Draft Tower vs. Shank Thru Door?

[maxr]

I just purchased a Sanyo 4912 (open-box at Best Buy!) and I'm pondering how to best set it up. I've seen a lot of draft tower modifications, but it seems like it ought to be just as easy to put shanks through the front door and have front-mounted taps. Is there a good reason to have a draft tower as opposed to door-mounted taps? The big advantage that I see to going the door route is that if the fridge breaks, I can buy another, swap doors, and return the original one. That wouldn't be possible with a 3" hole in the top of the fridge unit.

max

 

[bradsul]

I doubt there is room inside for the shanks and hoses to fit in between the door and the keg (there certainly isn't in my model of mini-fridge anyway).

 

[mr x]

I did it with mine. And they were long shanks as well. Shouldn't be a problem with short shanks.

 

[maxr]

I did it with mine. And they were long shanks as well. Shouldn't be a problem with short shanks.

mr x,
do you find yourself wishing that you had a draft tower instead?

max

 

[Bernie Brewer]

The big advantage that I see to going the door route is that if the fridge breaks, I can buy another, swap doors, and return the original one. That wouldn't be possible with a 3" hole in the top of the fridge unit.

max

Glad to see that honesty and integrity is alive and well in the state of California.

 

[mr x]

mr x,
do you find yourself wishing that you had a draft tower instead?

max

Not one bit.

 

[Funkenjaeger]

Not one bit.

Same here. I prefer my door-mounted taps, it just means more room to store glasses on top of the fridge. Not like it's that hard to bend over a little to pour from the door. I totally couldn't justify the extra cost of a draft tower even if I did want one.

 

[mr x]

It also leaves the possibility to put the fridge up off the floor and still reach the taps, which is something I am considering.

 

[sirsloop]

IDK about you, but a sanyo is too short for shanks sticking out the front. I guess it'll work if you elevate the fridge, or you are a midget. You'll have to bend down every time you get a beer. Also, you aren't really saving THAT much money using shanks in the doors. I mean you can get a decent tower for $100 and that includes shanks and beer line. The shanks a lone for a door setup will be like $40, plus hose and clamps.

Then there's the whole "looks" thing. Sanyos with a draft tower look great, especially if you mount up some glass holders!

 

[BlindLemonLars]

The big advantage that I see to going the door route is that if the fridge breaks, I can buy another, swap doors, and return the original one. That wouldn't be possible with a 3" hole in the top of the fridge unit.

max

That saddens me. Do you really not have an ethical problem with that plan?

 

[maxr]

That saddens me. Do you really not have an ethical problem with that plan?

None whatsoever. If I modify only the door of the fridge, IMHO the manufacturer's warranty should still apply to the unmodified body and compressor of the fridge.

max

 

[Bernie Brewer]

None whatsoever. If I modify only the door of the fridge, IMHO the manufacturer's warranty should still apply to the unmodified body and compressor of the fridge.

max

Well, you're wrong. It's dishonest, period.

 

[Donasay]

The other advantage to having the draft tower is the increased resistance provided by the extra couple of feet that the gas has to push the beer UP. The formula for the lenght of a gas line takes into consideration the height the beer has to rise. So instead of needing to coil 7 or 8 feet of tubing inside your fridge, if you have a tower you only need about 5 or 6, and most of can be stuffed inside the tower.

 

[mr x]

I run 10 feet of hose no problem in my fridge.

 

[Funkenjaeger]

IDK about you, but a sanyo is too short for shanks sticking out the front. I guess it'll work if you elevate the fridge, or you are a midget. You'll have to bend down every time you get a beer.

I am 6 feet 2 inches tall, so I'm far from being a 'midget', and when standing, my fingertips are about even with the bottom of the faucets - and I haven't even mounted the faucets quite as high as I could have. I only have to lean over a tiny bit to hold a glass under the faucet, I certainly wouldn't even call it 'bending over'. For a person under 6 feet tall you may not even need to lean over at all. For most people of average height, I do not think that the height of the faucets will constitute a problem.

Now I can't really argue with aesthetics, that's a matter of personal choice. I agree that a nice shiny tower looks good, and if you feel that there's something aesthetically unpleasing about pouring a beer around or below waist height instead of chest height, then who am I to argue - to each his own.

 

[mr x]

I am 5' 10" and have no problem with the tap height. As far as looks go, I think it looks just fine.

 

[BeerCanuck]

Mr x..just wondering if you got the foaming issue resolved.
I remember you mentioned on Bradsuls sylvania conversion thread that there was an issue having the taps on the door being at the same height as the top of the keg?

BeerCanuck

 

[mr x]

Fixed that problem. Just needed a tiny circ fan (set on a timer to go 15 min/hour) to move the air around. Works awesome now.

 

[maxr]

mr x,
Any chance of getting a pic or 2 of your setup? I'm leaning towards the shanks-thru-door method right now. Northern Brewer sells 3" shanks, and with those I don't think there would be any interference with the top o' the kegs. I only have a 5 lb CO2 cylinder in there, so there's a bit of maneuvering space.

Max

 

[z987k]

Well, you're wrong. It's dishonest, period.

really? I mean if he drills a whole in the door, the compressor is no longer guaranteed to work? I don't see how the two things are related and I would expect it to be covered as well.

