Built-in 3-tap tower: Commercial or DIY?

[user 224599]

I'm renovating my kitchen and am just about ready to pull the trigger on the kitchen cabinet buy.
I'm planning on a small dry bar: tall 18" wide pantry cabinet, a 33" wide upper cabinet for glassware and booze, and a stemware hanger beneath the upper cabinet.
The upper cabinet will be directly above the kegerator, which will be centered below the cabinet and trimmed in with matching maple trim, capped in granite.
The plan is for ~24" for the kegerator.

The question: Does anybody have experience with Summit built-ins? There is one on Craigslist nearby, documentation available online shows instruction for making it a built-in.
Would I be better off with a DIY? (No, I don't have a lot of spare time for DIYing anything, but if its' easy and cheap I'd consider it.)

The CL ad does not include a tower or faucets, so I'd have to source that anyway. Any favored sources for a three-faucet tower?

 

[Pappers_]

I've had good experiences purchasing kegging related items from Keg Connection. They have towers, up to 8 taps I think, and are good folks to talk to, if you want to call them and talk through what you're doing.

 

[Redtab78]

24" and your gonna fit 3 kegs? how?

 

[user 224599]

24" and your gonna fit 3 kegs? how?

https://www.summitappliance.com/catalog/model/SBC635MBISSTB

19.5" x 20" inside dimensions not sure if that includes the compressor hump. If not I could fit four 9" diameter cornies.

 

[lewis26]

The bigger issue is 24" is not enough for that unit.

From their site:
NOTE: if installing flush with wall or cabinets, unit will require extra space due to the door design. Width should be 25" to 25 1/4". For more information, see the user manual

Also, I think 3 1/6's is going to be tight. Even 3 cornies will be tight.

 

[tmendick]

Hate to break it to you, I'd also be shocked if you get 3 kegs in that fridge comfortably. I'd highly recommend taking 3-4 empty cornies with you and testing the fit before you purchase.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

You might be able to get 3 in there.
I use Sanke kegs I believe they are 9 1/4 diameter. So with 19.5 W you could get 2 side by side in the front and with 20 deep you could get one in the back on the deep side. Hell if it weren't for the hump you could get 4 kegs in there.

I would get a measurement on the deep part of the hump. If you have 19" your golden..If not you could still easily get 2 in there so if the price is right its still worth it.

I guess your taking the railing off and using it as an undercounter fridge? A front breathing fridge would be better if your incorporating it into a counter like a dishwasher would look like. Cant see the bottom in the pic

How deep is the total unit on the outside?
Your bottom cabinets will be 24" deep most likely. As far as the door opening just leave the door sticking out past the the cabinet so it can swing completely open. The doo is probably around 1" maybe a little more. I will not look funny sticking out...Its how I have my under counter Kegerator

 

[user 224599]

The unit in question is supposed to be front breathing (apparently the 'BI' in the model number means built-in capable) and the manual has instructions for under-counter installation.
The actual unit pictured in the CL ad has an added fan and duct around the top edge, the inlet for which will be blocked if backed up against a wall. I hope to see the thing this weekend.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

The unit in question is supposed to be front breathing (apparently the 'BI' in the model number means built-in capable) and the manual has instructions for under-counter installation.
The actual unit pictured in the CL ad has an added fan and duct around the top edge, the inlet for which will be blocked if backed up against a wall. I hope to see the thing this weekend.

I bet it work out...What are they asking?

 

[RevKev]

Torpedo kegs.. stackable and cheap from MoreBeer. Easy way to get some kegs in there

 

[user 224599]

I bet it work out...What are they asking?

Price dropped from $700 to $650 recently, with no CO2 hardware and no tower or taps.

 

[user 224599]

Torpedo kegs.. stackable and cheap from MoreBeer. Easy way to get some kegs in there

Actually I thought of those guys in advance... I remember having seen them here.
I'll check the sizes, since I'm much more likely to be a 2.5 gallon brewer than a 5 gallon brewer (for now anyway.)

 

[RevKev]

Actually I thought of those guys in advance... I remember having seen them here.
I'll check the sizes, since I'm much more likely to be a 2.5 gallon brewer than a 5 gallon brewer (for now anyway.)

If you can find a fridge that is a perfect fit you can stack 1.5 and 2.5 gallon kegs.. I think the DIY option although trickier will work out. I just added a third tap to mine all you need is a hole saw, tape measure and hope you won't mess up the offset! Converting a one tap 3" tower to as many as you want can be a piece of cake. I'll give ya the before and after shots

View attachment 1489701441896.jpg

View attachment 1489701449944.jpg

 

[tomCT]

Fitting the kegs should not be a problem. I had this Haier kegerator, which is similar to the one the OP is referring to, and I could easily get three 5 gallon ball locks in.

 

[RevKev]

Fitting the kegs should not be a problem. I had this Haier kegerator, which is similar to the one the OP is referring to, and I could easily get three 5 gallon ball locks in.

I have the same kegerator (I think)... I was wondering if three ball locks would fit as I use decommissioned sankes and was thinking of getting torpedo kegs 2.5 and 1.5gal to stack... hmm.

Do you mind posting you inner dimensions? It would be a great help

View attachment 1489801572770.jpg

 

[mj1angier]

https://www.summitappliance.com/catalog/model/SBC635MBISSTB

19.5" x 20" inside dimensions not sure if that includes the compressor hump. If not I could fit four 9" diameter cornies.

I have this very model, came with a 3 tap tower. You can get 3 corny in it with some love and lube. But it is a pain. I am looking to move my co2 outside and use a 2.5 mid keg on that ledge.
Only 2 sixtels will fix.

 

[tomCT]

Revkev -

I no longer have this kegerator; I sold it last year or so.

In fitting the kegs in, one had to be right up to the door. There is a lip on the bottom of the door that protuded into the unit just a bit, so I set the one keg on a 2 x 8 piece of wood so it would clear.

 

[user 224599]

I have this very model, came with a 3 tap tower. You can get 3 corny in it with some love and lube. But it is a pain. I am looking to move my co2 outside and use a 2.5 mid keg on that ledge.
Only 2 sixtels will fix.

Have you measured the ledge? Will the 2.5 fit?

 

[mj1angier]

Have you measured the ledge? Will the 2.5 fit?

The co2 bottle is there now with more room. I think a 2.5 torpedo keg will fit there and hang off a bit. Then 2 full size kegs will fit easy