DIY brew closet/kegerator build

HealeyA87 · Aug 1, 2015

So I have a closet that has been used for nothing more than collecting junk and keeping things "out of sight, out of mind". It's the same place I've been letting my brews ferment. After a few times of my wife telling me to find a place for all my brew equipment, I finally decided to just empty the closet and use it as a brew closet. Originally I was just going to keep a microwave cart in it to set fermentors on top and some equipment inside but that quickly changed once I remembered that I had a mini fridge just sitting in the garage not being used. So now the plan is to build a cabinet around the fridge and convert he fridge into a kegerator. So I will use the closet as a brew closet and eventually serve my brews from it. (I don't have the room to keep a kegerator out somewhere in the house, so it's here or no where) i am planning on doing this as free/cheap as possible. All the wood will be reclaimed from pallets and any other course I find. I already had the paint, and most of the stuff I will need. I will still need to find a way to vent the heat from the fridge and to temp control the closet. Thankfully it's small so it shouldn't take much to do.
So here is the start. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1438446486.709084.jpg View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1438446519.842501.jpg View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1438446533.128066.jpg View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1438446544.979717.jpg

HealeyA87 · Oct 6, 2015

well I've been swarmed, and I finally got all the brews bottled and moved from the closet so I can actually start.managed to get a little done. Took longer than expected. Since I'm only using reclaimed wood, the pieces aren't perfect so I'm having to figure it out as I go.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1444163098.249193.jpg View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1444163113.445354.jpg View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1444163138.682310.jpg

bruteforce · Oct 6, 2015

Looks like the finished product will be pretty great. Looking forward to watching the progress.

HealeyA87 · Oct 6, 2015

Thanks. I hope so. I have a great idea in my head, and as long as I can make it happen, it should be good.

It's going be to be a slow process, I work full time with the fire department and im in the national guard. I live in Columbia SC, and have been out working the floods and will be out here for a few weeks before I get back home to finish

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

Well I finally got off military orders last week. I managed to get a little work done today. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1447196856.142727.jpg
Started with test fitting the wood to see what pieces fit best. Being reclaimed wood, it's not perfect. Some pieces are warped so I'm trying to find what fits the best and hope the screws will hold it down enough.

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1447196938.599246.jpg

I think I found a combination that works. But I will need the "back splash" and side pieces for trim due to the planks being uneven. There are gaps on the sides. But I kinda like the looks so ill keep it.

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

Table top is on and secured. Once I get the trim pieces I will move on to making a door for underneath.

pretzelb · Nov 10, 2015

I like the reclaimed lumber look.

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

Thanks. I do too. I think in gonna lightly sand it and seal it when I'm done but try to keep the rustic look

pretzelb · Nov 10, 2015

Sealing it is probably a good idea since it will get minor spills from time to time.

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

Yea that's what I was thinkin

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1447213084.255550.jpg
Figuring up a door

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1447213148.015147.jpg
I like it. Simple yet nice

HealeyA87 · Nov 10, 2015

I think this is a good stopping point for tonight. Next I will attach the door, add some hardware. Clean up some of the details like the fake flooring under the fridge and sanding/sealing the wood

HealeyA87 · Nov 16, 2015

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1447724227.325415.jpg

I picked up a couple kegs. I traded them for some stuff (stuff I had gotten for free) so I practically got 2 corny kegs for free. The fridge was free. I have a co2 tank for free. I got the pallet wood for free. So far, I have build everything here for under $5 (I had to buy screws lol)

SHbrewing · Nov 22, 2015

Following this build!

HealeyA87 · Nov 23, 2015

Sounds good! I will be getting the kegerator conversion kit for Christmas so I will defiantly post all I do to convert that so it fits this thread better

HealeyA87 · Nov 23, 2015

I'm trying to figure out what to seal the wood with. (As far as color is concerned) in definitely going to lightly sand it just to get rid of splinters. But I can't decide if I should go with a clear sealer or just slightly darker. I don't want to go very dark just for the fact of the brew closet being so small, I feel dark will make
It seem even smaller.

SHbrewing · Nov 25, 2015

HealeyA87 said:
I'm trying to figure out what to seal the wood with. (As far as color is concerned) in definitely going to lightly sand it just to get rid of splinters. But I can't decide if I should go with a clear dealer or just slightly darker. I don't want to go very dark just for the fact of the brew closet being so small, I feel dark will make
It seem even smaller.

clear dealer all the way

HealeyA87 · Dec 7, 2015

Started sanding the door, it looks good but I ran out of sandpaper.
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1449516069.310315.jpg

HealeyA87 · Jan 5, 2016

Been a little
While since I've done any work on this project, so time for an update. Tonight I started on getting the kegs to fit into the mini fridge.

For anyone wondering, this is a GE model # WMR04BAPBBB

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452048878.231790.jpg

HealeyA87 · Jan 5, 2016

Drinking some local brew while I work. This is some
Good stuff

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452048997.659874.jpg

BitterSweetBrews · Jan 5, 2016

HealeyA87 said:
well I've been swarmed, and I finally got all the brews bottled and moved from the closet so I can actually start.managed to get a little done. Took longer than expected. Since I'm only using reclaimed wood, the pieces aren't perfect so I'm having to figure it out as I go.

View attachment 307908 View attachment 307909 View attachment 307910

I notice the $2 Firehouse Subs 5 gallon pickle bucket in your picture. How did you get rid of the smell?

HealeyA87 · Jan 5, 2016

Haha I'm glad you noticed...
And that's funny cus I had a battle with the smell. But as of now it's pretty much gone

I filled it with water and added a hefty amount of bleach and closed the lid and let it sit for a few days. And then washed out with soap and water and the smell was still there but not as bad. Then I made a 5 gallon batch of star-San for a brew one day, poured it in the fH bucket, and it sat in my brew closet for a good 2 months, then the smell was practically gone once I poured the sanitizer out. The smell is just ever so slightly there. I'm considering making a batch of PBW and letting that sit for a bit and seeing if that gets the last bit out

HealeyA87 · Jan 5, 2016

Starting to remove some of the 'ribs' on the sides to make room

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452051244.204553.jpg

After I made enough room, I was able to get the evaporator to bend down, but if you do this be careful because you don't want to split the line..

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452051295.758586.jpg

HealeyA87 · Jan 5, 2016

So by complete surprise, both kegs fit without having to remove any more of the side wall. I've seen a few videos of people doing the same thing and they have to cut out a half circle from the bottom ledge before their kegs will fit. Next I have to take the door panel
Off so it can close. Also note in the picture. The co2 tank is behind the kegs. It fits

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452051940.019784.jpg

HealeyA87 · Jan 6, 2016

Removing the door panel. I need to cut the trim off and re-attach the "frame"so the gasket can fit and seal the kegerator.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452058257.639643.jpg

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452058225.367834.jpg

HealeyA87 · Jan 6, 2016

Time to cut

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452058353.315858.jpg

HealeyA87 · Jan 6, 2016

The Dremel was taking too long. An old fashioned blade did the trick and so much faster

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452058465.262061.jpg

HealeyA87 · Jan 6, 2016

Everything fits,
No issues..kinda surprised at this.

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452058497.732327.jpg
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1452058511.934598.jpg

DIY brew closet/kegerator build

Help Support Homebrew Talk:

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Supporting Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Tim Trabold

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Attachments

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads