Chest Freezer Specs and Layouts

[drewmuni8]

Personally, I would only put 3 kegs on the bottom. It would be VERY difficult to remove one if you managed to squeeze 4 full kegs in the first place. There is ZERO wiggle room. Not sure if a 5 lb CO2 tank would fit on the ledge without a collar, but it fits on the old one. In the old model, I currently have 4 kegs on the bottom, and a 5lb tank with a double regulator on the ledge.

Pulled the trigger on a 7.0 Magic Chef. Perfect size for what i need so it worked out. Curveball though, i plan to mount a black iron tower on the top and also have a layer of butcher block as the "counter top" but wasn't expecting a light to be inside of the top of the lid. I removed the light cover and all i could see were wires going directly to the back of the lid which would theoretically be alright if i drilled into the top of where I want to. So, if i end up hitting wires for the lights while drilling am I totally screwed or just damaging the function of the light?

Cheers!

 

[wepeeler]

Pulled the trigger on a 7.0 Magic Chef. Perfect size for what i need so it worked out. Curveball though, i plan to mount a black iron tower on the top and also have a layer of butcher block as the "counter top" but wasn't expecting a light to be inside of the top of the lid. I removed the light cover and all i could see were wires going directly to the back of the lid which would theoretically be alright if i drilled into the top of where I want to. So, if i end up hitting wires for the lights while drilling am I totally screwed or just damaging the function of the light?

Cheers!

Glad it worked out for you. I "think" you should be fine drilling through the top lid. Pretty sure it's just the light on the top. The cooling stuff would most likely not be on the lid, only in the ledge and around the edges of the bottom. I was able to plug the light back in after adding the collar, and it seems to work great.

 

[matt_m]

I hit the light wires drilling into the lid for my CO2 line. I just cut them off inside the lid and unplugged the wire in the body.

 

[jtgoral]

I have 3 taps in the freezer and 4 kegs inside. The fourth gets carbonated and is waiting to be connected to the tap as soon as one gets empty. I think this is a good way to condition the beer...

 

[TheBluePhantom]

Measured a Magic Chef at home depot about 4 years ago. Plenty of room for 4 kegs. The salesman asks me to take the one in the box, not the floor model, he doesn't want to unbox another. that should have been a clue, who would take the floor model first? get home, unpack, drill a few holes in the lid. start to load kegs, and low and behold, it is longer and narrower than the floor model. I can fit 4 in, but they are so tight I have to wiggle them in. I only could really use it for 3, I had soda and it would freeze if it touched the side. It died 3 years later.

 

[kevbrandt]

Pulled the trigger on a 7.0 Magic Chef. Perfect size for what i need so it worked out. Curveball though, i plan to mount a black iron tower on the top and also have a layer of butcher block as the "counter top"

This sounds similar to what I was planning. Were you able to drop 4 kegs in 7.0 Magic Chef with a collar?

 

[SSMBrewing]

Hi all! First thank you to everyone keeping this thread going for all this time. I too am in the market for a chest freezer to use as a fermentation chamber. I have limited space and not particularly handy (pretty sure if I try to add a collar to a freezer my whole apartment will burn down somehow). Can anyone recommend a 5cu or 5.5 freezer that will fit 2 fermentation buckets (12 inch diameter, 22 inch height including airlock)? If 2 is unrealistic it sounds like most 5 cu freezers should be able to fit one of these buckets? Thank you!

 

[Apple_Jacker]

I've been sitting on an old Crosley chest freezer for years in the hopes to turn it into a keezer (model # WCC07/F).
7 cubic feet, comfortably fits 4 kegs and a CO2 tank. This year may finally be the year I do it.

 

[Brich]

Is there a particular reason or logic to have CO2 inside as opposed to outside of freezer? Cheers!

 

[Joeywhat]

Is there a particular reason or logic to have CO2 inside as opposed to outside of freezer? Cheers!

It's easier to keep it inside. Outside CO2 means having to run the lines through the freezer walls somehow, which is a bit of work.

 

[Joeywhat]

Also, it can possibly mean one more keg in the keezer, depending on sizes and all that. For me it frees up the hump for mini kegs, or to store packaged beer or something.

 

[Jayjay1976]

If you add a wooden collar to increase the inside height, it's a simple matter to move the CO2 tank outside, making space for another keg inside. If your collar is ~10" high, you can fit 2-3 more kegs on the hump, depending on your freezer.

