Compact, Portable Keezer Build (7 cf Lowes special)

[IslandLizard]

Really beautiful keezer project!

One thing... If you're going to encase the freezer with the wood panels and strips, will the freezer still be able to adequately chill its outside, where the hot coils are?

 

[nab911]

I thought about all of that when planning it. There is a 1 inch gap all of the way around and I will add fans if needed but after the initial cooldown, it really does not warm up at all.

 

[IslandLizard]

I thought about all of that when planning it. There is a 1 inch gap all of the way around and I will add fans if needed but after the initial cooldown, it really does not warm up at all.

Excellent planning!

And sure, it doesn't have to go down to -4°F either.

 

[nab911]

Excellent planning!

And sure, it doesn't have to go down to -4°F either.

Yeah. If you let it warm all of the way up and cool back down its gets pretty warm to the touch but should not be much of an issue at all. I would almost say that the gap is not even needed but it was one of those things where you can't ADD a gap in after .

 

[nab911]

Got a lot done tonight. Start assembling the coffin and while that was drying I went ahead and bored out the hole for the temp controller.

Also got the new hinges attached and glued. Had to use a shim piece to get them to line up correctly. Every bit is liquid nails'ed and screwed in. Gonna let it cure for a week before opening again but it already feels solid as a rock so I really dodged that land mine.

It was a bitch cutting out the whole for the temp controller but I used the hole saw that I used to bore the shanks to put 3 holes and then routed with a roto zip. Fits in there very snuggly.

Coffin is simply liquid nails'ed right now but I might go back and add some bracing inside but that will all come as I plan out how to route the lines, foam, air, etc. Can't wait to pull a beer off this!

 

[Locklearmj]

Looking great so far!

 

[nab911]

I am going to try to get a lot done tonight. Realized that I could easily hook up a line so I got my first pull this saturday before the football game. After that I got excited and have ignored the rest of the staining and casing and have been focusing on finishing up the coffin so that this is fully operational .

Also got my 10# tank in from homebrewing.org. Just over $70 shipped, look fantastic and costs the same $11 that a 5# bottle does at a local restaurant supply store down here. Also kegged up and am carbing a cider for the mrs and a pinot blanc that I am going to serve on nitro.

 

[RhodySeth]

Well done. Looking good!

 

[Locklearmj]

Are you putting a fan or anything in the coffin to help keep the lines cold? Do you still think the nitro tank will fit along with the 10# co2?

Can't wait to build my own version of this in a few months!

 

[nab911]

Are you putting a fan or anything in the coffin to help keep the lines cold? Do you still think the nitro tank will fit along with the 10# co2?

Can't wait to build my own version of this in a few months!

Just ordered a pair of high power 12V fans I am going to wire in. One will be always on, blowing air through a smooth, duct foil lined path in the coffin. The 2nd will probably be switched with the compressor and cycle air around the freezer itself. Trying to get a lot done today as im going to NYC for the weekend.

I got some of the hole drilled out for the coffin vent but the drill kept dying. Going though oak, then metal, then layers of foam really takes a lot!

 

[iijakii]

Looking good, but the idea of that being considered compact and portable is hilarious!

 

[frettfreak]

Getting ready to do the same with a 7cu freezer i picked up too! Looking good man!

Your idea of portable and mine are WAY WAY WAAAAAAAAAAAY off though!! Portable = jockey box
Not so portable = keezer! lol

You made me want to go back and see if i can fit another keg in mine though!

 

[nab911]

Lol, well I do have the igloo cooler that holds a single corny for when I go tailgate (thats where the original 5# bottle came from). Compact was that I fit 5 kegs and 2 co2 bottles in a keezer that can still roll down a tiny condo hallway into the living room.

Ill post up some more pics soon. Now that it is operational, It has take some willpower to finish trimming it up and staining the panels lol.

 

[nab911]

No big progress as I have just been staining but here are some shots of the coffin all foamed up, the 10# tank with dual body regulator and a cider we have been pounding through.

 

[nab911]

Got the coffin trim glued down and started attaching the sides:

 

[Locklearmj]

Looking good! Any updates?

 

[nab911]

Ill try to post some pics up tonight. My temp sensor went out the other day and froze everything up. I got the front and left panels on and when I went to open it realized I made everything a bit to snug and it could not clear the back lol. I had to cut a slice out of each corner so that the top had room to pivot.

 

[nab911]

Here are a few pics as it sits. Glued on the other top trim piece last night. You can see that back corner where I had to angle it so it would open. Going to empty it today and see if I can position it so everything lines up perfectly.

