Another Keezer build... Jester Rip-off

[ndsgr]

What size drip tray is that and where did you get it?

 

[mtbiker278]

It's a 36in driptray that I got from the beverage factory. That was the only place I could find one that length. Price was decent enough when you compare to other stainless driptrays.

Sent from my EVO using Home Brew Talk

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Looks fantastic! Are you going to skirt or build a cabinet around the actual freezer unit or leave as it? Regarless, it's a beaut!

 

[mtbiker278]

Definitely going to build a skirt eventually. However I'm going to focus on brewing some more beer and getting the plumbing sorted out. I still need to rig up some sort of circulation fan for both the coffin and inside the freezer. With any luck I will have the keezer finished and filled with beer before thanksgiving.

Sent from my EVO using Home Brew Talk

 

[Hoppopotomus]

I used two 4" inductor fans, one that pulls cold air from the freezer up into the coffin and one that exhausts air out of the coffin and back down into the freezer. There is a section in my keezer build thread that shows how I did it. They work very well and I am able to keep a very consistent coffin temperature and at the same time, keep air circulating in the freezer as well. I used a Love TSS2 controller, which is a dual input, dual output temperature controller. I have one probe in the freezer, which controls power to a plug that the freezer compressor is plugged into. The other probe is in the coffin and controls power to a plug that the 2 inductor fans (which are wired together into an extension cord) are plugged into. I try to keep a 5 degree differential between the freezer compartment and the coffin, so channel 1 (the freezer) is set to 38 degrees and channel 2 (the coffin) is set to 43 degrees. Even at the low temperature differential, I was still having some foaming issues, as my kegging kit was purchased from kegconnection and their kits come with 5' beer lines. The 5' lines did not offer enough resistance in the system for the 11 psi that I keep my kegs under for carbing and serving. I simply swapped them out for 10' beer lines and have not had any foaming issues since.

 

[mtbiker278]

Sounds like an awesome set-up. I'm going low tech on mine. I have a Johnson Digital controller hooked up for temperature control. My plan is to have it the output plugged into a power strip. The freezer, coffin fan, freezer fan, and two circulation fans that blow air around the freezer will all be plugged into the power strip using wall-wort adapters for the computer fans. The current draw should be well within the limits of controller since the computer fans don't really pull much. If not I'll just rig up another power strip that'll plug in separately. Everything should tuck in nicely in the back of the coffin behind the insulation.

 

[agezzi]

Subscribed

 

[mtmeyer32]

hey mtbiker, I am in the process of nearly an identical build. Did you secure the tiles with anything or just place them in like jester did?

 

[mtbiker278]

Mine are just sitting on top with nothing adhering them to the lid. I liked Jester's idea of being able to replace them if needed. Really the front 4 tiles are the only ones that could potentially lift up. At 6lbs a piece I don't see them flying off any time soon. The only way that would happen is if the lid was tilted way back, at which point I'm pretty sure the whole Keezer would fall over unless it was completely filled.

I think Hoppopotomus actually adhered and sealed his tiles to his Keezer. Check out his build for some ideas.

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Yup...I did. I set the tile in mortar over cement board (also mortared down), grouted, and then sealed in a high quality, gloss stone sealer. I basically did the same tile application that I would use for applying floor tile over a plywood subfloor in my home. Maybe a bit of overkill, but it's not going anywhere. IMO...there is more of a chance of bad things happening with unsecured tile, but I suppose if your not moving the unit much, it's not a huge issue. Good luck with your build mtmeyer32!

 

[D_Ranged_Eskimo]

Subscribed! And looking great.

I apologize for the sheer laziness, but I didn't have time to read the thread this morning. Are you planning on putting panelling or a base around the freezer, or are you merely going with a bar top and a base with casters on the bottom?

I just bought a 7.1 chest freezer last night and think I might steal your designs!!!!

 

[bmbigda]

Me2

I had to buy 2 oak boards from Lowes last week and I was kinda shocked by the price. If you arent in a rush, you might try shopping that around a bit.

If it's reasonably close to you, and you want to go to ikea, Downs and Reader in Stoughton MA is the place to go for any finished carpentry lumber.

 

[bmbigda]

I have the same chest freezer, and I can get 7 kegs like you estimate. You technically can get 8, but it's more trouble than it's worth.

 

[mtbiker278]

I will be putting some face-frame style cabinetry around the front of the keezer stained the same color as the wood trim on the lid. I just need to find the time to do so. I've had 4 weddings to go to this year, and another one this weekend. I'm starting to see why it took Jester so long to finish his build.

Take a look at his cause I'm likely going to do something similar. Face-framing with pocket holes securing everything. Firring strips to screw the large pieces together, and 1/2" rabbiting around the inside of the frame to hold a 1/4" sheet of oak plywood.

I still need to rig up all the plumbing, but I have three taps operational at the moment. I wired together two computer fans using 9V wall wort I had from some old portable house phones. One cools the coffin, the other blows air around in the freezer. They run constantly, and it definitely helps to keep the temps consistent.

 

[bmbigda]

I will be putting some face-frame style cabinetry around the front of the keezer stained the same color as the wood trim on the lid. I just need to find the time to do so. I've had 4 weddings to go to this year, and another one this weekend. I'm starting to see why it took Jester so long to finish his build.

Take a look at his cause I'm likely going to do something similar. Face-framing with pocket holes securing everything. Firring strips to screw the large pieces together, and 1/2" rabbiting around the inside of the frame to hold a 1/4" sheet of oak plywood.

