My $30 Craigslist Freezer - A Love Story

[thatfatbastard]

Hey folks. Yesterday I picked up a freezer off of Craigslist. Pictures and a story can be found here.

I intend to build a keezer with this. I think it will be awesome. I intend to document the build process here and over at reddit.

If you have any questions/comments/helpful recommendations then please let me hear them.

Here is a quick shot of the freezer:

 

[Punity]

I just got a chest freezer off Cl for 30 bucks two days ago......weird.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Keezer buddies 4 Life!!11!

 

[Punity]

Haha did we just become keezer friends........yup

 

[Punity]

My little guy in progress

 

[prwillard2]

My little guy in progress

nice, i'm liking the stainless edging. is that screwed on or glued?

 

[Punity]

Actually its just the gray of the freezer. But new idea thanks haha

 

[Polboy]

I have to say its a one ugly MF freezer

 

[thatfatbastard]

My little guy in progress

Nice job Keezer Buddy. Keep us updated with pics.

 

[thatfatbastard]

I have to say its a one ugly MF freezer

It won't be.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Today I cleaned the lid up and started building a collar. There is still a lot of work to go.

New Pics!

 

[Punity]

Looking good bud. You gonna paint it? Also what controls are you planning on using

 

[thatfatbastard]

I do intend to paint it, probably black. My wife is enamored with the idea of chalkboard paint, but I don't know if I want to use that.

I was thinking of using one of the STC-1000, but I also kind of wanted to be able to finish it before Labor Day. We're having a pig pickin' and I wanted to be able to use it for that.

 

[UKFreak]

I do intend to paint it, probably black. My wife is enamored with the idea of chalkboard paint, but I don't know if I want to use that.

I was thinking of using one of the STC-1000, but I also kind of wanted to be able to finish it before Labor Day. We're having a pig pickin' and I wanted to be able to use it for that.

Here's a pic of the one I built. I had a local sign shop make up a vinyl wrap instead of paint. Came out great, keeps my brew at 36-38 degrees, & took about half a day to make. will hold 3 half-barrel size kegs (I have 2 tapped & 1 in reserve. NEVER wanna run out!) Enjoy!

 

[thatfatbastard]

That looks great!

 

[thatfatbastard]

Just made a trip to Lowes to pick up some wood, weather stripping, paint and stain. My son has a football game this afternoon though, so I probably won't be getting much done today.

 

[Punity]

Awesome im using the chalkboard paint. I like the idea of being able to make my notes on it.

Yea it takes a while to get the sct. The only place i could find one on ebay is taking 10 days to get here. Im at a standstill because i need to wire my control box and im going to recess the gang box for a nice clean look.

 

[thatfatbastard]

The chalkboard paint only really looks nice the first.time you use it. After that it's really hard to get the old chalk off.

I think I'm going to go with the Johnson Controls analog thermostat, simply because it would take too long to get the STC here.

 

[Punity]

Oh yea i know but i still like the idea. Plus its cheap and being the smallest chest freezer wouldn't cost me to repaint it if needed.

Im just a geek haha i like tge digital

 

[thatfatbastard]

I would like the digital too, I'm just under a time crunch right now.

I really, really want this thing to be operational with picnic faucets by Labor Day weekend. I will work on getting the other stuff done after that.

 

[thatfatbastard]

Wow, just had a discussion with my (non beer drinking) wife. I asked for her input on where I should place the shanks in the collar (I suck at design). After we talked about that she said "You know, when this is done you can put it in the kitchen if you want." Earlier I had been joking with her about putting it in the living room (less walking and all), I was sure it was going to be stuck in the basement.

 

[Punity]

Thats a win. How many taps are you going to have?

 

[thatfatbastard]

The freezer will hold ten kegs, soooooo... I'm going to plan for ten taps :rockin:

My plan is to go ahead and drill the collar for ten and then install shanks as I can and plug up the remaining holes until I need them. I don't want to have to take the collar off to add holes once it's assembled.

Although a different plan may be coming together, a tower oriented plan. Time (and price) will tell. In the meantime, I will continue work on the collar.

 

[Punity]

Wow that's awesome you can put that in the house haha

 

[thatfatbastard]

She's a pretty good broad, and puts up with a lot from me. I guess I'm lucky.

 

[beaksnbeer]

Mine holds 14 + two 3gallon kegs on the hump no collar coffin went with 12 taps gives two sitting on co2 cold in reserve in case something kicks when people are over, just saying only thing worst then empty fermenter is an empty keg/ tap....:cross:

 

[Punity]

Any updates?

 

[thatfatbastard]

Mine holds 14 + two 3gallon kegs on the hump no collar coffin went with 12 taps gives two sitting on co2 cold in reserve in case something kicks when people are over, just saying only thing worst then empty fermenter is an empty keg/ tap....:cross:

Man, that's a lot of beer. Party at your place

 

[thatfatbastard]

Any updates?

I found your thread yesterday, I was going to ask you the same thing.

No, I haven't done anything really. Yesterday we had "sneak peek" at my kids elementary school and then football practice yesterday evening. Today I have a "casual lunch" with a hiring manager I interviewed with on Friday.

I did speak with Todd over at Keggconnection.com yesterday about some stuff and I think they are going to be able to hook me up with the things I need to at least be operational with by Labor Day weekend. They were having some phone line/internet issues though and I need to call him back this morning.

I also ordered 20 tap handle inserts from McMaster Carr. They came out to be $20 with shipping. Not bad, I don't think at a buck a piece. Now I'll be able to make my own tap handles as well.

I could have done more yesterday, but I really wasn't relishing the thought of sanding the sides of this thing. I need to just push through and get it done.

Oh, I also found out that because of the collar I can actually fit two more kegs in there on the hump.

 

[Punity]

haha yea i kinda of left my thread to die and piggyback on yours i just got off work i have rotating 4 days on 4 days off so not much going on with my work days. But now its my saturday. I need to order the kegging supplies and am still waiting for my temp controller and fan to get here. im gonna cut up the insulation for the collar today and glue it on. cut the hole for the gangbox to recess into and fit more insulation to cover the gangbox. so its a slow process but its ok im kinda of fitting this in between new house projects like a 12 X 12 shed/brewhouse.