Haier 7.1 cu ft freezer for $175 at Costco

[mspace]

if you can fit 4 kegs without a collar, i should be able to fit 3 plus the 10pound tank right (3 plus the co2 tank where you have the 4th keg)?

Pretty sure, but I will be happy to check when I get home. I have some work to do on the collar today anyways

-Space

 

[mspace]

Yes, not a problem at all.

 

[NJstout]

thanks

 

[Veedo]

Damn i didnt know there was a thread on this freezer. I have 3 of these things. 1 for food 1 for a keezer and one for a ferm chamber. I wish i would have went with ball lock kegs, i can only fit 3 pin locks. Picked them up during pamida sales for $150.

 

[LanceBoyle]

I use mine for ferm temp control as well. I have two 7.9 gallon plastic buckets. One goes on the hump, with some books or something to prop up one side since the hump isn't wide enough. But since I only have one freezer, I have to drink all my beer first to make room, which kinda sucks. Not that I don't like drinking all my beer . .

 

[straycat]

will i be able to get two 6.5 buckets and a single ball lock in there? no co2 or anything, just looking to have a nice controlled environment.

 

[abarhan]

Here is the 7.1 with two 6.5g carboys this freezer is awesome it fits 4 kegs on the floor and 2 carboys. Homebrewers dream unit. I have two one for a keezer and one as a ferm chamber.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Yup these things are great and still available, i picked one up last week from Costco for 175. Unfortunately i got it home and it wouldnt turn on, the power was there but the compressor never turned on. Thank god for Costco's easy return policy, other than having to repackage and hauling it back getting a new one only took a few seconds at the Customer service desk.

New one is functioning perfectly, just got my ebay temp controller yesterday so going to be trying to get that setup today. I didnt realize how cold these chest freezers got, i mean when set to 4(the middle setting) this thing gets to like -30F at the bottom of the freezer...ridiculous why do you need it that cold! You'd think that cold would be bad for food.

 

[LateraLex]

Agreed, for anyone considering these - I love mine. Turned it into a 3 corney keg keezer, with plenty of space for a 10lb CO2 tank and the hump is free for random 6 packs.

 

[frothus]

I just bought one of these today, and I can't wait for the keezer parts to arrive in the mail. It looks bigger in my home than I expected, but that's fine by me.

Tonight I'm kegging my first beer. It's a Sour Ginger Oatmeal Stout. I snuck a sample and the ginger isn't noticeable but it tastes delicious. Very excited.

 

[abarhan]

Does anyone who has one of these know if it will hold two 6.5 gallon carboys?

Yes, tight but yes

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Anyone done a Keezer with one of these? Im looking at doing a Coffin Keezer, was curious if anyone else had already done it and had dimensions or google sketch up plans...

For example i measured from the ground to the highest point i could find and it was 33 inches along the sides of the lid where the raised siding is...but the manufacturer says its 33 1/4th inches...im trying to figure out where that last bit is...

Also all of the molding/siding i am not sure how i go about attaching 2x4's or something at the corners to it since its uneven...

 

[LateraLex]

Anyone done a Keezer with one of these? Im looking at doing a Coffin Keezer, was curious if anyone else had already done it and had dimensions or google sketch up plans...

For example i measured from the ground to the highest point i could find and it was 33 inches along the sides of the lid where the raised siding is...but the manufacturer says its 33 1/4th inches...im trying to figure out where that last bit is...

Also all of the molding/siding i am not sure how i go about attaching 2x4's or something at the corners to it since its uneven...

I made a Keezer out of this, I took some laminate wood about 6" tall and 1.5" wide. I had no issue gluing this to the rim, as it seemed very even to me. I can take some pictures if that helps.

 

[wadewegner]

I'd really appreciate it if anyone would be willing to share their notes on how they converted this freezer into a keezer. I'm not particularly handy and will need all the help I can get!

I plan to have four kegs inside and my 10# CO2 tank outside.

In addition to turning this into a keezer I'd appreciate guidance on choosing and installing the temperature controller.

Thanks so much!

 

[Scripts]

I ended up getting a different freezer, but for the temperature control I picked up a single stage digital Ranco. Super easy to setup, and for a few bucks more you can get them prewired with plugs. You shouldn't need to make a collar to fit four kegs in it, so the controller should be all you need.

I wired my own controller since I had plugs and cable left over from a previous product, but if you're not super handy I would just spend the couple bucks on getting the prewired unit. You'd spend the money saved on the blank unit on the needed electrical parts anyways. So if you get a unit that is wired with plugs, it's literally just a plug and play setup and finding somewhere to mount the controller. The Ranco and Johnsons just need a screw to hang off of.

 

[LateraLex]

I'd really appreciate it if anyone would be willing to share their notes on how they converted this freezer into a keezer. I'm not particularly handy and will need all the help I can get!

I plan to have four kegs inside and my 10# CO2 tank outside.

In addition to turning this into a keezer I'd appreciate guidance on choosing and installing the temperature controller.

Thanks so much!

