Keggerator Questions

[QuadFreak400ex]

I was thinking of making a keggerator our of an 18 cu ft kenmore fridge but someone told me to be careful when drilling holes because some old fridges have dangerous stuff in the wall/doors. i don't know if this guys knows what he talking about or not. is this true????

 

[HVBrewtality]

yes, it is true. you do not want to just drill into the walls of a fridge or freezer as the lines run through them. It is common to go through the door of a stand up fridge, or the top of a chest freezer, as lines do not run in them.

 

[shortyjacobs]

If your fridge has coolant coils out back, it probably doesn't also have them in the walls.

He may be talking about nasty insulating material, (asbestos?).

If your fridge doesn't have coolant coils out back, (mine doesn't), paint the side of the fridge with cornstarch/vodka mix and turn the fridge on. Watch for where it evaporates first; that's where the coils are. Don't drill there.

I couldn't find the coils with the cornstarch trick, so I just prayed and drilled a very small pilot hole. Then, from the inside, I cut away the plastic and insulation slowly, and felt all around for any coolant lines. Finding none, I drilled a larger hole through from the outside.

 

[Bricetrine]

In short, yes your buddy is correct. Drill though door and you eliminate the problem with cooling lines.

 

[QuadFreak400ex]

If your fridge has coolant coils out back, it probably doesn't also have them in the walls.

He may be talking about nasty insulating material, (asbestos?).

If your fridge doesn't have coolant coils out back, (mine doesn't), paint the side of the fridge with cornstarch/vodka mix and turn the fridge on. Watch for where it evaporates first; that's where the coils are. Don't drill there.

I couldn't find the coils with the cornstarch trick, so I just prayed and drilled a very small pilot hole. Then, from the inside, I cut away the plastic and insulation slowly, and felt all around for any coolant lines. Finding none, I drilled a larger hole through from the outside.

when did they stop putting asbestos in the doors and if i have a fridge with asbestos in it should i still use it, what precautions should i take when drilling etc.

 

[shortyjacobs]

when did they stop putting asbestos in the doors and if i have a fridge with asbestos in it should i still use it, what precautions should i take when drilling etc.

Honestly I have no freaking clue if it ever was used, or what was or is used.

I was just guessing that maybe that's what your buddy was talking about....something toxic or noxious used as insulation. I don't know if this was ever the case.

Hell, if you have it, put on a dust mask, drill in. If it's just foam or something, don't stress. If it looks like it will turn you into some kind of mutant, then dab some epoxy over your hole and drill elsewhere...