Show us your Kegerator

[OkanaganMike]

I get ice build-up all the time in the south...

Thats nuts! What temp is your keezer at that it freezes up like that? Would turning it up to a warmer temp help with all that ice?

 

[branman]

It was set at 38°F but i have sice relocated the probe sensor and cut it up to 42° it's helped a bunch but still accumulates over time if un checked...

 

[30Bones]

Brainstorming here......Anyone have any pics or links to keezers with the entire lid and collar incorporated as one and how they accomplished and insulated it? Keep the factory lid or just make it all out of wood to make mounting fans and lines to it easier??

I am not looking for a show piece, it just sits in my basement. It's a standard 15CF freezer with 6 taps. Be nice to make the lid portion 8-10" to put my 20# CO2 on the hump and have the ability to maybe even stack a 2.5-3gallon on top of a 5 gallon if I ever own some of those. Also taller collar makes mounting secondary regulators a possibility if I ever come across a few. I realize the freezer hinges won't hold it up, so I would have some sort of prop rod incorporated.

Reason being is to have the faucets raise with the lid and to keep the lines out of the way more when swapping kegs. As well as making it easier to swap kegs with less height to lift as well as easier cleaning. I absolutely hate my standard keezer collar and fighting the lines and cleaning aspect. Makes me want an upright.

 

[Doed]

@30Bones - you mean like this?

 

[BiteMeElmo]

Many people put hinges on both the collar and the lid. That way, you can open just the lid if you need to check or do maintenance on the lines, or any other "quick in & out" job. But you can also open the collar and lid assembly together, so that the lines and tap shanks are out of the way for changing kegs, or to better reach the bottom of the freezer for cleaning.

 

[30Bones]

@30Bones - you mean like this?

That's it, thanks, this thread is so large it's hard to search through it all.

Many people put hinges on both the collar and the lid. That way, you can open just the lid if you need to check or do maintenance on the lines, or any other "quick in & out" job. But you can also open the collar and lid assembly together, so that the lines and tap shanks are out of the way for changing kegs, or to better reach the bottom of the freezer for cleaning.

I could see that being an option also. I like the one piece idea as of now, but maybe I will try it with the factory lid and change it out if I feel it's not for me. Mounting lines to the lid would be simple with some stick on zip tie mounting pads.

 

[jbb3]

That's it, thanks, this thread is so large it's hard to search through it all.

I could see that being an option also. I like the one piece idea as of now, but maybe I will try it with the factory lid and change it out if I feel it's not for me. Mounting lines to the lid would be simple with some stick on zip tie mounting pads.

Most folks like to keep things simple. NOT me!!!

I removed factory lid and made my own top. Now if I ever want to convert it back to a freezer, I can. I also hinged both the top & the collar separately with the idea that I wouldn't have the lift the kegs as high. But I never added a latch to keep the top from flopping open if I open it from the collar, so I rarely use the collar hinges unless I have a helper. You can click on the link in my signature for the build thread.

 

[Yesfan]

I have a 4 tap T tower. I made a collar with a wood top. Instead of mounting the T dead center, I mounted to the left, opposite of the compressor hump. That way my beer lines feed straight down to the kegs. The top is split in two. The left side lifts up and to the left so the tower doesn't bang the wall should I need to open it. The right just lifts straight up for retrieving bottles.


Here's an old pic.

I don't have any pics where the left side open up, but I made it where the bar in the middle is gone and I mounted the distributor on the back of the keezer. I also drilled two holes in the back of the collar for the gas lines to my dual body regulator. I moved the co2 tank out so I could fit more kegs. I also polyed the top inside and out since that pic was taken.

 

[martyjhuebs]

I have a 4 tap T tower. I made a collar with a wood top. Instead of mounting the T dead center, I mounted to the left, opposite of the compressor hump. That way my beer lines feed straight down to the kegs. The top is split in two. The left side lifts up and to the left so the tower doesn't bang the wall should I need to open it. The right just lifts straight up for retrieving bottles.


Here's an old pic.

I don't have any pics where the left side open up, but I made it where the bar in the middle is gone and I mounted the distributor on the back of the keezer. I also drilled two holes in the back of the collar for the gas lines to my dual body regulator. I moved the co2 tank out so I could fit more kegs. I also polyed the top inside and out since that pic was taken.

This is pretty sweet

 

[55x11]

Here's my build from a month or so ago
Using GE 10.6-cu ft Chest Freezer.
Fits 9 kegs comfortably (can be pushed to 10 if using narrow-profile Ball kegs).
Currently has 6 taps (1 Nitro for stouts, 5 regular Perlick 630SS, with 4.5inch shanks, may need to expand in the near future).

 

[Beardown]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460663419.632182.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460663443.696200.jpgView attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1460663525.847555.jpg

 

[Yesfan]

I like the bolts. Beefy!

