GE 7 CF (FCM7SUWW) keezer conversion

[ButcherBrew]

Thanks Tom...Well that did throw a wrench in my plans for tonight...but no worries. I went to the Depot and picked up a couple small metal plates that are used to join two pieces of wood together. I drilled the appropriate holes and they should provide the additional support you are referring to. (I wish I would have read about...or thought about it earlier...LOL) I also picked up some one and a 1/4 inch screws with bolts and locking washers to keep them secure.

Back on track though and I should have this puppy done in a couple nights.

Thanks again for the feedback.

 

[MirImage]

Haven't made progress with mine yet (still lifting top and using pic-nic taps). Wife made a chalk board that is hung up behind the keezer for the beer info.

 

[ToastedPenguin]

Oh and I got my bilge blower today...

Jumped it to a spare 3v wall adapter and it pushes plenty of air. The other upside is at that speed it is almost silent... at 12v it sounds and blows like a leaf blower, lol.

Finishing up my keezer and I want to install a fan to help circulate the cold air and like the bilge fan ide. Where did you order your fan from? I see several on amazon but can't tell if they support all 3-12vdc.

Thanks!

 

[TomSD]

Finishing up my keezer and I want to install a fan to help circulate the cold air and like the bilge fan ide. Where did you order your fan from? I see several on amazon but can't tell if they support all 3-12vdc.

Thanks!

Here is the list from earlier in this thread...

Here is the blower I used...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000O8AZ8K/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
and the hose...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00280CXAA/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20
and the transformer...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000QFLWAG/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

If you have an old cell phone charger or similar that would work but I wanted to play with the speed so got the variable output one. I ended up settling on 3.5v which is trivial power wise and does a great job.

 

[ToastedPenguin]

Thanks I guess I missed that info. No another subject, did you use all swivel casters on yours with 2 locking or are two fixed? I have 4 swivel casters two have locks on them and I can't decide if it will work without causing issues staying in place.

 

[TomSD]

I used four swivels and no locking. The swivels are a must IMHO. I guess locking could be an issue but mine is in a corner and on heavy tile so stays pretty much wherever I roll it. If I push against it it does move but that is fine.

 

[ButcherBrew]

I have mine mounted on 4 swivels, all locking but only have the front two locked when unit is in its location.....it ain't budging one bit! Love the idea of the swivels though. Makes it so easy to move around when I need access to the guts.

 

[TomSD]

I have mine mounted on 4 swivels, all locking but only have the front two locked when unit is in its location.....it ain't budging one bit! Love the idea of the swivels though. Makes it so easy to move around when I need access to the guts.

Yeah that made a huge difference. That and them being over sized heavy duty wheels. I can just grab it by the corners and pull whichever way I want it to go and it goes. Where it is is a close fit all around (there is a water cooler covering half the front) and just enough room to open the kitchen door on the other side but with little effort I can get it clear and get access inside or behind it then slide it right back into place.

 

[rack04]

Can anyone provide accurate internal and external measurements for this chest freezer? I'm interested to know if it will hold 2 6 gallon better bottles and if into the space I have reserved in my garage.

 

[HeavyHandedBrewing]

I recently purchased the GE 7.0 from HD and love it. I am using the party taps right now while I plan out the collar for it. First though I need to build a base for it to sit on. I will be doing basically the same build as TomSD with 4 swivel casters. Do you connect the wheeled base to the freezer or does the weight of it once its full keep it in place while it is being pushed around. My freezer is in a position currently where I will need to move it off the wall to move the kegs in/out once I install the collar, so freezer will be being moved regularly. I believe in the KISS philosophy and I do not want to do more than necessary, and since I live in an apartment, I need to plan out my build to do in the driveway or in my father-in-laws garage. Thanks for any insight or advise.

 

[kmat123]

I recently purchased the GE 7.0 from HD and love it. I am using the party taps right now while I plan out the collar for it. First though I need to build a base for it to sit on. I will be doing basically the same build as TomSD with 4 swivel casters. Do you connect the wheeled base to the freezer or does the weight of it once its full keep it in place while it is being pushed around. My freezer is in a position currently where I will need to move it off the wall to move the kegs in/out once I install the collar, so freezer will be being moved regularly. I believe in the KISS philosophy and I do not want to do more than necessary, and since I live in an apartment, I need to plan out my build to do in the driveway or in my father-in-laws garage. Thanks for any insight or advise.

For my 7.0 cu ft. GE keezer I just built a base with 2x4s with 3" casters on it and with the weight of the freezer it stays on just fine. No need to physically attach it.

