Wow...where do I start? I guess, first of all thanks for the wonderful compliments.
Yeah, I realized after I started the thread that it probably should have been in the DIY thread category. If anyone knows if I can transfer it over to that category or duplicate it in the DIY section, please let me know. I have read the majority of the keezer threads on HBT...some in the kegging/bottling section and some in the DIY section. In retrospect, most were probably in the DIY.
Honestly NewBrewB, I haven't actually devoted a ton of time to this build. Just a couple of hours here and there. My wife is pretty supportive of my new found passion of home brewing and she knows that I love to build things, so she has been tolerant. She would much rather see the rest of the basement completed before the keezer, but she know that once I get my mind set on something....there's no turning back.
Thankfully, I own my own businesses and can manage to get out of the clinic a couple of days per week by noon'ish. Both of my kids are in school, so it allows me a few hours of uninterupted time to work on my "projects". I really try my hardest to not let these things interfere with the family activities
I am brand new to this whole kegging deal and I'm totally shooting from the hip with this build. I have simply accumulated as much information as I could through other people's threads to try to build something that is as efficient as possible. In theory, my 2 fan system that directs cold air through a tunnel system encased in insulation should work, but until I can test it out....who knows. Hell, I still don't even have the kegging components or the temperature controllers yet!
I'm totally speculating on the dual temperature controller, but in my mind it makes sense. I just want something that dispenses cold beer with minimal foaming EVERYTIME.
I assume by your question about the "hose lights" you are talking about the rope light that I incorporated. It's simply an accent lighting feature that looks cool once it's complete. If you look at the threads of some of the great keezer builders like Jester (Erik), Jake the Hop Dog (Keith), etc., they incorporated the accent lighting and it just makes the finished product cooler. In my pics, the rope lighting is not yet fastened up behind the trim piece in the recessed area of the coffin, so it's hanging down a bit. It will not be visible upon completion once fastened. I'm just leaving it loose for now until I put the cement board and tile on the face of the coffin.
That leads to my next answer....yes, the same tumbled travertine will cover the backsplash facing of the coffin. As far as the vents go, what you see is what you get. I'm leaving the brushed nickel vent in the front. I think it will work well once I get the stainless steel Perlick faucets and drip pan installed. Besides, I really don't feel like removing the knotty pine to remove the vent, as the knotty pine paneling is adhesed down as well. :cross:
Ok...let's move on. Yes I am incorporating a removeable SS drip tray and I have been searching the internet for periodically throughout the day to find the best one for my project. Yes, I have a dedicated outlet of the power supply to this keezer. In a few of my pics., I have the keezer pushed into the location where it is going to be situated and there is a dedecated plug with a 20 amp. circuit specifically for the keezer.
And....Finally, all cords will be completely hidden. I am building a control panel that will be attached to the back of the unit, completely out of sight. As I continue to progress, I plan on taking more pics right through to the bitter end!
I am incorporating a switch to control the accent lighting, which will be easily accessed, but out of sight. The control panel will have a dual digital temperature controller with two probes....one to control the temp. of the freezer and one to control the temp. of the coffin. This is my plan unless someone tries to talk me out of it.
Hopefully I answered all of your questions. I plan on getting up bright and early (6 a.m) to get a couple of hours work done on insulating the coffin before my wife and kids get up. I'll post pics. as I go. Thanks again for the compliments. BTW, I checked out your "pleaser keezer" and it's kick a$$! :rockin: Love the bamboo accents.
How to prioritize the things I want to say?....
1) Awesome awesome awesome.
2) LOVE it when I take the time to read through a thread like this and realize the project is still ongoing and I can enjoy some of the journey as it unfolds. This is DIY porn at its best.
3) Speaking of DIY, I almost missed this thread because it is listed in "kegging/bottling" instead of DIY...Not sure if it can be changed/moved but those of us who love making sawdust as much as making beer might miss-out on a really great read.
4) This probably should be higher than #4 but how in the heck do you manage to convince your wife to let you spend this much time on project-stuff with an unfinished basement project in mid-process?!!? You should write a book because you have clearly cracked the code! I'm lucky if I can score 3-4 hrs a week for 'projects.' Actually, the word 'project' is all but forbidden... haha
5) When I built my "pleaser-keezer," I used a small cooler to create the 'insulation' in the coffin and then just loosely built the wood around it. I didn't install any type of ventilation/fan to circulate air inside the coffin. I just figured the amount of actual beer contained in 10" of beer line isn't enough to warm-up an entire glass of beer. Maybe I should use two thermometers to check the difference in temp between the coffin interior and the floor of the freezer.... hmm..
6) What's the deal with these hose-lights?
7) Probably too late to cast a vote but I'm also not a fan of the vent in the front. With the back completely open and any space at all between the inner-sides and the outer-sides of the freezer, any hot air will rise up and go out the back. If anything, you might want to keep it away from the wall a few inches so it doesn't lead to any moisture buildup on the wall. Speaking of the wall, where is your power outlet? Hopefully you can hide the cords behind the keezer. Mine has to sit about 2 feet to the right of the outlet and the cords look tacky (rental house). In our next house, I'll either wire an outlet just for the keezer or buy a house that has the perfect spot.
8) Oh, think about drip-tray removal for cleaning. It's inevitable that some will spill and having a removable drip-tray that I can just put in the dishwasher is really great.
9) I love the tile--are you going to use the same tile on the back-splash as well? I think that really ties-together with your basement since you have that same tile over behind the wet-sink. Having it on the vertical surface will show that connection from across the room and not just when you're standing in front of it pulling a handle.
10) You don't need people like me rambling on your post. This is a GREAT project and I wish you the best. *subscribed!*