Sizing your Chest Freezer for Corny Kegs

[ThompsonGunner]

Hi all.

I just purchased a Frigidaire 7.0 (model # FFC0723DW). The plan was to first get the smallest keezer that could fit a 1/2Keg (of Stone Ruination). I sure hope this thing can fit that -- I'm measuring 16.5 x 18.75 x 28 for (WxDxH). This is below the compressor hump. I got a dual faucet tower tap to install. After the Ruination is gone, I want to switch 2 homebrew in 1/6 kegs.

The goal is to add another dual faucet tower and support 4 1/6ers. Has anyone got this setup? I'd rather not add a collar -- but could if need be.... or maybe I'll just quit homebrewing and just keep the thing filled with the Ruination... ;-)

 

[FlyEagles78]

Hi all.

I just purchased a Frigidaire 7.0 (model # FFC0723DW). The plan was to first get the smallest keezer that could fit a 1/2Keg (of Stone Ruination). I sure hope this thing can fit that -- I'm measuring 16.5 x 18.75 x 28 for (WxDxH). This is below the compressor hump. I got a dual faucet tower tap to install. After the Ruination is gone, I want to switch 2 homebrew in 1/6 kegs.

The goal is to add another dual faucet tower and support 4 1/6ers. Has anyone got this setup? I'd rather not add a collar -- but could if need be.... or maybe I'll just quit homebrewing and just keep the thing filled with the Ruination... ;-)

I have a a freezer that I converted. I built a collar for it. I really like the collars because you are not cutting any holes in the freezer. You should be fine with a tower tap. There is nothing important in the lid you have to worry about cutting. Good luck.

 

[Refry]

Here's a picture of the Kenmore model 16342 - 13 cu. ft. chest freezer. Without modification, seven ball lock cornies and a decent size CO2 tank will fit (my 15 lb will fit, but another keg would not).

 

[sirquack]

Looks like the Holiday freezers are back on sale at Lowes. May have to go pick up the 7 cu ft one for 169 and start my Keezer project.

 

[petep1980]

Looks like the Holiday freezers are back on sale at Lowes. May have to go pick up the 7 cu ft one for 169 and start my Keezer project.

I just scored it with free delivery!!!

 

[artbrau]

Looks like the Holiday freezers are back on sale at Lowes. May have to go pick up the 7 cu ft one for 169 and start my Keezer project.

Check out my experience keezerizing the 5 cu ft Holiday here

 

[Sol]

Looks like the Holiday freezers are back on sale at Lowes. May have to go pick up the 7 cu ft one for 169 and start my Keezer project.

I have the 7 cuft Holiday from Lowes and just wrapped up the build of my keezer. Just FYI, it BARELY fits 4 cornies. I had to take a mallet and bend part of the compressor hump in about 1/2" to get the 4th keg in. Made it thought. :rockin:

 

[petep1980]

I have the 7 cuft Holiday from Lowes and just wrapped up the build of my keezer. Just FYI, it BARELY fits 4 cornies. I had to take a mallet and bend part of the compressor hump in about 1/2" to get the 4th keg in. Made it thought. :rockin:

Can I assume no mods to fit 3 with a CO2 tank?

Also, can you fit any with a carboy?

 

[Sol]

3 is no problem at all. I haven't tried a carboy but can take a look for you tonight.

 

[petep1980]

One thing that just dawned on me is since I won't have anything to keg for a couple months I can use this as a fermentation chamber (with the thermostat) and finally make an Oktoberfest which will be impossible to screw up.

 

[mthhurley]

Question on the Holiday 7.0 CF.
I'm reading it holds 4 cornys with no collar. I'm just confused on the collar part.

When you say that, are you saying the corny's don't have collars (i.e. the black rubber handle part)?

Or meaning 4 cornys fit in the fridge before you mod it with a keezer collar?

Thanks!

 

[Lilrascal]

When they talk of a collar, they are talking of adding collar to the freezer. Not modifying the corny.

 

[rmchair]

I just picked up the holiday 7.0 at lowes but was tempted by the 5.5 dunbar at HHgreg for 159 and rebate. I just hate rebates so bad and was tired of being claustrophobic with my old dorm fridge. Not sure whether the 5.5 would fit 3 kegs on the floor either.

 

[msa8967]

I just found a 20+ cubic foot Kenmore unit on Craig's list for $100 but it is 90 minutes away. I have not yet built a keezer but have been looking CL to try to find a used chest freezer to hold up to 4 cornies. Will this size be overkill for what I need? I have not yet try lagering but I don't know if this is just too much unneeded space.

Here are the interior dimensions:

Inside is 22" wide by 42 1/2 long. The end where the small shelf is 18 1/2 deep
Other end is 28 1/2 in deep

 

[rmchair]

If you are going to do a collar a 7 cubic foot will easily fit 4 cornies. Why cool that much space? Pay $180 at Lowes and get the new one. I wouldn't pay over 50 for a used one covered with rust.

 

[rmchair]

It looks to me like the GE at HD is exactly like the Holiday at Lowes. I am thinking they are made at the same sweat shop. The 7 cubic foot fits three on the floor no problem. An 8 inch collar will fit 4, not sure if you can jam 4 on the floor because I don't have 4 yet.

PUI= posting under the influence.

 

[sycotik]

I have read the whole thread and I am disappointed to find out that the new hump on the 5 cu. ft. ones no longer hold 3 cornies without a collar. Has anyone been able to confirm if there are any other 5ft. ones out there now that will hold 3 without a collar?

 

[msa8967]

Has anyone tried using this Frigidaire freezer 9 cubic ft chest freezer found at Lowes? I found a 7 month old one for sale via Craig's list and cannot find any reviews on how well the unit works.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_90724-2251-....10-_-SC_Freezers Ice Makers_Area1-_-17645_1


Thanks,

Mick

 

[Judochop]

I'm in the market for a four-on-the-floor freezer. I want a nice, easy fit for 4 ball-lock cornies on the floor.

