Sizing your Chest Freezer for Corny Kegs

[cheesecake]

I have the old holiday 5 cf but I was thinking of switching to pin locks so I was wondering if I could still fit 3 in there

 

[jeffsciv23]

Im planning a keezer build but dont brew my own yet. Ide like to fit a commercial 1/2 barrel and maybe one or two cornys for premixed vodka cranberry lol. Thing is im about to move so space will be limited now. Whats the smallest freezer I can get that will fit that? I plan on making a collar and using a tower I already have.

 

[rens]

This is an amazing thread, but I'm in the UK and these all seem to be US models.

Does anyone know if I can get three cornies into the Haier BD-203GAA ? It seems like it should as its 24"x15" in the internal well and my cornies do seem to be just shy of 9" diameter. In fact, it looks like with a 2x10 collar it could do 5 as the shelf is 7.5"x15"

But I wonder if anyone else has done it...

 

[cheezydemon3]

I have died and gone to heaven.

Whirlpool 15.4 cu ft on craigslist for $50 Johnson digital $65

$115 and I have 3 cornies and 2 buckets in the thing with TONS of room left.

Time for more kegs!

 

[Fauxsho]

Holiday 7.0 (Lowes) In progress. I read a ton of bad reviews about this freezer so I didn't attach the collar, it just has weather stripping sealing the bottom of the collar to the freezer. I haven't modified the freezer at all other than reattaching the lid to the collar so I don't void the warranty if it craps out on me - And if it does, I'll remove my collar, reattach the lid and return it!


Shanks came today. (4 1/8")
[img=http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9136/imag0276t.th.jpg]
[img=http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/2753/imag0271dv.th.jpg]


Johnson Controls Analog Temperature Controller and fan wire.
[img=http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/7330/imag0268rv.th.jpg]


I had about a 10-20º difference in temperature from bottom to top so I installed a 3" AC fan to circulate the cold air. It works perfect and I only have about a 3-4º difference now which I'm happy with.




Back, hinge.
[img=http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1474/imag0273z.th.jpg]

Here is the sizing, the cardboard was cut for 1/6 barrels at 9 1/4"
[img=http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2594/imag0275h.th.jpg]

I'll post more as I make progress.
Cheers!

 

[Blue_Monkey]

Both the GE and Maytag 14.8 cu. ft. freezers are on sale at Home Depot for $404. Which one is better?

 

[D_Nyholm]

Both the GE and Maytag 14.8 cu. ft. freezers are on sale at Home Depot for $404. Which one is better?

Don't know which one is better, but both have been substantially cheaper, even as low as $299 but more recently $340

 

[LateraLex]

I had about a 10-20º difference in temperature from bottom to top so I installed a 3" AC fan to circulate the cold air. It works perfect and I only have about a 3-4º difference now which I'm happy with.




Back, hinge.
[img=http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1474/imag0273z.th.jpg]

Here is the sizing, the cardboard was cut for 1/6 barrels at 9 1/4"
[img=http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2594/imag0275h.th.jpg]

I'll post more as I make progress.
Cheers!

Interesting idea with the fan. Any thoughts to trying to insulate the collar?

 

[Fauxsho]

Interesting idea with the fan. Any thoughts to trying to insulate the collar?

I got the idea from billybrew.com and it worked really well. I sort of jumped the gun on this whole project and probably should have taken some extra steps into consideration instead of just trying to see results. I did think about insulating it while I was building the collar but to be honest I was tired of running to Lowes and I had planned this whole thing out step-by-step budget-wise and it didn't really find its way into the build.

I'll probably insulate it sooner or later as I am not really happy with my temperature probe being so close to the side of the freezer, so when or if I decide to reposition it, I'll take everything apart and insulate.

Overall it holds a pretty consistent temperature within 3-4 degrees from top to bottom so I'm sort-of happy. I am having some condensation problems though so I'm going to try my luck with a "rechargeable" dehumidifier, also a suggestion from billybrew.com

 

[masonsjax]

I've got 3 of the Eva-dry brand rechargeable dehumidifiers they work great. I keep one in my keezer and two in my lager/yeast/hops fridge, which gets opened more often than I'd like.

 

[D-urb]

I've got the Fridgidaire 5.0 CF freezer. I bought it because it was small and our apartment isn't too big, but wish I had shopped more because I can barely squeeze 2 kegs in there. I don't see myself needing more than two kegs so big deal, but still almost freaked when I actually tried putting them in there. I may build a collar so I can Lager at least one beer with them but I'm just doing picnic taps for now.

 

[Fauxsho]

I've got 3 of the Eva-dry brand rechargeable dehumidifiers they work great. I keep one in my keezer and two in my lager/yeast/hops fridge, which gets opened more often than I'd like.

How often do you have to "recharge" the one in your keezer?

 

[masonsjax]

Once a month on average I'd say. I also have PC fans circulating the air in there and try not to open the lid too often, stays pretty dry.

 

[Fauxsho]

That doesn't sound too bad. I was afraid I'd be recharging it quite often so I was unsure about purchasing one. I'm still in the "under construction" stages of mine so the freezer has pretty much turned into a vessel where I just keep my commercial beer cold. So, depending on my mood, I open it when I need a beer, which can be pretty frequent on certain nights. Whether that effects the level of condensation I'm experiencing, I don't know.

Thanks for the input.

Cheers!

 

[redsoxfan1974]

Great Thread.... Very Helpful!!

