Danby w/ built in freezer

[rookiemonkeys]

I am ready to attempt my first kegerator build. Minimal research but this site has been helpful. It is clear to me that I want to use the Danby as it allows for 2 corny's with no shelf cuts (only door).

But the Danby with freezer (DAR044A2) is about $50 cheaper than the one that is without the freezer compartment (DAR044A5). From the pictures, they look like the exact same fridge, just with a flimsy plastic insert to be the "freezer".

Does anyone have more knowledge on how easily the freezer is removed from one of these? Am I better off playing it safe and using the fridge only Danby that many others on this forum have appeared to use?

Thanks!
Joe

 

[Casedeville]

Does anyone have more knowledge on how easily the freezer is removed from one of these? Am I better off playing it safe and using the fridge only Danby that many others on this forum have appeared to use?

The freezer in there is not just plastic, it's actually the entire cooling element with coolant running through it. You can't remove it, you'll need to bend it down and out of the way to fit your kegs in.

With that said, I HIGHLY recommend paying the extra $50 unless you are experienced with gently and carefully bending coolant lines. I broke two fridges trying to bend the freezer out of the way and ended up going with the Danby that doesn't have the freezer. Once you break the coolant line, you just throw away the entire thing because it's more expensive to fix than to buy a new one.

I have seen others online do it, and one of my friends was able to bend the freezer out of the way, but I still don't know how anyone can do it without kinking or breaking the lines.

 

[rookiemonkeys]

Casedeville, THANKS! Exactly the information I was looking for. Just bought the Danby with no freezer...and it looks like its the "old" one that has the shelf hooks in the back, so no protrusions on the sides that would need removal.

...crossing my fingers this means it also has the screws in the door panel instead of being glued in place. (Yes, I've pretty much read every "Danby" related thread on here at this point...they have been immensely helpful.)