I still need to rig up all the plumbing, but I have three taps operational at the moment. I wired together two computer fans using 9V wall wort I had from some old portable house phones. One cools the coffin, the other blows air around in the freezer. They run constantly, and it definitely helps to keep the temps consistent.

Like I said above, I have the same chest freezer and a very similar bar build (irish coffin, 4 facets). I keep saying I'm going to rig something up to cool the coffin, and your idea has me thinking.

Right now, and for the past year and a half, I've got nothing cooling the coffin whatsoever. Each facet is hooked up to 6 or 7 ft of beer line, and 8-10 inches of it sits in the warm coffin, the rest inside the freezer. This results in a small issue (as you are aware since you took the measures to avoid it)...your first pour of the day is half foam, then the lines cool down and the subsequent pours are fine.

my question for you is...does you computer fan method completely solve this problem? If it does I'm definitely going to start adding that feature to my bar.

 

[mtmeyer32]

Mine are just sitting on top with nothing adhering them to the lid. I liked Jester's idea of being able to replace them if needed.

I really liked the interchangeable tile idea as well, but being in a college apartment with 3 other guys I can almost guarantee that a lot of beer will be spilled on the tiles. The challenge for me is making it durable enough to with stand parties and good looking enough that a future SWMBO will let me keep it when I graduate in a year.

I am thinking of just sealing the plywood base and then laying the tiles in like you did. How do your backsplash tiles stay in place mtbiker?

Good luck with your build mtmeyer32!

Thanks, Hop! I think I might start a build thread here soon. I have been taking pics like crazy.

 

[mtbiker278]

I'm not sure the computer fans solved the foaming issues cause I'm running really short lines. However, it did seem to help a lot with keeping consistent temperatures, which can only help any foaming issues you might have. Ideally I'd have a duct going down to the bottom of the keezer to pull air for cooling the coffin, but I'll leave that until I add some longer lines.

the backsplash tiles are held in place by the drip tray on the bottom, and a smal piece of foam wedged between the tiles and the tap board. There's a 3/8" gap between the back of the tap board and the plywood coffin underlying structure. You can see if in some of the construction side shots. As for making the whole thing durable you could give the underlying wood a couple coats of polyurethane to seal everything before laying down the tiles. Considering this is a college keezer I would do at least 3 coats on everything. That way if you ever do get water stains you can simple buff or sand them out without going through the finish.

Hope this helps!

 

[mtbiker278]

Hey Everyone!

I'm moving into the final part of the Keezer construction. I have all my plumbing supplies ordered for the 5 taps thanks to KegConnection. I had previously ordered a 2 keg kit from them, and I wanted to re-use the same gas and beverage hose. I also picked up a 5 outlet gas manifold.

My next plan is to get the bottom fans mounted into the dolly along with the 1/4"ply to direct the airflow. Not really looking forward to this since it'll involve removing the lid completely. After that and all the plumbing is in place I'll start on the face framing for the outside skirt.

I've already made some 6 batches of beer these past weeks, so if all goes as planned I'll have a completely full keezer to show-off around thanksgiving. Wish me luck!

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Good luck....can't wait to see the keezer in all it's glory! What is the first pint you pull off of this masterpiece going to be?

 

[mtbiker278]

Well technically I've already had a soft launch to get things operational. But the first official pint on the grand opening will likely be my DFH 60min IPA clone modified from Yooper's recipe.

One thing I've been noticing though is I get a lot of condensation forming inside the keezer. I'm not sure if it's just from the lid being open, or if moisture is seeping in from the coffin. Either way I'm toweling out a puddle every time I've been opening the lid to check on something. It has been rather humid lately, and the keezer only has one full keg in it at the moment. Anyone else experience this?

 

[mtbiker278]

Finally got around to building the skirt. I recommend planning out your construction well. I mitered the corners to get a better look, but it was a pain to assemble without having a gap. However, it's pretty similar to Jester's build where it has firring strip connecting the sides to the front.

With one coat of Stain

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Sweet......looks fantastic, keep the progress and pics coming!

 

[astewart]

Right now I still open the lid and dispense via picnic tap. It would be nice to have a set up that looks as good as yours in the future.

The heat exchange for these freezers/keezers is through the walls. Does the skirt addition give any problems with operation?

 

[mtbiker278]

I'll have fans blowing air from the bottom through the inside of the skirt and blowing the hot air out of the top where there's a gap between the lid and the skirt. I will say I wouldn't put a skirt on without some sort of active air circulation.

 

[astewart]

I thought you were putting insulation in the space. If you have a gap on the bottom, sides and top I suppose convection would take care of the air exchange. Is the back covered as well or is it covered on three sides?

 

[mtbiker278]

Just three sides, and no insulation on the inside, just an air gap. I suppose convection would work, but i'd rather not take the chance of overheating things. Fans are cheap for the most part, new chest freezers aren't so much.

 

[astewart]

Do you have the fans on the same circuit so they kick in when the temp control turns the freezer on?

 

[mtbiker278]

right now they are wired on a separate power supply and run constantly. I might switch that if I ever change my temp controller to a 2-stage controller. Currently I'm just running a johnson digital temp controller plugged into just the freezer.

 

[mtbiker278]

Here it is in all it's glory. I hope it can live up to the Jester model! Enjoy!

Pardon the not quite in focus shots. My EVO was all I had at the momentous completion!

 

[kklowell]

Very nice!