 

[2brewishuman]

Very cool! I have my keezer all picked out. Going with the 14.8 cf for $395.10 - 5%. Very excited! Belgian ale on tap! 2 stouts on tap! Strawberry kiwi ale on tap! Maybe a vanilla java porter! Woot!!

 

[cheezydemon3]

Very cool! I have my keezer all picked out. Going with the 14.8 cf for $395.10 - 5%. Very excited! Belgian ale on tap! 2 stouts on tap! Strawberry kiwi ale on tap! Maybe a vanilla java porter! Woot!!

um.......

i am with you most of the way, lol.

 

[Orthobrewsky]

Great thread as I'm pondering my future kegging arrangement.

 

[jesse55lv]

Hey ya'll.

Put my keezer together with a Frigidaire 8.8 Cu. Ft. Chest Freezer (Color: White)
Item #: 90724 Model #: LFFC09M5HW from Lowe's.

There wasn't too much info out there about this freezer (many people refer to it at a 9 cu. ft.), but I was pretty sure from poking around on HBT that I'd be able to get 6 kegs in there. I ended up being able to fit 7!

For visual proof, here's a picture with seven kegs, four on the floor, and three more on the hump (one is barely on the hump, and could probably be pushed to the floor, but why bother). I opted to keep my CO2 tank outside the keezer.

This thing has been great, I can serve four beers and carb up three more that are on deck!

Hope this helps out anyone looking at this particular chest freezer.

 

[danorocks17]

Jesse, I just bought the same freezer hahaha. I agree there wasn't a lot out there in regards to this freezer, but i can get 4 kegs and my 20lbs tank of the floor and two on the hump. To get the 4 on the floor I have to position my co2 tank just right. it's like putting together a big puzzle haha. I am in the process of painting the top with chalkboard paint, and hopefully I will be adding a collar to it by the end of the year so i can use the hump space.

 

[D_Nyholm]

How large of a collar will u need to get some on the hump?

 

[danorocks17]

How large of a collar will u need to get some on the hump?

If i remember correctly it will have to be an 8 inch collar

 

[jesse55lv]

Yeah, an 8 inch collar gives you a perfect fit for ball lock kegs on the Frigidaire 8.8cf. Not a lot of wiggle room, but the top shuts just fine.

 

[smellie_hippie]

OK...

Getting my Keezer project started this week. I have a few questions.

I scored a Kenmore 13 Cubic Foot freezer from Craig's List. $175, manufactured in 2009, and listing for about $400 new.

I measured depth, and the hump appears to be about 10" in height.

Overall depth is 29", so the hump depth is 19".

If I build a 6" collar, I would have PLENTY of space for two kegs on the hump. But the biggest concern I had was for the hinges on the back. The bolts attached to the base are 7" apart. If I only make a 6" collar, I would have to attach one of the bolts back into the freezer unit? Do I need to bite the bullet and make an 8" collar to attach completely to that?

 

[D_Nyholm]

Not sure I understand the question,but the difference between a 7" collar and a 8" collar are more than just size. Most wood is available in 8" widths so you would have much less cutting needed. If I understand the hinges, you would also not have to worry about making a hole in the freezer too, so that is another big plus!

 

[barrooze]

OK...

Getting my Keezer project started this week. I have a few questions.

I scored a Kenmore 13 Cubic Foot freezer from Craig's List. $175, manufactured in 2009, and listing for about $400 new.

I measured depth, and the hump appears to be about 10" in height.

Overall depth is 29", so the hump depth is 19".

If I build a 6" collar, I would have PLENTY of space for two kegs on the hump. But the biggest concern I had was for the hinges on the back. The bolts attached to the base are 7" apart. If I only make a 6" collar, I would have to attach one of the bolts back into the freezer unit? Do I need to bite the bullet and make an 8" collar to attach completely to that?

A 2x6 is actually only 5½" wide. When I measured my Ball Lock kegs, they measured 25.5" tall. This may have been with QDs attached, but regardless, if you were to use a 2x6 you'd only get a hump depth of 24.5". I highly recommend using the 8" board for your collar, just to make sure you have enough depth. Also, knowing the hinge will fit entirely on your collar is reassuring.

 

[masonsjax]

You can always drill extra holes in the hinges as needed, but yeah measure carefully using real kegs and leave a little wiggle room for error.

 

[smellie_hippie]

Ok, so 8 inch collar for safety and such. I was going to try and follow the Billy Blog about a collar that simply sat on the top, and then a "wider" outer collar that extended below to secure the whoel structure. That puts me building a 10 inch collar around the front three sides (leaving some crap to secure on the back). I was hoping to keep it a little more slender.

As for the 7" gap, I was referring to the base of the hinge that attaches to the freezer unit. It's got two sets of holes in it, and they are spaced 7" apart. IF I had built a 6" collar (with 8" frame for appearance) I would put the LOWER attachment in the previous UPPER holes for the hinge, and the UPPER hinge holes attached directly to the collar.

I'm at work, so I can't attach pics... Does that clarify my question?

 

[cwilliamsccn]

Just picked up a Holiday 7.0 cf. Holds 3 Pin-locks and the co2 in the bottom and a few 6 packs on the hump with no collar. 28" to the top so plenty of room for hoses and what not. still waiting on my double 525ss perlick tower I got from amazon for 160 so its acting a a ferm chamber with two 6 gallon carboys.

 

[holy]

Got a Haier 7.1 saturday and dropped the latest lager in there saturday evening. looks fine, fits the limited space I had and should hold 4 kegs on the floor no collar needed. I'll see if I can also fit a 2.5g on the hump. Currelntly holding two 5g pails.

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