Collar, wood choice, insulation, where to begin?

[ILMSTMF]

I'm not handy. Some friends owe me favors so they'll be builing the collar for me. Here's the details:

• have chest freezer. Will hold four 5 gallon cornies.
• 20# tank to be left outside of freezer to save space inside. This will also afford me to ability to use a shorter collar. Keeping that tank inside would require 8 1/4" height minimum. Going with a 4" collar height.
• freezer wrapped in black vinyl already - I'm not ripping it off.
• to be used near kitchen so looks are to be considered.
• however, larger focus is using quality wood that will resist condensation/swelling/whatever. Function first, form next.

1) So, what type of wood?
2) Do I make one collar that sits on the freezer?
3) Do I treat that as an interior collar then build another for the front and sides to bolt to the interior collar?
4) Or do I just make one collar and adhere it to the freezer top? With what kind of adhesive?
5) What kind of insulation to use and how to apply to inside of collar?
6) Since CO2 will be outside of freezer, will need a hole drilled to run the gas line in. Would prob use same hole for Inkbird temp probe. How to minimize loss of refrigeration through this hole?

All ears for advice. Thank you very much.

 

[flars]

Go with planks made from recycled plastic. No swelling, moisture problems, and no wood finishing to do. There was a thread a few months ago showing the build.

 

[jbraaten]

I just got done doing one of these with information cobbled from all over the web. Here is how I worked it out.

1) So, what type of wood?
Non pourous would be best. However, I used pallet wood (2 by 4) then stained and treated it with polyurethane

2) Do I make one collar that sits on the freezer?
That is what I did. Remember, measure twice and cut once. You can attach your existing lid to the back of the collar for reusability.
3) Do I treat that as an interior collar then build another for the front and sides to bolt to the interior collar?
I have seen it done both ways. Lots of folks use pine for the interior and oak for the exterior mostly for aesthetic reasons. Again, I used pallet wood then stained it and have a very nice looking setup.
4) Or do I just make one collar and adhere it to the freezer top? With what kind of adhesive? I used window/door silicon. Cost about $5 and since it is designed to keep moisture out, it has worked great.

5) What kind of insulation to use and how to apply to inside of collar?
Standard home insulation can work well. I would use the silicon above.

6) Since CO2 will be outside of freezer, will need a hole drilled to run the gas line in. Would prob use same hole for Inkbird temp probe. How to minimize loss of refrigeration through this hole?

If you are dealing properly, then two holes are fine. It is preference, I believe.

 

[ILMSTMF]

Thank you.

Yes, attaching freezer lid to collar.

Good tip on the silicon.