One of my issues at the moment is lid support. It has some weight to it and with the new style hinges, there is nothing to stop it from flying back and destroying itself. I have seen 2 solutions but can't find the damn parts on amazon or home depot. One was using 2, loop ended steel cables that mount to the lid and center of the base so that it stops at full length. The other was mounted struts/shocks but I can't find any under $25 a piece nor a decent length with mounting hardware. Any ideas?

 

[Locklearmj]

I recently saw someone use short chains attached to the lid and the base to keep it from going back too far.

How cramped is it inside with 5 kegs, all the lines and regulators, and the Co2 and nitro tanks? I'm still trying to decide whether I should use this freezer or bump up to an 8.8 ft^3. I like the small footprint of this freezer, im just worried if it will be too cramped with all that stuff inside.

 

[nab911]

I recently saw someone use short chains attached to the lid and the base to keep it from going back too far.

How cramped is it inside with 5 kegs, all the lines and regulators, and the Co2 and nitro tanks? I'm still trying to decide whether I should use this freezer or bump up to an 8.8 ft^3. I like the small footprint of this freezer, im just worried if it will be too cramped with all that stuff inside.

Oh it's cramped lol.

If you want, I can take a pic with everything inside tonight with all of the other stuff on, Collar, Regulators, etc. I still need to finish off some of the lines but everything is just about there.

 

[Locklearmj]

Yeah that would be great!

 

[nab911]

Sorry it took so long. I keep getting side tracked! I did get the last side put on but the 45 deg angle i cut with my miter saw was not enough to clear so I had to saw more off on that one. This has definitely been a learning process lol..

As for the space... It is cramped. Very cramped. Last keg on the floor has to be the front right (blue top) and it has to be pushed down. I am sure a little clever banging could make it slide in like butter but just saying. Also, where I mounted my temp controller causes and issue for dropping in 10# co2 tank. I had to slide in the co2 tank at an angle under the controller, then the short keg and then the last to floor kegs. Gonna have to play with some things to get a good process going .

 

[Newsman]

Sorry it took so long. I keep getting side tracked! I did get the last side put on but the 45 deg angle i cut with my miter saw was not enough to clear so I had to saw more off on that one. This has definitely been a learning process lol..

As for the space... It is cramped. Very cramped. Last keg on the floor has to be the front right (blue top) and it has to be pushed down. I am sure a little clever banging could make it slide in like butter but just saying. Also, where I mounted my temp controller causes and issue for dropping in 10# co2 tank. I had to slide in the co2 tank at an angle under the controller, then the short keg and then the last to floor kegs. Gonna have to play with some things to get a good process going .

Just spray the kegs with cooking spray. :cross:

 

[Locklearmj]

What size nitro tank are you using? Also, would a 5lb C02 tank help much with the space issues? I wouldn't mind swapping co2 more often if it makes things a bit less cramped. I'm currently ordering all the stuff to do this project myself.

I already own 2 of the freezers for food and fermentation, so luckily I can test it out with one of those first to see if I think it'll be too cramped.

Thanks for the help!

 

[nab911]

What size nitro tank are you using? Also, would a 5lb C02 tank help much with the space issues? I wouldn't mind swapping co2 more often if it makes things a bit less cramped. I'm currently ordering all the stuff to do this project myself.

I already own 2 of the freezers for food and fermentation, so luckily I can test it out with one of those first to see if I think it'll be too cramped.

Thanks for the help!

It absolutely would. I saw the space for #10 so went ahead but a #5 would make it easier to maneuver. I have a spare #5 which I might throw in there if it comes to fitting 5 kegs in. Ill gets some pics up tonight. Got the whole work area cleaned up and am having a HW party. Still needs some poly, one last trim piece, the back and some other stuff but its gonna get her maiden voyage tonight!

 

[Locklearmj]

Great, I'm gonna grab a 5lb Co2 and a 20cf nitro. Good luck with the party! We've got family staying with us for Thanksgiving, so I'm in a rush to have mine functional by then.

 

[nab911]

Great, I'm gonna grab a 5lb Co2 and a 20cf nitro. Good luck with the party! We've got family staying with us for Thanksgiving, so I'm in a rush to have mine functional by then.

The nitro is a 5# looking tank. I know their use different standard measurements but one thing to note is you will have to have some way to raise it off of the floor so that the gauges are above the keg line. You don't want to have any pressure resting on the neck.

 

[UofMontanaAlum]

Looks great! :rockin:

 

[nab911]

Well I apparently did not take many pictures on Halloween but I got a nice picture of the setup before everyone showed up. Ended up being the room where everyone hung out all night lol. Was originally going to roll it out into the living room but the back panel and one side trim piece was not done so that will have to wait a few weeks. Also got my raspberry pints server setup on my desktop and got this tablet for $50 on ebay that just displays the page.

 

[Butchhe]

Looks good.