Spike Flex Mini Fridge

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Dlawrence529

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Has anyone found a mini fridge that works as a fermentation chamber with the Spike Flex or Flex+? It looks like the dimensions are a little large for most mini-fridges. I'd like to avoid a full size fridge or chest freezer.
 
I have been looking at the flex also. I think it would be a tight fit for the flex in my Magic Chef 4.4 cu fridge only sitting on top of the compressor hump using a blowoff setup. Too tight for my liking.

A full size keggerator would be a better fit if space is a concern. The other option is the cooling coil set up for $300 but for that I would just pick up fridge on craigslist.

I would love to get a full size bottom freezer with french doors on the fridge but have no where to put one.
 
How much wider is it than the SS Brewbuckets? It looks fatter but shorter. I have SS brewbuckets inside two Haier BC112G fridges with a little stand built to accommodate the compressor hump at the bottom, and i still have a few inches on either side. If its not more than 2-3" wider than a brewbucket i dont think it would be a problem. Height is tight with the buckets, so the shorter Flex would work well.
 
Hi guys.

New to this home brewing, but diving in head first. Working on a fermentation chamber using an old mini fridge and clearly want it to accommodate my Flex+. By measurements I will need an 8” collar as the darn compressor hump is too tall for the flex.

Anybody done an 8” collar before?
 

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I have never heard of putting a collar on a mini fridge door like a keezer. I am not sure how you would go about doing that in a way you will be happy with, fit well from an engineering standpoint and will not leak cool air. Best of luck my man! Love to see pics when you are done.
 
I have never heard of putting a collar on a mini fridge door like a keezer...

Yeah, it's definitely not something that I've seen a lot of, but there are some videos and pics online. 8" just seems really darn big. I have my cabinet-making neighbour checking it out tonight to fabricate something that is elegant looking for this and my keezer. Then I'll insulate the snot out of both of them to hold temp and not leak. I'll post pics for certain when I get something I'm happy with.
 
Well, I did get around to putting a collar on my mini-fridge to serve as a fermenting chamber in which I can also cold crash... And it worked like a charm! Holds temperature exceptionally well, even down to 2-degrees Celsius. The composition is 5/8" dimensional spruce, a 1/2" layer of purple hard insulation (do not recall the R-value), and 1/4" puckboard with caulked seamlines to clean it up and look proper. I mounted a ceramic heating bulb in the back upper left, and a PC fan mounted to the collar using L-brackets sandwiched between the wood and insulation. The only thing I am missing is the ability to force-carbonate, as the front-to-back space won't allow my carb stone to fit. But I built a platform in my keezer to perform that task. Here are a couple WIP photos as well as the final look inside holding my Spike Flex+, which is currently fermenting out a citra-IPA.
 

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looks tiny in there. But moving that thing when heavy sucks!

I noticed the T fitting on top of your Flex+. Have you seen the new multi port lid Spike just released?
I saw the lid and I like it. I'm not.gonna buy one for this flex as I just don't need it, but I will use it on a CF5 whenever I buy one.
 
Made a small attachment for my Flex+...

I became a bit concerned with introducing oxygen when adding additions after fermentation stops. Particularly for NEIPA’s which are very susceptible to oxidation. So I built a dispenser that can be purged with CO2 and the additions added without fear of introducing oxygen. I added 1.5lbs of toasted coconut to my porter, and it worked like a dream.

the butterfly is also sufficiently deep that I can add hops without the sight glass, and do it all from the fermenting fridge.
 

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Made a small attachment for my Flex+...

I became a bit concerned with introducing oxygen when adding additions after fermentation stops. Particularly for NEIPA’s which are very susceptible to oxidation. So I built a dispenser that can be purged with CO2 and the additions added without fear of introducing oxygen. I added 1.5lbs of toasted coconut to my porter, and it worked like a dream.

the butterfly is also sufficiently deep that I can add hops without the sight glass, and do it all from the fermenting fridge.

Couple things to ask/comment on:
  1. Came for the fermentation chamber; stayed for the dry-hop/additions mod :D I like what you did here Sam!! Have you got links to where you attained the hardware? I know I could order a full set up from Brewer's Hardware but then I'm looking at shipping / duty from the U.S. (not to mention the exchange on the Loonie) so any Canadian supplier/retailer would be awesome (even if it's Amazon.ca LOL)

  2. Has anyone put their Flex (or Flex+) into a "compact" (not mini like Sam built) 10-14 cu ft fridge? If so, which make/model? I've had a tough time figuring out interior dimensions from any brand's website! I'm looking at compact fridges with a top freezer as an option for a ferm chamber and hop storage in order to a) get my hops out of the home freezer (i.e. they take up quite a bit of space in there) and b) get rid of/sell some of the extra mini fridges (Danby 4.4 cu ft) I have been using for the SS Brewbuckets I used to ferment in.
Cheers,
Dave
 
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