 

[Brich]

Thanks! I'm just beginning to try to think HOW to set this up...so many great ideas, thoughts, pictures of builds on here! Just coming up with more and more questions. Plus I'm kinda putting cart before horse, I already bought 3 kegs and a 20 pound co2 tank and faucets. Like the idea of having enough room to have a 4th keg carbonating and have room for yeast, bottles, whatever. I've never heard or read anyone wishing for a smaller garage, less storage, or smaller keezer!

 

[Doed]

@Brich The current keezer I have, I put the CO2 on the inside. The previous one, that quit working, I had the CO2 on the outside. There are +/- for both setups. Like a lot of things related to brewing...personal preference.

 

[StringzMeanThingz]

I’m about to start my build, just haven’t settled on a specific freezer as it seems most of the models referenced here have been updated and many are slightly smaller now. My goal is to have at least two sixth barrel kegs and two corney kegs, although I may want to fit a fifth one if space allows with a collar.

I currently narrowed it down to these two but I’m still worried they may not be large enough. Would love to hear your opinion and any suggestions. Going to look this weekend at them in store but you all are the experts so wanted to see if anyone was willing to share their thoughts. Thanks in advance!

https://www.target.com/p/frigidaire-7-0-cu-ft-chest-freezer-white/-/A-52584638
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Magic-Chef-7-0-cu-ft-Chest-Freezer-in-White-HMCF7W4/311895691

 

[renstyle]

My goal is to have at least two sixth barrel kegs and two corney kegs, although I may want to fit a fifth one if space allows with a collar.

I currently narrowed it down to these two but I’m still worried they may not be large enough. Would love to hear your opinion and any suggestions. Going to look this weekend at them in store but you all are the experts so wanted to see if anyone was willing to share their thoughts. Thanks in advance!

Grab yourself some cardboard and a sharpie. Take appropriately sized "circles" to the store with you to verify if the layout you want to attempt will work with these units.

A pair of corny size (8.5"/220mm for ball lock and 9"/230mm for pin lock) and another pair of sixtel (9.25"/235mm) should do the trick.

 

[nickbarley]

I’m about to start my build, just haven’t settled on a specific freezer as it seems most of the models referenced here have been updated and many are slightly smaller now. My goal is to have at least two sixth barrel kegs and two corney kegs, although I may want to fit a fifth one if space allows with a collar.

I currently narrowed it down to these two but I’m still worried they may not be large enough. Would love to hear your opinion and any suggestions. Going to look this weekend at them in store but you all are the experts so wanted to see if anyone was willing to share their thoughts. Thanks in advance!

https://www.target.com/p/frigidaire-7-0-cu-ft-chest-freezer-white/-/A-52584638
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Magic-Chef-7-0-cu-ft-Chest-Freezer-in-White-HMCF7W4/311895691

In general, 7.2 cubic feet should allow you to fit 4 corny kegs next to the bump:

https://www.powellbrewers.com/keezer-build/

 

[Doed]

Grab yourself some cardboard and a sharpie. Take appropriately sized "circles" to the store with you to verify if the layout you want to attempt will work with these units.

A pair of corny size (8.5"/220mm for ball lock and 9"/230mm for pin lock) and another pair of sixtel (9.25"/235mm) should do the trick.

This is what I did. Make some templates for what you have and place them in the freezer to see if they will fit.

 

[StringzMeanThingz]

I ended up going with a Midea 8.8 cu ft freezer. Unfortunately most of the stores didn’t have any on display or only had tiny ones readily available which were to small for my use. I had my keg cutouts ready and everything!

Someone in the reviews for Midea 8.8 at Lowe’s posted a photo with four corny kegs without a collar, mentioned there was plenty of room, and there’s clearly enough room for at least one/two more with a collar. I wish more people left reviews like that but everyone in this forum has been very helpful. Thanks everyone!

 

[odie]

What really sucks is that it seems the smaller freezers have gotten shallower front to back. forces the kegs to be staggered which eats valuable space. I remember when a 5cf could swallow 3 kegs on the floor and a 7cf class could take 5. Something happened and they are all getting narrower for some reason. makes it rather frustrating, especially when you have limited floor space to put your kegerator.

