Chest Freezer Specs and Layouts

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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.
 
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.
 
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! :cool:
 
@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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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/
 
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.
 
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!
 
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
 
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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.
 
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.
 

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

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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...
 
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.
 
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?
 
Chest Freezer Specs Sheets and Layout Drawings

Like what you see? Click 'Like' at the bottom of this post!

Introduction

A little while back, I discovered the [thread=75449]Sizing your Chest Freezer for Corny Kegs[/thread] thread that inspired me to build a keezer and a fermentation chamber. I was blown away at how much information has been gathered to date on chest freezer models. Unfortunately, the thread has become increasingly disorganized as it has aged and, at over 60 pages, is unwieldy to browse. I found myself search for hours on hours just trying to determine which freezer could suit my needs (four kegs on the floor, fifth on the hump). As with many of my purchases, it resulted in a huge spreadsheet filled with numbers that I'll never look back at.

In an attempt to help the community here, I decided to utilize my CAD skills to help others vastly shorten their search to find the perfect chest freezer for them. To this end, I've created a specification sheet and layout drawings for several models of chest freezer so that their homebrew capabilities, prices and special features can be browsed on-the-fly. My goal is to gather, synthesize, and present these products for each of 30 models, ranging from 3.5 cu ft to 25 cu ft in capacity.

Progress: 21 models completed (67% to goal of 30) out of 52 known.

Please note that all of my images are clickable for a much larger view. I recommend you middle-click on them (click with the mouse wheel) to open them in another tab so you aren't navigated away from this page.

A Recommendation

I highly recommend that you read the next 4 posts before browsing through the specification sheet and layouts drawings. They will answer most of the questions that will arise while navigating this thread.

NOTE: Model names listed in bold have been completed. All other links simply point to placeholders.

Capacities At-a-Glance:

q2keZ3T.png


Spec Sheets and Layouts:

3.5 cu ft Class

[post=5115222]Danby 3.6 cu ft DCF401W1[/post]
[post=5115204]Emerson 3.5 cu ft CF353[/post]
[post=4731042]Haier 3.5 cu ft HNCM035E[/post]
[post=5131705]Igloo 3.6 cu ft FRF434[/post]

5 cu ft Class
[post=5115226]Avanti 5.2 cu ft CF1510[/post]
[post=5115209]Black & Decker 5.0 cu ft BFQ50[/post]
[post=4731047]Danby 5.5 cu ft DCF550W1[/post]
[post=5616618]Frigidaire 5.0 cu ft FFC0522DW[/post]
[post=5616620]Frigidaire 5.0 cu ft FFFC05M4NW[/post]
[post=4731043]GE 5.0 cu ft FCM5SUWW[/post]
[post=5115215]Haier 5.0 cu ft HCM050EC[/post]
[post=4731044]Holiday 5.0 cu ft LCM050LC[/post]
[post=4731045]Igloo 5.2 cu ft FRF452
[/post]
[post=5616689]Kenmore 5.1 cu ft 18502[/post]

7 cu ft Class
[post=4731050]Danby 7.0 cu ft DCF700W1[/post]
[post=5038718]Frigidaire 7.0 cu ft FF07C3AW1[/post]

[post=5616141]Frigidaire 7.2 cu ft FF0723DW[/post]
[post=5616636]Frigidaire 7.2 cu ft FFC0723GB[/post]
[post=5616638]Frigidaire 7.2 cu ft FFC07M4NW[/post]
[post=4731051]GE 7.0 cu ft FCM7SUWW[/post]
[post=4731052]GE 7.0 cu ft FCM7DUWW[/post]
[post=4731056]Haier 7.1 cu ft HCM071AW[/post]
[post=4731053]Hanover 7.0 cu ft HANFC07MAW[/post]
[post=4731055]Holiday 7.0 cu ft LCM070LC[/post]
[post=4731057]Igloo 7.2 cu ft FRF472[/post]
[post=4906444]Kenmore 7.2 cu ft 18702[/post]
[post=4731048]Magic Chef 7.0 cu ft HMCF7W[/post]

[post=5616148]Menards 7.0 cu ft PS72731[/post]

9 cu ft Class
[post=4731058]Danby 8.7 cu ft DCFM246WDD[/post]
[post=4731060]Frigidaire 8.8 cu ft LFFC09M5HW[/post]
[post=5616660]Frigidaire 8.8 cu ft FFCH09M5MW[/post]

