type of things should I be looking for in a used unit, other than size, age and general appearance/condition?

Edit: Since this (these?) will eventually house a nice shiney SS conical and be a focal point for my brewpub, I want them to look nice as well.
 
Thanks, what type of things should I be looking for in a used unit, other than size, age and general appearance/condition?

Edit: Since this (these?) will eventually house a nice shiney SS conical and be a focal point for my brewpub, I want them to look nice as well.
If you want a clear, glass door, don't expect to replace it, they are in the range of $800. Beyond that, the same things as a used fridge. Is it very noisy? Is the door seal good? Does it cool? How much will I have to spend to bring it up to my expectations? (A compressor can be replaced for about $200-$250.) These things are built to run forever. The big Coke cooler of mine is very old and spent the last several years on a porch, in the sun. A used one of that size, in good condition, around here usually brings $500-$750.
 
Hey guy's, I live up here in Fairbanks AK. I have been looking at Craiglist, Alaska's list, in search of one of these. I have a green light from the Mrs to purchase one when I find it. Just wondering if anyone has any leads where you would find one. Am I looking in the wrong place?
 
Hey guy's, I live up here in Fairbanks AK. I have been looking at Craiglist, Alaska's list, in search of one of these. I have a green light from the Mrs to purchase one when I find it. Just wondering if anyone has any leads where you would find one. Am I looking in the wrong place?
I acquired the ones I have through friends but have seen many of them listed on Craigslist. Beyond that, try cultivating friendships with convenience and liquor store owners. :tank:
 
Yeah, I've been tracking them on Craigslist as well. I search for "coolers" under the Business section. You see about one a week in the MKE area, but we're a little bigger than Fairbanks.
 
Well, I found a BRAND NEW in the box True GDM-12 for sale locally for $800. A bit more than I was planning on spending, but a bargain on a fridge that goes for $1300. Unfortunately the interior dimensions are 21 ½” W x 18 13/32” D x 48 15/16” H (44 7/16” to evaporator).

Morebeer's 14 gallon conical is listed as 19 inches in diameter and Blichman's is 18 1/2". Blichman also recommends an inch of clearance, although I'm not sure why you need it, quite frankly. 3/32nd's is not much, I'm wondering if the back panel would flex enough to fit it in.
 
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