Custom Chamber or Chest Freezer?

[aaronmq]

Ok guys, I need some advice. I was very inspired by jstuts2260's chamber build seen here:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=538078

Having just built a keezer, I really want to have a ferment chamber and lager/conditioning/carbing chamber so I can have kegs ready to tap once one is kicked from my keezer. However, looking at jstuts2260's build (minus the built-in kegerator), it would cost at least $350-400 including the mini freezer he used to cool it.

However, I could also just get two 6.9 cf chest freezers from HD for $168 each (which will likely fit 3 kegs to carb/condition) and a second to ferment in. This would cost me about the same as the build above after I bought some temp controllers and I would not have to make any modifications to the equipment.

Craigslist here is pretty unreliable, so used freezers or fridges are pretty much out of the question.

What do you guys think? It's going to be in my garage, so I do not need anything too easy on the eyes, but SWMBO will definitely not let me rig something up that does not look good at all.

 

[noggins]

I toyed around with every possible fermentation chamber option for a while before getting super lucky and finding a used chest freezer on craigslist for $25, so that was a no-brainer. If I didn't have craigslist I'd probably check out a second hand shop or constantly ask my local hardware store about their scratch/dent returns, they can't sell them new so you can get a perfectly fine freezer with a scratch on it for a pretty good deal.

There are lots of really cool chamber build threads on here using small mini-fridges or a/c units that almost made me wanna build my own, but when it came down to it the cost was the same to buy a new freezer because I don't have a lot of scrap wood laying around. I also didn't want the 'son of fermentation chamber' ideas as I travel a lot and can't constantly maintain by swapping out water bottles or ice or whatever, but that may be another cheap option for you to look into.

 

[aaronmq]

Thanks for your input. I'm not really worried about the price as my budget is about $400, so I have plenty of options. However, I do want to do this fairly soon, so I probably won't wait around for craigslist much longer.

I think I'm with you though. If it is going to cost me the same to build the lager and ferment chambers as it would be to just buy the freezers, I may as well just go with the freezers.

 

[Doed]

For me, I use chest freezers. My fermenters fit in there with no issues so this was a no brainer for me. If in the future I decide to switch to conicals, I may consider a custom chamber but I will most likely first just look for a fridge to hold it. I got both chest freezers off Craiglist. Shame it isn't reliable for you.

 

[aaronmq]

Thanks. Looks like I'm probably going to go with the freezers. This way I do not have to build anything and I will not have to make any mods.. and if, for what ever reason, I stop brewing (when I die), my wife will have perfectly useful chest freezers.

And yes, I used to live in Tampa, FL and you could buy just about ANYTHING on craigslist.. Now I live in a small town so items on craigslist are pretty scarce.

 

[Brian77095]

Another good thing about a chest freezer is if you did not like it you could sell it to anyone not just brewer provided you don't mod it a lot.

The only thing I don;t like about chest freezer fermenters so far is getting the full carboys out and in. Currently I do not have any handles or straps so that makes it harder...

Other than that I like my freezer.

 

[Doed]

...The only thing I don;t like about chest freezer fermenters so far is getting the full carboys out and in. Currently I do not have any handles or straps so that makes it harder...

Yes this is a drawback to a chest freezer as a ferm chamber or a keezer. I use fermenters with handles so this is easier for me. Occasionally I'll ask my wife to help so this makes it that much easier although my last batch was 10 gallons and she complained afterwards saying she hurt her arm lowering the fermenter into the freezer...sissy

 

[burnsie8791]

I did a custom chamber, it did keep temp but used a ton of electricity and was very inefficient, granted im not a master builder Scrapped it and used a chest freezer, much more efficient and ended up costing less and took about 1/4 od the time to put together.