Is stiffening your kegerator door necessary?

[CanadianQuaffer]

Hey everybody,

I've read on several accounts of converting a mini fridge to a kegerator that the door's shelved insert was replaced with another similarly sized piece of plexiglass or simlar material to help stiffen the door.

Is this really necessary? I would figure the shape of the door as well as the rigid insulation would help keep the door solid and not wobbly.

Has anyone ever removed the shelf insert and just replaced it with a vapour barrier or nothing at all?

Cheers!

Nick

 

[ReuFroman]

I had the same question just this morning. I am interested int the answer.

 

[mrgstiffler]

It's not about stiffening the door. Adding something there is just to make it look nicer. Here's mine replaced with whiteboard:

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

So it can be made of wood? I thought moisture and mold might be an issue with a wood product.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

Well, if you want the door to sag and have nasty fiberglass insulation hanging out you can skip it, I guess.

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

I don't believe it's fibreglass, but rigid foam insulation, no?
Wouldn't the shape of the door and the insulation glued to the inside of it add enough stability?

If not could I use 1/8" laminated fibreboard or would mould become an issue then?

 

[purplehaze]

I did a sanyo conversion several years ago and I also removed the inside of the door. This was to make more room due to using pin locks. The door will be fine without stiffening it up, it just wont look finished.

However I did used a piece of dry erase board to cover up the insulation and provide a place to write whats on tap, ABV, date kegged, etc.

 

[Dan]

I had to remove the dried cracked plastic on my kegerator, replaced the old insulation with fiberglass and used an 1/8" thick compressed board as the face. Never had problems with mold.