Thinking about that 8.8 Midea. What sucks is I have an old ugly unit in the garage that I can fit 6 on the floor but it's smaller than 8.8cf

 

[Crafty_Brewer]

What really sucks is that it seems the smaller freezers have gotten shallower front to back. forces the kegs to be staggered which eats valuable space. I remember when a 5cf could swallow 3 kegs on the floor and a 7cf class could take 5. Something happened and they are all getting narrower for some reason. makes it rather frustrating, especially when you have limited floor space to put your kegerator.

Thinking about that 8.8 Midea. What sucks is I have an old ugly unit in the garage that I can fit 6 on the floor but it's smaller than 8.8cf

That does suck. I’m looking around for freezer options to build my keezer soon as well. I wish there was something cheaper than that Midea, looks like Lowe’s wants $399 for it. The Magic Chef 7.0 from Home Depot is $229 and others have indicated that it fits 3 on the floor. $170 extra for +1 keg capacity hurts, but I’m cheap. Home Depot currently has a Hotpoint 9.4 for $368 on sale, $409 regular price; one review with pics mentioned they were able to fit 6 kegs & 2x20# tanks with a 10” collar. Might be an option.

 

[odie]

I just got back from Home Depot. The magic chef 7.0 fits 3 kegs. I brought my kegs there. The off brand vissani 7.0 fits 4 on the floor. $229 and I grabbed it.

 

[Crafty_Brewer]

I just got back from Home Depot. The magic chef 7.0 fits 3 kegs. I brought my kegs there. The off brand vissani 7.0 fits 4 on the floor. $229 and I grabbed it.

Awesome! I think I’m going with the Vissani 7.0 as well when I go to pick up a freezer for my build. That has to be the best keg capacity at that price point.

 

[odie]

Bring your kegs. All these import freezers are almost identical. Probably same factories slapping different names on them. No guarantees it will fit but should. They keep changing brand names probably too avoid warranty payouts. The magic chef was only about 1/2” less but it made all the difference in staggering. Most these freezers are cheap promotions and change very often. It won’t last so if it fits get it now

 

[IslandLizard]

The Magic Chef 7.0 from Home Depot is $229 and others have indicated that it fits 3 on the floor. $170 extra for +1 keg capacity hurts, but I’m cheap.

All these import freezers are almost identical.

FWIW, I saw chest freezers at Sam's Club, $170 for 5 cu.ft. and $200 for 7 cu/ft. They had stacks of them.
They looked rather tall, instead of wide/deep, so I dunno how many kegs they would actually fit.

Yup, take a few kegs or some floor projection templates.

 

[odie]

It's in my living room but still in the box. I'll to take some pics with the kegs inside later today. "trust but verify" as Reagan said. Proof is always best. I'm thinking it's going to be a tight clearance getting the kegs past the shanks. I could put the shanks off to the side over the compressor hump but I need them on the far left, not right since how it's going to be placed.

 

[odie]

As promised. 4 on the floor. About 1/2” spare wiggle room

 

[bkboiler]

Best buy near me has 7.0 insignia for $170 and target near me has fridigaire 7.0 for $150.
I can't cross reference these model numbers anywhere though and the nearest ones in stock are quite a drive if I wanted to go "measure" with cardboard...

 

[odie]

Best buy near me has 7.0 insignia for $170 and target near me has fridigaire 7.0 for $150.
I can't cross reference these model numbers anywhere though and the nearest ones in stock are quite a drive if I wanted to go "measure" with cardboard...

Over the years I've looked at various 7cf models from both those brands...they always fit only 3. Those are great prices but unless they can fit 4 on the floor...It's worth a few bucks more to get that extra keg without going with a much larger freezer.

This Vissani is a "new-to-me" brand. For whatever reason, the internal front to back space is only 1/2-1" more...which makes it all possible.

 

[ca443]

I ended up going with a Midea 8.8 cu ft freezer. Unfortunately most of the stores didn’t have any on display or only had tiny ones readily available which were to small for my use. I had my keg cutouts ready and everything!

Someone in the reviews for Midea 8.8 at Lowe’s posted a photo with four corny kegs without a collar, mentioned there was plenty of room, and there’s clearly enough room for at least one/two more with a collar. I wish more people left reviews like that but everyone in this forum has been very helpful. Thanks everyone!

Did you end up putting a collar on your Keezer? Wondering if you did if you were able to fit two ball locks on the hump? If so what size collar did you go with?