The Magic Chef 7.2cu on the main page of this thread would be perfect, but I can't seem to find that one available anymore.

What models out there these days can accommodate?

 

[dewey316]

It looks to me like the GE at HD is exactly like the Holiday at Lowes. I am thinking they are made at the same sweat shop. The 7 cubic foot fits three on the floor no problem. An 8 inch collar will fit 4, not sure if you can jam 4 on the floor because I don't have 4 yet.

PUI= posting under the influence.

I just got this today. I can confirm that you will need a collar to fit 4, it is about 3/4" too small of the floor for 4 of them. I was sort of hoping 4 would fit when I got mine, as it is now, judging my the height of it, i was going to add a collar anyway, but now I think I will be adding an 8" collar. From my measurements with an 8" collar, you should be able to fit 5 kegs, or 4 kegs and a tank.

 

[senorswiss]

I'm in the market for a four-on-the-floor freezer. I want a nice, easy fit for 4 ball-lock cornies on the floor.

The Magic Chef 7.2cu on the main page of this thread would be perfect, but I can't seem to find that one available anymore.

What models out there these days can accommodate?

The Sunbeam 7.2 at Menards - see here - will fit 4 ball locks without a collar. I currently have two ball locks and a slim quarter barrel on the floor in there. I got this freezer because it will fit a 1/2 barrel if I ever wanted that. I still installed a collar for a place to put taps.

 

[rodd]

The Sunbeam 7.2 at Menards - see here - will fit 4 ball locks without a collar. I currently have two ball locks and a slim quarter barrel on the floor in there. I got this freezer because it will fit a 1/2 barrel if I ever wanted that. I still installed a collar for a place to put taps.

Yep, I think it is identical to the Magic Chef. I have had 6 cornys in with collar, 4 on the floor. You can also fit two on the floor with a 1/6 or even 1/4 slim. Seems like it was made for soda kegs. One word of warning though, Coke kegs don't fit two deep, so you won't get 4 of those on the floor.

 

[Judochop]

Yep, I think it is identical to the Magic Chef. I have had 6 cornys in with collar, 4 on the floor. You can also fit two on the floor with a 1/6 or even 1/4 slim. Seems like it was made for soda kegs. One word of warning though, Coke kegs don't fit two deep, so you won't get 4 of those on the floor.

This is great news! I've got Pepsi ball-locks so no issue there. My cornies appear to be exactly 8.5" in diameter. So, two smashed together would be exactly 17", which happens to be the depth measurement of the Sunbeam 7.2senorswiss reported earlier. I take it you had to 'shift' one row of kegs to get four on the floor? (So the kegs form a kind of parallelogram, but not a perfect square?)

Any chance you could post a birdseye pic of the inside? I'd like to see how snug it is in there.

For the record, another poster on here who owns the GE 7.0 claims it holds 4 ball-locks. He posted a pic to prove it. However, I've currently got that same model and it won't take all four. Not without smashing the 4th one down with a rubber mallet or something. I want four tappers flowing, but the GE 7.0 would force me to get too violent and I'm afraid of damaging the freezer.

 

[rodd]

I take it you had to 'shift' one row of kegs to get four on the floor? (So the kegs form a kind of parallelogram, but not a perfect square?)

Any chance you could post a birdseye pic of the inside? I'd like to see how snug it is in there.

Actually I am able to make a square, they fit in two deep, but there isn't much room to spare, if the kegs were a little bigger, there is room that you could offset. I don't have a picture of four on the floor, and right now I have 2 cornys and a tall 1/4 on the floor, but here is a pic of 3 on the floor that should give you a good idea.

 

[Judochop]

Actually I am able to make a square, they fit in two deep, but there isn't much room to spare, if the kegs were a little bigger, there is room that you could offset. I don't have a picture of four on the floor, and right now I have 2 cornys and a tall 1/4 on the floor, but here is a pic of 3 on the floor that should give you a good idea.

Oh yeah. Should be no prob fitting 4 on the floor. Thanks for the pic!

 

[CPooley4]

Do you all monitor the temp with the temp adjustment provided on the unit or do you buy a separate temp monitor device for the freezers?

Thanks,

cp

 

[rmchair]

You need a seperate device. You can order the johsnosn control from most brew stores, you can order the cheaper version from Chi company for an add on, or you can install a fridge thermostat. There is one from AHS or makeakegerator that just turns the freezer into a fridge for the most part. also a search of this forum will doubtless tell you how to rig one up.

 

[rmchair]

incidently, I could not manage to get 4 on the floor in the new Holiday 7.0, its close, and maybe if it could be forced in there, but I am not inclined to do that.

 

[twizted1]

Several people have posted that the Frigidaire 9.0 cu ft from Lowes will hold 4 on the floor (the same freezer iirc is sold at Sears as a Frigidaire 8.8 cu ft). I've got all of my stuff together for a keezer, but haven't started building it yet. Since I have all my kegs, I took the time to snap some pictures last night of the freezer loaded up.

(Click Images for full size)

It will hold 4 on the floor (all kegs are ball lock kegs)


It doesn't work so well for number 5 though...


But a 20 lb CO2 tank fits quite nicely in that spot...


Fully loaded with 6 kegs, 1 20 lb CO2 bottle and 1 40cuft 75N 25CO2 bottle..


It's a tight fit, but it fits...

 

[opalko]

Can anyone confirm how many pin-lock cornys the GE 7.0 or the Holiday 7.0 will hold? I need to be able to hold 4 and a 20# gas tank, but I guess the gas tank can go outside the freezer, right?

Cheers!