Thanksgiving Keezer Build!
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deezy
Well-Known Member
Congrats on the build, well done.
Mini update.
No more appliance white!
Here is the stuff I used. Hammerite Rust Cap Smooth Finish.
Did some searching around for the best thing to use for this application. Considered using a black lacquer but I could only find acrylics in rattle cans for some reason and I don't trust acrylics to hold up to having glasses, bottles, ect sitting on top of it without sticking. I also considered using rattle cans of the stuff that's marketed as appliance paint but then I found this instead. As the stuff cures microscopic pieces of glass combine with the resins in the paint to seal out any surface rust and create a hard finish. If you decide to use this stuff for a project, make sure you have enough of it on hand to get the job done. If you don't recoat it within 1 hour you have to wait 10 days for the product to cure before you can apply another coat. I haven't started beating this thing around yet but the finish already seems tough as nails. One of my coworkers told me she painted a wheel barrow with this stuff and it lasted through 5 years of use. The only downfall is that its a bit on the expensive side ~$10/can... I used 3 cans and got 3 coats out of them.
No more appliance white!
Here is the stuff I used. Hammerite Rust Cap Smooth Finish.
Did some searching around for the best thing to use for this application. Considered using a black lacquer but I could only find acrylics in rattle cans for some reason and I don't trust acrylics to hold up to having glasses, bottles, ect sitting on top of it without sticking. I also considered using rattle cans of the stuff that's marketed as appliance paint but then I found this instead. As the stuff cures microscopic pieces of glass combine with the resins in the paint to seal out any surface rust and create a hard finish. If you decide to use this stuff for a project, make sure you have enough of it on hand to get the job done. If you don't recoat it within 1 hour you have to wait 10 days for the product to cure before you can apply another coat. I haven't started beating this thing around yet but the finish already seems tough as nails. One of my coworkers told me she painted a wheel barrow with this stuff and it lasted through 5 years of use. The only downfall is that its a bit on the expensive side ~$10/can... I used 3 cans and got 3 coats out of them.
HOP-HEAD
Well-Known Member
Thank you sir... I've enjoyed every beer that she's poured me. Even some lesser quality drafts taste good coming from one's own keezer...
I had fun making it, and have considered enough things that I'd change on it since, that I've even considered selling it a few times so I could build a newer one... the problem is, these things have far higher sentimental value than what they'll ever fetch on the street.
Enjoy the remainder of your build... and then... most importantly, enjoy the first tap and the thousands to follow...
![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
Seattle is great. Moved here from Iowa about a year and a half ago and love it! Plenty to do, great people, and some really great breweries which is a major bonus. Hit me up if you move out here... we can swap some brews.
Alright, so last night SWMBO proved why she is in fact SWMBO. As I was racking my brain trying to figure out what I could use to make a chrome sorta appearance she suggested aluminum foil...
"ALUMINUM FOIL!?!?!", I thought
"How the hell is aluminum foil going to go on this thing and last more than 30 seconds before it rips apart."
She had an idea so we ran a little "proof of concept" experiment with some scrap wood.
We wadded a sheet of foil up into a ball and then unrolled it to give it some texture, applied a skim coat of Liquid Nails (shocker) to the board and pressed the foil into place. Then I sprayed about 6 coats of Krylon Fusion Clear over the foil in an attempt to protect the surface and add some rigidity to the whole thing.
To my surprise it actually worked! (that weird milky look is from the clear coat drying... it goes away.)
As the thing was drying I would pick at it with my fingernail to try to break pieces off every now and then. After about 4 hours or so the thing was pretty solid. It took a really good amount of effort to break through and rip the foil. I even spent a couple minutes bashing a pint glass against it trying to mimic the wear it would actually take. Held up like a champ.
So at this point I was pretty pumped already that it seemed like this concept was actually practical though I was slightly worried about what would happen when the foil would end up getting ripped as I drunkenly smashed into it while filling a pint. I didn't want my keezer to end up looking like that photo above. The wife came through again as she found out this stuff can pretty much be patched without detection. This photo is that same board with some pieces of foil patching all those holes I made. I was pretty impressed.
"ALUMINUM FOIL!?!?!", I thought
"How the hell is aluminum foil going to go on this thing and last more than 30 seconds before it rips apart."She had an idea so we ran a little "proof of concept" experiment with some scrap wood.
We wadded a sheet of foil up into a ball and then unrolled it to give it some texture, applied a skim coat of Liquid Nails (shocker) to the board and pressed the foil into place. Then I sprayed about 6 coats of Krylon Fusion Clear over the foil in an attempt to protect the surface and add some rigidity to the whole thing.
To my surprise it actually worked! (that weird milky look is from the clear coat drying... it goes away.)
As the thing was drying I would pick at it with my fingernail to try to break pieces off every now and then. After about 4 hours or so the thing was pretty solid. It took a really good amount of effort to break through and rip the foil. I even spent a couple minutes bashing a pint glass against it trying to mimic the wear it would actually take. Held up like a champ.
So at this point I was pretty pumped already that it seemed like this concept was actually practical though I was slightly worried about what would happen when the foil would end up getting ripped as I drunkenly smashed into it while filling a pint. I didn't want my keezer to end up looking like that photo above. The wife came through again as she found out this stuff can pretty much be patched without detection. This photo is that same board with some pieces of foil patching all those holes I made. I was pretty impressed.