 

[Beardown]

Yea complete overkill with the mega lag bolts but I like the aggressive look! And if I need to build a house I will have some bolts for it

 

[55x11]

Yea complete overkill with the mega lag bolts but I like the aggressive look! And if I need to build a house I will have some bolts for it

I like them. I used the same large bolts in my own build - the provide nice rustic touch.

 

[spacething]

"Finished" my keezer last night. A 5 cubic foot freezer. The collar is recycled heart pine mitered and joined using wood glue and dowel. Silicon to seal. Inset maple for the shanks to go through. They aren't that deep. Originally the were used in a tower set up.


Went with hinges attaching the collar to the body so that I would have to lift full kegs that extra 9 or so inches.



The collar is pretty heavy, but the freezer hinges hold it fine.



CO2 tank is a 20 pounder. Got that, the kegs, and a bunch of other home brew hardware/equipment including the taps, from a guy at work who no longer pursues the hobby. I have a big chunk of Rimu (a native NZ wood) to make new taps with.

Hard-wiring the STC-1000 was way easier than building a separate box for it like I have with my fermentation chamber.



Have a pale ale (Bee Cave Brewery Haus Pale Ale - for the third time) kegged. Should be ready to drink soon.

More Beer!

 

[OkanaganMike]

Nicely done.

 

[rickwho]

Here's my kool keezer, with custom light

 

[Yesfan]

Nice keezer! Love the neon. Did you have that made? If so, where?

 

[rickwho]

Nice keezer! Love the neon. Did you have that made? If so, where?

I drew a basic design of what I wanted and provided to www.neonandmore.com. They gave me an official design and price quote, which I agreed to and had made. The price was reasonable, so I said go for it.

 

[Schemy]

Finally got this put together. It is hinged on the collar. Used liquid nails to secure the top. I still need to chalkboard the lid, but functionally it's done.

View attachment 1461590968008.jpg

 

[hawgwild81]

Finally got this put together. It is hinged on the collar. Used liquid nails to secure the top. I still need to chalkboard the lid, but functionally it's done.

Love the hog!

 

[superstorm204]

Almost finished rebuilding .I went from 3 taps in front on the collar to building a box for the tower. Everything is stainless. Taps. Tailpiece, shanks, faucets. Waiting for a fan to circulate air through the tower. And some new handles.

View attachment 1461680679613.jpg

View attachment 1461680691096.jpg

 

[SGTSparty]

Newb here, so apologies if this has been covered (there's a LOT here to sort through) but I'm working on converting my basement fridge right now and I'm curious who's done side of the fridge taps vs. the standard door. SHMBO, doesn't want the door sacrificed since we used it for my son's extra snacks/bottles etc. so I'm looking to go through the Fridge wall of my early/mid 90's (guess) side by side fridge. I currently have 2 cornys and a 10lb co2 tank inside but its not a good use of space or well organized. I'm planning on bumping up to 4 cornys and to do that i need to move the co2 to the outside and mount the taps on the fridge itself.

My concern is the possibility of hitting a line/wire and killing the whole fridge, and the cost of the subsequent divorce lawyers. Any advice or direction to other threads about this would be hugely appreciated.

 

[Konadog]

Most full size refrigerators have the condenser coils either in the back, or the bottom of the unit, not in the sides. Look first, but I bet you would be OK.

 

[masonsjax]

Almost finished rebuilding .I went from 3 taps in front on the collar to building a box for the tower. Everything is stainless. Taps. Tailpiece, shanks, faucets. Waiting for a fan to circulate air through the tower. And some new handles.

Looks good but I'm curious, did you chew those holes into the box? Just kidding. I've certainly had to make due when I didn't have the right tool for the job.

 

[superstorm204]

I drilled sever smaller hole and then tried to smooth it out. My jig saw didn't cut deep enough and I didn't have a hole saw for 3in. I plan on putting a fan over the hole to.circulate air.

 

[superstorm204]

Looks good but I'm curious, did you chew those holes into the box? Just kidding. I've certainly had to make due when I didn't have the right tool for the job.

I left my hamster in there. He made a few more holes.

 

[SGTSparty]

Most full size refrigerators have the condenser coils either in the back, or the bottom of the unit, not in the sides. Look first, but I bet you would be OK.

Thanks for the advice, got the sign off from the wife so i'll be drilling it out this weekend. Going to get it primed and painted w/ chalkboard paint over the next week or 3 and i'll try and post some updates pics.

 

[OkanaganMike]

I left my hamster in there. He made a few more holes.

Hamster? In Canada we'd leave the beaver in there but he'd drink the beer too.

 

[OkanaganMike]

Almost finished rebuilding .I went from 3 taps in front on the collar to building a box for the tower. Everything is stainless. Taps. Tailpiece, shanks, faucets. Waiting for a fan to circulate air through the tower. And some new handles.

Whats that on tap? Rhubarb beer?