[post=5616622]Frigidaire 8.8 cu ft FFC0923DW[/post]
[post=4731059]GE 8.8 cu ft FCM9DTWH[/post]
[post=5616149]Kenmore 8.8 cu ft 16922[/post]
[post=5616681]Kenmore 8.8 cu ft 16949[/post]

10 cu ft Class
[post=4731061]Danby 10.2 cu ft DCFM289WDD[/post]

13 cu ft Class
[post=4731063]Frigidaire 12.9 cu ft LFCH13M2MW[/post]

15 cu ft Class
[post=4731069]Frigidaire 14.8 cu ft LFFN15M5HW[/post]
[post=5616792]Frigidaire 14.8 cu ft GLFC1526FW[/post]

[post=4731067]GE 14.8 cu ft FCM15PUWW[/post]
[post=4731068]GE 14.8 cu ft FCM15SUWW[/post]
Kenmore 14.8 cu ft 16542 Rebadged Frigidaire LFFN15M5HW
[post=4731064]Maytag 14.8 cu ft MQC1552TEW[/post]

[post=4731065]Whirlpool 14.8 cu ft EH151FXTQ[/post]

18 cu ft Class
[post=4731071]Whirlpool 17.5 cu ft EH185FXTQ[/post]

20.0 cu ft Class
[post=4731074]Frigidaire 19.7 cu ft FGCH20M7LW[/post]
[post=4731072]GE 19.7 cu ft FCM20SUWW[/post]
[post=5131691]Kenmore 19.7 cu ft 16082[/post]

22 cu ft Class

[post=4731077]Amana 21.7 cu ft AQC2213TEW[/post]
[post=4731090]Whirlpool 21.7 cu ft EH225FXTQ[/post]

25 cu ft Class
[post=4731092]Frigidaire 24.6 cu ft FGCH25M8LW[/post]

[post=4731091]GE 24.9 cu ft FCM25SBWW[/post]
[post=5616694]Kenmore 24.6 cu ft 16582[/post]


I see this old post by Thadius. Great work. Is there an updated spreadsheet? I'm hoping to get the dimensions on the Magic Chef 8.7cu (Home Depot). Not sure how big the hump is. Magic Chef 8.7 cu. ft. Manual Defrost Chest Freezer in White-HMCF9W3 - The Home Depot
 
I just picked up a Hisense 7.0 cubic foot chest freezer at the local Walmart for $149. Model fc70d6ewd These were just stacked up in the aisle along with fans, air conditioners, mini fridge, and other seasonal items. This is in western NY state. YMMV

It fits 4 ball lock kegs on the floor and a 10lb Co2 tank on the hump (without a collar). A fifth 5g keg will fit on the hump with a 5"+ collar. Its pretty tight so I am not sure 4 pin lock kegs would fit on the floor.

I attached some pics.
20210615_222613.jpg
20210615_222641.jpg
20210615_222628.jpg
 
I just picked up a Hisense 7.0 cubic foot chest freezer at the local Walmart for $149. Model fc70d6ewd

Hi Spundit, thinking of pulling the trigger on this very freezer tomorrow to use as a fermentation chamber. Just wanted to check in and see if you still liked yours. Also, noticed you’ve got a blow tie on there— does that fit in without a collar? (Looks like it does, but can’t be sure)
 
I have only had it for about a month but it is working as expected. No complaints.

There is plenty of room for a spunding valve or blowoff tube setup. I just measured and it is at least 28.25" deep.
 
@odie thanks for the pics and the info regarding the Magic Chef 7.0. I plan to bring my kegs to HD in the comming weeks to verify for myself (not all kegs are created equal), but I wanted to ask if you built a collar for yours...and if you did, how did you remove the lid...kinda hard to tell from the pics on the HD website (I cannot see any screws)
 
I have a collar but it does not factor into keg capacity for me. The lid hinges just unscrew.
 
Just saw an Arctic King at Wal Mart for $199 in black. Hard to find color it seems. 7cf... ARC070s0ARBB anyone have one and how many kegs on the floor?
 
Frigidaire FFFC15M4TW 14.8 Cubic Foot Chest Freezer


View attachment 704282

My 12.8 cf second keezer ("K2". RIP) was in the throes of demise (slow refrigerant leak) and the pickings for the next build were uber slim hereabout. I was very fortunate to obtain this new unit, which may have been the only one of its size in New England in the middle of August.

While you can close the lid with a ball lock keg on the floor, if you add a QD to it, no bueno. It's just not tall enough. The lid projects down into the cabinet cavity by a couple of inches - pretty much follows the 25-9/16" line seen from the side view - which doesn't leave enough room for much more than bare kegs.

