My Keezer - The Documentary

[t3e871]

This is the result of a few different lengths of beer line; 8' seems to be the best at around 10PSI (on the left).

I cut and laid the tile "sticky stuff" a word of caution - Do Not get this stuff on your hands...it will not come off!. I've had my hands in some bad stuff and everything I have seen usually wears off in a day or two if a good washing wont take it off. Not this stuff!

 

[t3e871]

More testing and adjusting tonight. The temps inside are 37F, the temp in the coffin is 42F, and the temp of the beer in the glass is 43F.

time for some artwork on the chalkboard taps.

 

[t3e871]

This is my third tile job using the Harbor Freight angle grinder. It is on the last leg and almost died before cutting the last few tiles to size. I think I may have paid $10 for this thing about 10 years ago...

Tile is set, next thing will be to grout.

 

[t3e871]

My beers are pulling nicely...I settled on about 8' of 3/16" beer line to each shank. The beer in the 4 kegs is between 37-38F and I have 2 kegs at 10PSI and 2 at 12PSI. A little more tweaking and I'll be happy.

 

[SuburbanBrewer]

You used an angle grinder to cut those glass tiles? Any special technique? I only ask because I'm about to do a back splash in my kitchen with, i think, those identical tiles.
AMAZING keezer by the way. Truly a piece of art.

 

[t3e871]

You used an angle grinder to cut those glass tiles? Any special technique? I only ask because I'm about to do a back splash in my kitchen with, i think, those identical tiles.
AMAZING keezer by the way. Truly a piece of art.

Yes I cut them with a mason cutting disc, but I wouldn't recommend it for a larger job like a kitchen. I used this angle grinder to tile a complete kitchen and bathroom at my old house, but I used normal tile...The glass doesn't cut cleanly and I'm not sure if it's even glass. They seem to melt a little and the crack, but not always at the cut line. I made it work, but I'm sure there is a better way to cut those tiles.

 

[Brickout]

Looks fantastic!

You used an angle grinder to cut those glass tiles? Any special technique? I only ask because I'm about to do a back splash in my kitchen with, i think, those identical tiles.
AMAZING keezer by the way. Truly a piece of art.

Do the entire tile job and save the cut pieces for last. Then rent a wet saw for a day / half day. Or you can buy a wet saw if you think you'll be doing more tile work in the future. It's a worthwhile tool investment.

 

[befus]

Unbelievable!

 

[Nanitebrewing]

Looks great! I'm also in the middle of my own build which I'll post pictures of. Mine has a lot of curves and faux legs for the side which I'm working on now.

My major concern now is the weight of the lid. I've got 6 granite tiles and 3 travertine backsplash tiles as well. I think the lid will weigh over 100 pounds. What are people doing beyond a stick to prop it up? I'd hate for it to decapitate me.

 

[greenbirds]

Great job on the keezer. That wood is gorgeous, and I love the coffin design.

 

[Keano41]

This is one of the best keezer builds I've seen. So much attention to detail! Good work!

I'm not hatting on it one bit, but IMO I would replace the chalk board tap handles with something different. I've seen them before in my LHBS and they are nice, but it doesn't flow with the rest of your design. The mahogany is rich and warm and then your tap handles have a mottled stain making them look faded and dull compared to the rest of the wood. I could see dark stained mahogany, deep walnut or even ebony tap handles working well.

 

[t3e871]

This is one of the best keezer builds I've seen. So much attention to detail! Good work!

I'm not hatting on it one bit, but IMO I would replace the chalk board tap handles with something different. I've seen them before in my LHBS and they are nice, but it doesn't flow with the rest of your design. The mahogany is rich and warm and then your tap handles have a mottled stain making them look faded and dull compared to the rest of the wood. I could see dark stained mahogany, deep walnut or even ebony tap handles working well.

Thanks for the nice words..and I agree with you about the taps. I didn't like them from the second I pulled them out of the box. Having never seen them in person before I ordered online, didn't help...and the price! $39.95 EACH. I still can't get over this, but I guess there are many others like me that pay it.

I could make better taps that match for 1/3 that price...and that's what I will do eventually. I will use them as an excuse to buy a wood lathe!

 

[t3e871]

Looks great! I'm also in the middle of my own build which I'll post pictures of. Mine has a lot of curves and faux legs for the side which I'm working on now.