Now, from proof of concept to the real deal...
After all the time I spent trying to make nice miter joints, priming this thing, and then painting it... It was now time to wrap the hole thing in foil rendering all of that effort absolutely useless.
First we rolled out ~7.5 feet of foil and rolled it into a ball, unfolded it and then began wrapping it around the collar.
Big bead of Liquid Nails across the surface:
Spreading the Liquid Nails into place with a kitchen spatula I borrowed from a friend about 5 months ago and haven't give back to him yet. Thanks Frank!
The best wife ever pressing the foil into place:
We tucked the foil all the way around the collar, wrapped it like a present basically, being super careful not to cause any rips in the corners.
And then I applied about 6 coats of clear to all of this. The inside looks a bit ghetto but I don't really mind. Might wrap some styro-foam insulation around it at some point to clean it up a bit but its fine as is for now:
After all the time I spent trying to make nice miter joints, priming this thing, and then painting it... It was now time to wrap the hole thing in foil rendering all of that effort absolutely useless.
First we rolled out ~7.5 feet of foil and rolled it into a ball, unfolded it and then began wrapping it around the collar.
Big bead of Liquid Nails across the surface:
Spreading the Liquid Nails into place with a kitchen spatula I borrowed from a friend about 5 months ago and haven't give back to him yet. Thanks Frank!
The best wife ever pressing the foil into place:
We tucked the foil all the way around the collar, wrapped it like a present basically, being super careful not to cause any rips in the corners.
And then I applied about 6 coats of clear to all of this. The inside looks a bit ghetto but I don't really mind. Might wrap some styro-foam insulation around it at some point to clean it up a bit but its fine as is for now:
With all of the decorative finishes out of the way it was time to finally put this whole thing together!
I went with the Johnson analog controller. Would have loved to have gone with a digital one but by the time I bought this thing an extra $20 or so seemed like a fortune... getting tired of watching my bank account shrink at this point.
Controller mounted and hinges reattached:
Hole drilled and thermometer thing run into freezer:
Taps put into place:
I went with the Johnson analog controller. Would have loved to have gone with a digital one but by the time I bought this thing an extra $20 or so seemed like a fortune... getting tired of watching my bank account shrink at this point.
Controller mounted and hinges reattached:
Hole drilled and thermometer thing run into freezer:
Taps put into place:
And here it is! The finished product:
Thanks to everyone for reading my thread. This build has been a blast and I'm happy to have shared it with you. A huge thanks goes out to my wife who allowed me to build this thing in the first place and came up with some awesome ideas that made the project much more complete. She's the best. I've still got some finishing touches to do, gotta figure out what I'm doing for a drip tray and possibly install a bottle opener. I'll keep posting as I modify.
Sorry I don't have any pics with the lid popped yet. Waiting til I'm sure the lid is fully glued in place before I start messing with it too much. Anyone have any suggestions for coolant line management on the inside?
Thanks again guys! Let me know what you think of the build, and please offer any suggestions you have for possible improvements and mods.
Thanks to everyone for reading my thread. This build has been a blast and I'm happy to have shared it with you. A huge thanks goes out to my wife who allowed me to build this thing in the first place and came up with some awesome ideas that made the project much more complete. She's the best. I've still got some finishing touches to do, gotta figure out what I'm doing for a drip tray and possibly install a bottle opener. I'll keep posting as I modify.
Sorry I don't have any pics with the lid popped yet. Waiting til I'm sure the lid is fully glued in place before I start messing with it too much. Anyone have any suggestions for coolant line management on the inside?
Thanks again guys! Let me know what you think of the build, and please offer any suggestions you have for possible improvements and mods.
no thats not a bad idea. I saw a Keezer build on here and the drip tray was built out of wood and it had 9 hard drive magnets on the back of it to hold it in place it held 5 12oz beers. a wooden tray wrapped in foil would complete the build.
I like that you didn't go with the painted or stained wood look. im going to try and use SS sheeting when I build my Keezer so it matches my kitchen perfect as it will be sitting next to my counter much like yours is.
-=Jason=-
edit: the Keezer build with wooden drip try mounted with magnets
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/keezer-build-finally-finished-keezer-porn-attached-179037/
I like that you didn't go with the painted or stained wood look. im going to try and use SS sheeting when I build my Keezer so it matches my kitchen perfect as it will be sitting next to my counter much like yours is.
-=Jason=-
edit: the Keezer build with wooden drip try mounted with magnets
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/keezer-build-finally-finished-keezer-porn-attached-179037/
The hard drive magnet idea is simple and brilliant. Magnets were my initial plan but I've just gotta find some for cheap somewhere... Might check out the University of Washington surplus store and see if I can buy a bunch of old hard drives for a few bucks. I was planning on using the mud pan turned drip tray trick but I'm actually kinda liking this wood wrapped in foil idea... we'll see where it goes. Keep the suggestions coming!
Also, I really need to take a picture of this with the flash off...
Also, I really need to take a picture of this with the flash off...
wilceaser
Well-Known Member
Nice looking keezer A+ for the foil idea.
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