And, from all appearances, the lid is glued together with foam and can't be opened - can't even remove the liner as best as I've been able to tell. There are no screws or pop fasteners to be found, and the gasket has a barbed tang on the back side that is simply stuffed into a slot running about a half-inch inside the lid perimeter.

No way to hide plumbing and wiring inside it as I did on both my K1 and K2 keezers if it can't be opened up. So one way or the other, a collar or custom lid is required (I went with the latter as I'm a tower fan :))

Anyway, here are some dimension diagrams. I'll be going with this configuration as it's comfortably loose...

View attachment 704284

For the more aggressive, the maximum ball lock kegs on the floor is 9...


View attachment 704286

For pin lockers, the maximum pin lock kegs on the floor is also 9...

View attachment 704285

When I first obtained the unit I powered it up to make sure it worked (it'd be over 2 months before the build was completed). I noticed a mid-range moaning sound that was just the right frequency and strength to roll through our 65 foot ranch house. Not sure what that was all about, but once the build was completed a week ago and it was powered up presumably until it dies it's been purring along at least as quietly as its K2 predecessor - which used a very similar compressor. Anyway, it's very quiet :)

Worth knowing:
  • The left end of the cabinet has no condenser runs, so it can literally butt up against whatever with no issues wrt operational efficiency/safety.
  • There are evaporator runs on the broad side of the hump. Never seen that before.
  • The compressor is mounted on a ribbed steel plate that is then attached to the underside of the cabinet. The plate and especially ribs project downwards below the rest of the cabinet, so if the whole thing was set on the floor it'd have a pronounced tilt. The unit is supplied with both a pair of feet to level the opposite end, as well as a set of casters for those who like their freezers mobile.
Cheers!

[edit] Forgot the pics!


A "Plain Jane" on the outside. It does sport a lock and pilot light on the handle.

View attachment 704343


Notice how deep the lid liner protrudes, and the light adds an additional ~inch.

View attachment 704344

When I got the unit home and saw this "Cyclopentane" I got a bit freaked as I thought it was a new type of refrigerant.
Turns out it's a foam-in-place process that this unit heavily utilized that's supposed to be more benign to the environment.

View attachment 704345

Thank goodness for the three hinges. The oem lid weighs 25 pounds, my replacement weighs 50 fully loaded.

View attachment 704346


No condenser at the left end so zero clearance. Handy for me as I have a fridge to the left.

View attachment 704347

Sorry if I missed this in a previous post, but I'm looking to try and do exactly as you have done with the newer model of this freezer (Model #FFCL1542AW Frigidaire 14.8 Cu. Ft. Chest Freezer in White-FFCL1542AW - The Home Depot), which looks to have the same dimensions. I'm also a tower fan, so the height restriction would be a dealbreaker. How did you go about sourcing the custom replacement lid?
 
I need help! I am looking for a 5.0 CU chest freezer to fit two 1/6 bbl kegs with no collar.
I might have to go with a 7.0 CU freezer instead. Im not sure.
 
How are you going to put your taps in that, without a collar?
I may be wrong but I thought there was enough interior height to fit 1/6bbls kegs on the floor of the freezer with enough room for the tap without any collar. I am not against using a small collar. However the plan is for this to go under my countertop so I have limited height.
 
I may be wrong but I thought there was enough interior height to fit 1/6bbls kegs on the floor of the freezer with enough room for the tap without any collar. I am not against using a small collar. However the plan is for this to go under my countertop so I have limited height.
Well, you need to measure it, and carefully before you buy.
Or better yet, take an (empty) sixtel with a Sanke coupler on it to the store.

Don't forget to have enough space above the keg for the couplers, with the lines attached and all. There's a significant height requirement for them. They do make low profile couplers, so that can make the difference of a fit or not.

Yeah, under a regular height counter there's not much leeway. Are you gonna slide that freezer out each time you need to go inside?
And you still need to mount the taps somewhere, you can't drill safely through the sides, there are coils in them. The lid has no coils in it, neither has the hump, but you do have a hot compressor in there.

Where's your CO2 tank gonna live?
 
Definitely appreciate this thread. I was able to blindly (with a modicum of confidence and without being able to see a floor model) buy an Insignia 7 cu ft chest freezer today as a result.
When I got it home, I was able to confirm it will hold (4) ball locks on the floor. Plus room for a 2.5 gallon keg on the hump.
Bought it from Best Buy @ 229.99
Model: NS-CZ70WH0 SKU: 6385046
20220108_145044.jpg
 
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