 

[Philip1993]

really? I mean if he drills a whole in the door, the compressor is no longer guaranteed to work? I don't see how the two things are related and I would expect it to be covered as well.

I completely understand your logic, and in my own business I would honor such an arrangement without hesitation. However, in this case it comes down to the written agreement between you and the manu/retailer (the warranty). If the warranty is voided by mods, then drilling holes does actually mean that your compressor is no longer guaranteed to work. And lying to hide your modification is dishonest.

IMHO, that's a huge part of what's wrong with our world today. Too many people redefine honesty and ethics based on their own opinion that no one would be hurt by their actions.

 

[Sea]

IMHO, that's a huge part of what's wrong with our world today. Too many people redefine honesty and ethics based on their own opinion that no one would be hurt by their actions.

You couldn't be more right.

However, If we fail to think for ourselves (another problem with the world today)and blindly follow the letter of every contract or law, we give up our individualism. I have to agree with mrx here, I mean, if nothing he does effects the compressor failing, who gets hurt here?

BTW, if he bought the fridge at Lowe's or HD, they would probably return it with the hole. They take back EVERYTHING. it's a customer service choice they have made, that makes them money in the long run.

 

[mr x]

If the warranty is voided by mods, then drilling holes does actually mean that your compressor is no longer guaranteed to work. And lying to hide your modification is dishonest.

But if he replaces the door, then the fridge is no longer modified, and the warranty is still in tact legally. I have no problem with this.

I will try to get a pic of my fridge for you maxr, but it will be a couple days.

 

[BFauska]

What if you drilled through a replacement door and saved the original? Then if the unit fails you return it with the original door. The manufacturer allows you to remove the door, otherwise you couldn't change the R/L handed orientation. Is that dishonest? I realize this is a serious gray area, but ultimately it's virtually identical to the other way.

 

[Funkenjaeger]

Any chance of getting a pic or 2 of your setup? I'm leaning towards the shanks-thru-door method right now. Northern Brewer sells 3" shanks, and with those I don't think there would be any interference with the top o' the kegs. I only have a 5 lb CO2 cylinder in there, so there's a bit of maneuvering space.

I used 4-1/2" shanks with no problem. I'd have used shorter ones if I'd known how long these would be, but it's not really a big deal either way.

I've got a number of pictures at my site:
http://eegeek.net/content/view/74/39/

 

[Bernie Brewer]

I have to agree with mrx here, I mean, if nothing he does effects the compressor failing, who gets hurt here?

Who gets hurt? Every one that buys a fridge at a higher price because he purposely wrecked the thing and then tried to scam hi way into getting his money back. It's just like stealing-you may think that it "hurts no one, bacause they have all the money and they can afford it, but you're really just ripping off the public because that is exactly who is footing the bill in the end. That's the kind of attitude that pi$$es me off to no end. I think of my ancestors (and yours) in times like the Great Depression when nobody had a pot to pi$$ in, and yet they'd rather go hungry than steal a loaf of bread. And then guys like you turn around with money to burn and come up with ripoffs like this. No wonder this country's going down the sh!tter.

 

[Philip1993]

You couldn't be more right.

However, If we fail to think for ourselves (another problem with the world today)and blindly follow the letter of every contract or law, we give up our individualism. I have to agree with mrx here, I mean, if nothing he does effects the compressor failing, who gets hurt here?

With respect to contracts, I completely disagree. A contract is a binding agreement between you another person. Even if *no one* gets hurt, to break that contract without a release from the other party is dishonest.

But if he replaces the door, then the fridge is no longer modified, and the warranty is still in tact legally. I have no problem with this.

You can't un-ring a bell. You either did it, or you did not. Undoing it later does not mean that it didn't happen. If the warranty says modifications voids the warranty (as almost all do), then your warranty is void.

This is very simple. If you must attempt to hide or obscure your actions to effect the return, then you are being dishonest. And you know it, or else you would have just told them what happened and dealt with the consequences.

 

[CBBaron]

Who gets hurt? Every one that buys a fridge at a higher price because he purposely wrecked the thing and then tried to scam hi way into getting his money back.

I've got to believe that you misunderstand his intentions. If he has a warrentee issue with his fridge they will likely give him grief about the hole in the door or top whether that had anything to do with the problem or not. However if he mods just the door instead of the top of the fridge he can return the failing fridge body for repair/replacement without the repair facility being the wiser. And he can get the fridge repaired under warentee as the manufacture allows for.

However it is possible that I am being naive and the OP intends scam a new fridge somehow but I tend to believe in people unless proven wrong.

Craig

 

[Philip1993]

What if you drilled through a replacement door and saved the original? Then if the unit fails you return it with the original door. The manufacturer allows you to remove the door, otherwise you couldn't change the R/L handed orientation. Is that dishonest? I realize this is a serious gray area, but ultimately it's virtually identical to the other way.

It all comes down to what the manu permits. IMHO, if you ordered a replacement door, and saved the original, it is unlikely that they would dishonor the warranty.

Bottom line, if you can get them to honor the warranty and NOT lie or deceive to accomplish that, more power to you.

 

[mr x]

If the warranty says modifications voids the warranty (as almost all do), then your warranty is void.

If he returns a fridge that is unmodified, then the warranty is intact. There is no way around that, it's legal and that's the end of it. And morally, there is nothing wrong with returning the fridge if it malfunctions due to problems not caused by modifications.