 

[TomSD]

kmat123 is exactly right. I built the sled and dropped the keezer on it with no attachments. In all the dragging around I have done it has never budged and might as well be bolted down. At most you might want to put sides on it to prevent slide if you go up/down stairs/ramps or go on grass or thick carpet but in normal operation I have never needed it.

 

[HeavyHandedBrewing]

For my 7.0 cu ft. GE keezer I just built a base with 2x4s with 3" casters on it and with the weight of the freezer it stays on just fine. No need to physically attach it.

Thank you for the info. In all my looking through the posting on all the ge 7.0 keezer builds, no one said if they attached it or not. Just wanted to make sure I did it right the first time and did not encounter an incident later on. If the freezer fell on its side in the living room with kegs and beer bottles in it, SWMBO would put a real cramp in my hobby, if she did not kill me first. She already tolerated (to a degree) the fermentor exploding in the kitchen a couple months ago and spraying a good part of the 9 foot high ceiling with wort and sediment.

 

[LizardBrew83]

Hey maybe you posted this somewhere in the thread, but I didn't see it. Just got a similar freezer off CL today and was wondering, how did you mount the original freezer gasket onto the collar? There is a "bump" that runs along one side of the gasket from how it was originally mounted on the indentation of the door. Did you have to cut this bump off before you glued it on the collar or did you create a similar indentation in the collar or do something else?

 

[TomSD]

I had to cut mine off to remove it then it stapled back onto the collar fine. From the sound of it yours fit into a groove in the lid. If it isn't that big you can probably ignore it. If it is too big then just trim it off.

 

[LizardBrew83]

Cool thanks for the info and this great thread! Can't wait to get started!

 

[spiffcow]

I wish I had read this thread before cutting my gasket on the outside rim of the plastic lip.. I'm going to have to remove it anyway to be able to seat the collar, and now the flap part of the gasket is gone. I'm torn between trying to glue the rest of the gasket to the wood or just getting some weather stripping at home depot.

 

[TomSD]

Weather stripping is cheap and it comes in different colors if you plan to paint or chalkboard yours. I'd just go new. If you cut that flap off there really isn't much left to glue down. Besides if you get rid of all the spring it won't seal well.

 

[spiffcow]

I'll try the weather stripping.. Hopefullu it hold the seal well enough. At first I didn't plan to chalk board, but that option is seeming cooler and cooler.

Quick question: have you ever tried putting a commercial 1/2 barrell keg in there? Did it fit?

 

[TomSD]

You mean the 15 gal kegs? Won't fit... someone gave me the width earlier and I measured it.

When I get commercial I just go with sixths. The local barrel stores usually have them in stock in a decent selection.

 

[spiffcow]

Damn.. Well there goes my plan of bringing home a keg of Ruby next time I go to Portland.

 

[TomSD]

Ask if they carry sixths... they probably do as they are becoming much more common.

 

[Coff]

Im about to start a similar build with a similar freezer and was wondering how the chalkboard paint was holding up on the freezer? I really want to paint mine all black but and a little concerned about chipping.

 

[TomSD]

Holding up great. I just clean it off with a damp cloth every once in a while to keep it black.

 

[Coff]

I love the chalk board paint but for some reason worry about it chipping off, I may just go for it and see how it works out. I plan to do the entire fridge (except the back) like some others have done.

Any tips on priming sanding painting in hindsight? I read a few of the notes you made ITT and others but just wanted to hear what you thought a year later.

 

[TomSD]

Yeah... I should've primed. I kick myself in the ass to this day for that mistake. I had the primer but just got lazy. Instead of priming I just roughed up the surface, cleaned it and painted it. I have seen and talked to people that got a smooth first coat and had awesome results that primed. I had a hard time with the first coat and had to sand it down before applying the second coat. Only other thing is to get some good sponges and use them instead of a roller. Even the rollers that say they are smooth coat don't do as well as a sponge IMHO.

Don't get me wrong. I'm happy with what I have and it has held up great but it could be better and that is what always bugs me after finishing a big project like this.

 

[Coff]

Ok great, thanks for the tip.

One more thing, what type of sponge did you use?

 

[MI_Craig]

Does the chalk board paint work on appliances with textured surfaces or was yours smooth?

 

[TomSD]

Coff - I just used paint sponges from Home Depot. I got a bag of the small trim/detail ones and a couple big ones.

Craig - This freezer is smooth finish but I'm pretty sure others have had good results with the textured surfaces. A light sanding and prime should take care of most of it then a couple layers of chalkboard paint should take care of the rest. Worse case the writing surface is a little bumpy which would suck for cleaning.

 

[skeezerpleezer]

I just scored one of these freezers for $20 on Craigslist. It was listed for $25, but the guy was happy to get rid of it so told me only $20! I already have the "EBAY" aquarium temperature controller ready to go, now it is time to start building..