New Dorm Fridge Suggestions?

[HopFiend]

Hello all,

I just kegged my first beer. I'm really excited about it and can't wait for it to age a little bit so that I can drink it!

Anyway, I stuck the keg in my main refrigerator for now while it carbs, but I need to buy a dedicated dorm fridge as soon as I can. I am planning on kegging another beer pretty soon.

So I need a dorm fridge that will hold 2 ball-lock kegs and a 5-lb CO2 tank. Stores that are nearby are: Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, JCPenneys, Home Depot, Lowes, and some more that I can't think of.

Have any of you recently purchased a new fridge that would be the right capacity for what I need? If so, could you recommend models and retail outlets?

Thanks in advance!

 

[262andbrew]

Check out this thread for a bunch of very different ideas:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/show-us-your-kegerator-29053/
(2000 posts of beer porn)

I am a couple kegs in with a $25 deepfreezer (keezer) project and recommend it, my killawatts monitor says it is costing me about $2 a month and I can fit 7 kegs in an old POS freezer. ... downside is that you have to be strong enough to lift stuff in and out. Here is a link to size your keezer:
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f35/sizing-your-chest-freezer-corny-kegs-75449/

 

[HopFiend]

I have seen both of the stickies that you suggested and I have made my way through a big chunk of the kegerator thread.

I live in an apartment, so I can't really sacrifice the space required for anything too big. Also, I have given up on finding a good sized dorm fridge on CL. I have been looking for months and have been unsuccessful.

My biggest question is to people who have recently gone out and purchased a new fridge that is the appropriate size. Where can I find one?

I'm going to go shopping at all the local stores this weekend, but any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[wilceaser]

Oster (sp) makes a 5.5 cubic foot dorm size refrigerator that will work just as good as the old Sanyo's. It doesn't have a freezer section so you don't have to worry about making any mods.
I am using one for my fermentaion fridge but I know can fit 2 corries in with out any mods to the door.
I had purchased mine from Best Buy last year for around $150

 

[HopFiend]

Oster (sp) makes a 5.5 cubic foot dorm size refrigerator that will work just as good as the old Sanyo's. It doesn't have a freezer section so you don't have to worry about making any mods.
I am using one for my fermentaion fridge but I know can fit 2 corries in with out any mods to the door.
I had purchased mine from Best Buy last year for around $150

Just the kind of info I was looking for! 5.5 cu. ft. sounds perfect. I will have to go check Best Buy.

 

[JayInJersey]

Also may want to go into your local Lowes/HD and Sears. Chances are they have "unadvertised" regular kegerators that are perfect of you just change out the tower (or drill a new hole)

The one I saw in Sears didn't appear on their website but was on the floor and in stick. basically their 5.5 one without a freezer compartment or that annoying hump in the back.

 

[vandeg]

Coming out of college, knowing recent graduates, who live far away from home usually will toss out bulky items and place them near the garbage containers. This would include refrigerators but its a rare find, I got my dorm frig. from a suite-mate for free.

So cruise around a local campus' or check the free sections of websites and/or newspapers(end of semesters is the best time). Though if your really desperate, you'll probably spend more money at regular stores. Wal-mart may run some specials but wholesalers or shopping clubs would give a better deal. As for sizes, if you get one for free and its to small, bottles, if its large enough, then there you go.

 

[HopFiend]

I live in a college town and have been patiently checking craigslist and the local newspaper for the past 6 weeks or so. But time is up now, so I am going to spend this afternoon shopping and hope that I find something that will work.

As far as bottling goes, I will never do that again unless I brew a small batch of something special and it will go in growlers.

 

[HopFiend]

So I went shopping EVERYWHERE today. I have decided to just get a chest freezer since it is so hard to find an appropriately sized dorm fridge without a freezer.

I found a 7.2 cu. ft. fridgidaire at hhgregg for about $250. So I am planning on picking that up along with a ranco temp controller and then I will have room for 4 cornys instead of just 2.

 

[wilceaser]

Congrats, good luck with the kegging.

 

[Dwain]

Hopfiend,
Sounds like you have a plan. But, you might think about going to a used appliance store and buying an Apartment sized fridge. It will hold the cornies and the CO2 bottle with the added benefit of having a hop/yeast freezer on top. You'll probably have 3 bills in the Keezer for it and the control. You can outfit the fridge completely for about the same money. I have neveer had any luck finding a dorm fridge at a used appliance store, but I have seen several Apartment sized ones and you can shop by phone. Luck - Dwain

 

[HopFiend]

Dwain,

Fortunately I have plenty of fridge/freezer space for hops and yeast... as long as there isn't a corny, CO2 tank, and accessories in there also.

Good sized dorm fridges are very difficult to find. I have already ordered a Ranco temp controller and I plan on picking up a chest freezer later this week. In the end I will have room for 4 cornys + plenty of CO2 in the keezer, which should keep me busy for at least the next 6 months.

 

[millsware]

I would check craigslist. If you aren't picky about appearances, you can usually get something for free or super-cheap.