Keezer Build with Fixed Tower

[SuperKay66]

I wanted a keezer with a tower because I do no like the faucets sticking out the front of a collar. I read lots of posts on towers and what a PIA the tower is when you try to lift the lid. I decided to build a keezer with a split top with the back section with the tower fixed and the front section being removable. I removed the lid from the 7 cuft Haier freezer from Lowe's for $168. The back section is sitting on some foam weather stripping I applied around the top of the freezer. the front section is sitting on the foam as well, and it is completely removable for access to the kegs.

The tower box is made from cherry I had around, and the front and back panel is 1/4" oak. the risers are 1-1/4" black iron pipe. The new top of the keezer is 1-3/4" pine I had made into boards from trees on our lot we cut down when we built our new house. I need to seal the top with a few coats of poly yet.

The faucets are Intertap forward sealing, and I plan to have a third someday when I get another keg.

I use an Inkbird temperature controller from Amazon for about $14. I plan to install the temp controller in the tower to the left of the taps, but I was impatient so I just left it in the j-box for now.

My CO2 tank is outside the keezer, and I plan to use the compressor shelf for bottled beer. I know the 7 cuft freezer will hold at least 3 kegs, and I may be able to squeeze a 4th in there someday.

 

[casaflyr]

Good solution.

 

[JohnK93]

Nice

 

[BrooklynTom]

That makes a lot of sense.

 

[John Paul Stoddard]

I have always prefered the Idea of a split top with a Tower(s).

Beautiful wood work on the tower box.

 

[patthebrewer]

Really Nice! That black gas pipe you used, Gives it a really cool industrial look.

 

[dstockwell]

Nice..

 

[MarkP]

Very nice! Simple. Classic. Very appealing.

 

[eustacesk]

Great job! Im late to the party, but Im about to build something similar and had a question. Did you have any issues leaking air where the tops butt together?

Thanks!

 

[Br3w4u]

What is holding the two top pieces down? I am just imagining someone pushing on one end or siting something heavy on it and the whole top flipping up.

 

[SuperKay66]

Thanks for the nice comments. I have not noticed any air leakage between the two pieces. The top is 1-3/4" thick and there is 1/2" foam board on the back. I have a pull type latch on each side that holds the pieces together. I do not utilize the original freezer top at all, and I use the hinge bolt holes on the freezer back to secure the top back section to the freezer. Even without the bolts the top is very stable since I have a short wood skirt attached to the top that hangs over the sides by about 2-1/2".

 

[jturman35]

Love it! I have been researching keezer builds and I really like the tabletop with the pipe towers. Some of the huge coffin towers I have seen people build, don't know how they ever oft the lids. My problem is my keezer will be upstairs in a bonus room and the tower will hit the short ceiling/wall. This is the first fixed tower I have seen! Thanks for the idea. How well does it cool compared to the original lid?

 

[SuperKay66]

Thanks for the comments. I can't compare the new lid to the original since I never used the freezer with that lid. The original lid was very thin so probably not much insulation.
I have paid attention to how much the compressor runs though. I have the control set on 36 degrees with a 2 degree differential. The freezer turns on at 38 and runs for 2 minutes. It shuts off at 36 but the temp in the freezer continues to drop to 33-34 degrees and then takes almost 30 minutes to climb back up to 38 where the cycle repeats. So the freezer only runs 2 minutes every 30.

 

[jturman35]

I am in the process of gathering items to build mine as we speak. I dont like the idea of having to open the lid with taps/hoses still connected. Headed to the store to see what type of hinge will work. I bought some 2x12 yesterday for the top. Again, Thanks for the idea! I going to take pictures and create my own build thread. Hopefully mine turns out as good as yours!

 

[SuperKay66]

Good luck with your build. I didn't hinge the front portion of my lid. It is heavy enough to not move and I have a catch on each side to hold the 2 pieces tight together. I did put some foam weather stripping on the top edge of the freezer to make a better seal with the lid.

 

[gnor]

You don't have a collar, how did you route the CO2 tubing through the keezer to the CO2 tank outside? Can you post more pictures?

 

[SuperKay66]

Since the top is almost 2” thick I routed a groove in the fixed part of the top about 1/2” deep and maybe 3” long. The groove starts outside the freezer and ends inside. The CO2 tubes lays in this grove.

I will post some pics of the finished keezer when I get back from sampling craft beer from Maine, though NYS, across Canada to Michigan then back home in a few weeks. Retired life is good ...highly recommended