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Insulated shelving unit as a fermentation chamber

Discussion in 'Fermenters' started by markstache, Sep 22, 2013.

 

  1. #1
    markstache

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 22, 2013
    Has anyone built a fermentation chamber around a steel shelving unit? The cooling would be provided by a window a/c.

    I was thinking of building a lightweight frame around it to provide the insulation. On three sides, there would be vapor-barrier plastic, fiberglass fill, and an outer layer of polystrene. The front would have doors of a similar construction.

    A shelf would make better use of my garage space and would provide both a space for fermenting and cellaring bottles.

    Thoughts?
     
  2. #2
    Onkel_Udo

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 22, 2013
    I would look mor into the "Metro" chrome wire shelving that you see throughout the restaurant industry...now cheaply reproduced through the wonders of big box stores like this...

    http://www.homedepot.com/p/HDX-48-i...lving-Unit-6T60184872C/100655787#.Uj9QP8asgvw

    Just remember the three rules of of a cooler: insulation, air sealing, circulation. The first and second are a lot harder if you are using the a form factor that allows you to access the full width of a shelving unit.
     
  3. #3
    markstache

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 22, 2013
    Good suggestion. I was thinking of drilling holes through the shelves, but these are of course better in that regard. I was under the mistaken impression that these types of shelves had lower capacity. Glad I looked at your link.
     
  4. #4
    Onkel_Udo

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 22, 2013
    The real stuff has some pretty impressive capacity but I am not sure about the big box store clones. How many gallons per foot are we talking (assuming 8# per gallon). I do know the 18" shelving units we used we 500# evenly distributed. for a 4' unit.
     
  5. #5
    BurgBrewer

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 23, 2013
    Typically Metro racks are rated at anywhere from 250-500lbs any any given time like stated, make sure you distribute weight evenly. figure a 5 gallon fermentor weighs 40-45lbs, you should be safe putting 6 or 7 or so on there. It also depends on the clip type. I'm building a ferm chamber out of just wood and polystyrene sheets. It will definitely be strong enough to double as a shelf.
     
  6. #6
    markstache

    Well-Known Member

    Posted Sep 23, 2013
    I've got some Metro style shelves on order as they were on sale, but out of stock at my local big box.

    Given that I could probably fit at most 4 carboys across a shelf, I should be good for weight. I estimate a shelf full of bottles would weigh on the order of 250 lbs, so again, good.

    On wood: if I had the wood lying around I would have done that (as I did for the other shelves in my garage and pantry), but I figure that I'd end up spending closing to $50 in wood to build an equally strong shelf. The cost may be flipped for other people.
     
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