My major concern now is the weight of the lid. I've got 6 granite tiles and 3 travertine backsplash tiles as well. I think the lid will weigh over 100 pounds. What are people doing beyond a stick to prop it up? I'd hate for it to decapitate me.

One of the guys on here had gas shocks custom made to assist the lift of the lid. He said they were $150 delivered. They attach to the rolling base and the lid and he said when the freezer was empty they picked up the freezer in the rear so he had to attach chains in the back to hold it down. I'm thinking about trying to find something that will work at autozone...without having to explain to the store clerk what I'm using it for. I think a large SUV rear gate gas shock or something similar.

I found it: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/my-kegerator-255232/

 

[Hoppopotomus]

Jester had a fantastic idea a while back before he sold "The Original Keezer" volume 1. He suggested linear actuators to lift the lid. I looked into them and they are not ridiculously expensive and can easily lift the kind of weight that is on our keezer lids. I had to put my keezer project to rest for a while, because if I spent any more money on mine, my wife was going to kill me! I have seen the hydraulic lifts used in the past, but linear actuators would be absolutely kick a$$. Just step on a foot pedal and up goes the lid without any effort. My concern was torsional stress on the hinges with just using one actuator on a single side, but others didn't think it would be a big concern. If you could put the exact same linear actuators on either side that have the same load lifting capacity, travel distance, and travel speed....and somehow get them on the same controller, it would be awesome!

In the meantime, I just use safety straps that I made out of ratchet straps that I had laying around. I lifted the lid up and took it just past it's balancing point and secured the two straps with oversized washers and wood screws to the cabinet frame and put to the lid. That way when I lift the lid and take it just beyond the balance point, the straps hold that position and there is very little strain on the hinges. Works like a charm. Something tells me that it's on page 16 of my keezer thread in my signature line, but I could be wrong. Good luck gentleman!

.....and awesome job t3e871!

 

[t3e871]

After I wasted most of my saturday attending a wedding, I was still able to get some work done on the keezer AND make a batch of Ed's apfel wein. I thoroughly tested the pour on each tap last week and am happy with the carbonation of each. With the testing out of the way I started on the grout.

I didn't have a float and didn't want to buy one so I found some of my daughter's flops to cut them to custom sizes - this worked great to get the grout in the tight corners.

 

[t3e871]

I started this job before the wedding and got the grout mostly cleaned up before I had to leave (2 HOURS EARLY - long story). I only had a little grout on my hands and pants at the wedding!

The blue tape helped keep the grout off the wood, but it wasn't perfect.

 

[t3e871]

I left the drip tray removable; it doesn't have a drain so I will need to take it out and clean it.

 

[t3e871]

I disassembled al lof the major parts, removed the kegs from the freezer, cleaned everything up and brought the pieces into the house.

I screwed the skirt to the base, then set the freezer onto the base and secured it in place with these corner brackets.

 

[t3e871]

I labeled the beer line and cut everything to the correct length. I appreciate the post on here that gave me a hint to install longer lines than you need and then cut to correct length. I bought a 100' roll of 3/16" line and started with a 15' length on my first test. I was able to save myself a lot of trouble by doing it this way.

 

[t3e871]

This is the semi-permanent home for the keezer. My next project is to build a shelving unit around it and eventually a matching dining table.

 

[t3e871]

She's in the HOUSE! Tomorrow I have some family coming from out of town for a visit. I can't wait to hang out and drink a few homebrews with them.

 

[Thehopguy]

Coolest keezer I've seen to date. Great job

 

[paparker21]

Looks fantastic, come do one for me ;p

 

[Copbrew133]

Unreal, great job!!! I am jealous as heck.

 

[castermmt]

Absolutely inspiring! All new homes should have this as an option. Looks fantastic and looks like a piece of fine furniture. :rockin:

 

[RazzBarlow]

Great job! It looks fantastic.

 

[Keano41]

Looks great in the house! Well done!

 

[limulus]

I have to revive this thread. You have built a beautiful keezer and a fine piece of furniture. I have a boat that is built from mahogany so I'm very partial to that wood. Now I say damn you!

 

[t3e871]

I have to revive this thread. You have built a beautiful keezer and a fine piece of furniture. I have a boat that is built from mahogany so I'm very partial to that wood. Now I say damn you!

Thanks, I think! I am still enjoying it daily!

 

[diS]

Wow!! Looking bad-ass.

Enjoy it now, you deserved it.