I'm on my phone, but would suggest you watch the northern brewer tutorial on how to build a keezer (YouTube). The directions there work perfectly for this freezer.
Now if I could only get my drip tray to stick...

 

[LanceBoyle]

I ended up getting a different freezer, but for the temperature control I picked up a single stage digital Ranco. Super easy to setup, and for a few bucks more you can get them prewired with plugs. You shouldn't need to make a collar to fit four kegs in it, so the controller should be all you need.

Usually you put the collar on for the taps, otherwise you might damage the freezer walls. At least that's what I have heard. I don't know what is in the side walls of the freezer itself. All you need is some 2X6's for a collar. I made mine with 45 degree angle cuts but I wouldn't do it that way again. Just butt them together and fasten them with screws. I attached my collar to the keezer with insulation putty. You can always use some party taps until you get around to making a collar.

 

[Scripts]

A collar would also allow a keg or big CO2 tank to sit on the hump.

 

[frothus]

I'm building a keezer with the Haier 7.1. I have a 5.5"x0.75" red oak collar that I'm working on. I'll reinforce the back with 1'5" of foam insulation and cover it with foil tape.

I'd like to attach a computer case fan to the collar. Currently I'm wondering the merits of building a false bottom for the kegs to rest on to allow airflow. If I build one... what should I make it out of?

Work in progress, I still need to carve away some of the corners so the lid will close:


Edit: Yes, I spray-painted a brand new freezer black. It felt strange, but I don't care for white appliances.

 

[DPBISME]

Here is what it looks like with 9" measuring circles:

I just bought two (2) 7 CF Chest Freezers from Sears (they have sales all the time... Home Depot and Lowes too)... they hold 4 Corney kegs (very tight) but my plan is for just three.

See them here: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-two-keezers-thanks-you-guys-357239/

DPB

 

[frothus]

Ok my keezer is basically complete :rockin::

I don't have a drip tray yet and I'm on the lookout for creative solutions. I'd also like to build a false bottom and put in a fan for circulation. I have to research that one too.

For [a lot] more details and pictures check out the post on my blog:
http://frothus.blogspot.com/2012/10/keezer-project.html

 

[ohai]

I just picked this freezer up from Costco. $230ish in Hawaii. Had to replace my ferm chamber. I wanted an upright but the price was right and it'll fit 2x 6.5gal carboys no problem. Matter of fact, once I finish this second brew today (21st Amendment Bitter American clone) it'll be on its trial run.

 

[dpmealey]

I built my keezer with the subject chest freezer around the holidays last year. 2 x 6 on the rim with a 1 x 12 skirt around the outside.

 

[D_Nyholm]

I built my keezer with the subject chest freezer around the holidays last year. 2 x 6 on the rim with a 1 x 12 skirt around the outside.

Do you have any pictures of the skirt? I am planning on putting my keezer on a stand as well with casters and am trying to figure out a good size.

 

[dpmealey]

By skirt I meant an outer piece of 1 x 12 around the 2 x 6's, so the 2 x 6's are what sit around the freezer top and the 1 x 12's hang over the edge another 6 inches. I don't have anything around the bottom.

 

[D_Nyholm]

By skirt I meant an outer piece of 1 x 12 around the 2 x 6's, so the 2 x 6's are what sit around the freezer top and the 1 x 12's hang over the edge another 6 inches. I don't have anything around the bottom.

Ahh, I see now. I was planning on using 1x6 up top and not skirting it, just making brackets inside the freezer to hold the collar on. The skirt seems useful though as I don't want to have to drill into the new freezer to mount the drip tray. I may have to think about that now.

 

[sa1126]

Frothus--thanks for the blog post. I think I am going to do the same thing.

Is the temperature control hard to install? Where did you buy the co2 manifold?

 

[frothus]

Frothus--thanks for the blog post. I think I am going to do the same thing.

Is the temperature control hard to install? Where did you buy the co2 manifold?

I'm so sorry for the late reply. Life got hectic and I stopped following HBT for a while. I bought most of my equipment off of Amazon. I could find the specific model if you still care. Note the barb connector diameter when you buy it or you'll have to push hard to force the gas line onto the barb (what I did). It works fine though. Also, I'm happy with clear gas lines so I can see if any beer flows into it (can happen if you over fill and add kegs with different pressure levels).

I ended up with the Johnson controller because I was too lazy to bother with the type that you mount into the collar or lid. The Johnson controller is seriously easy. I have yet to install a fan inside for circulation. I have only been using 3 kegs though and circulation doesn't seem to be an issue.

-Frothus

 

[abarhan]

Update guys. So I got a 2.5G keg for the holidays and it fits in there as well. This could be the best freezer to date. I have one with 4/5g ball locks and 1/2.5g keg and a chamber with 2/6.5 carboys.

 

[JWS]

Looking to do this setup with a collar and putting 4 ball locks on the floor, but I would also like to use the hump to lager/cold crash before kegging. Does anyone know if this is big enough or if putting the 6 gallon better bottle would push the limit over the edge?