The 'Keezer' Project

[Jester369]

So, are you going to leave the simple black tap handles, or buy/build some fancy ones? I kinda like the simple look, myself.

Well, for the time being they are staying simple black - I like the clean look, too. I might see if I can get some nice aluminum ones turned - a friend of mine runs a local machine shop. But even then they would be very simple in design - just silver and shiny!

 

[nathan]

Hrm. One of my neighbors works stone and does custom stone for a living. He's offered several times to make something for me when he's got extra. Maybe I should have a top made to fit around the coffin out of a solid piece, with a spot for the drip tray.

I bet that'd tax the hinges a bit.


Looks like yours has a sled unit, which the freezer sits on, a cabinet wrap-around, which sits on the sled around the freezer, a base trim that just sits in place, and a top/lid unit.

I don't see a photo detailing the top of the cabinet part with the lid on showing how it may vent, but I would guess the lid trim has a gab between it hanging from the lid and the cabinet wood, so it can intake air around the top of the cabinet?

I think if I break this huge project down into parts I might not be as intimidated. Well... maybe just a little less intimidated. A good excuse for buying some better woodworking tools.

 

[Rhoobarb]

Man, Jester, that is sweet. I'm finishing up a keezer project myself and you've given me some good ideas I'm going to incorporate into mine. I like the idea of having the wood skirting be removable.

Great job!

 

[mwhc22]

:rockin: OMG that thing is awesome...im inspired now to build something. i wonder if it is possible to mount the taps to one side and have half the lid open for access so you wouldn't have to open the part with taps on it to add or remove cornies?

 

[Jester369]

i wonder if it is possible to mount the taps to one side and have half the lid open for access so you wouldn't have to open the part with taps on it to add or remove cornies?

Brewpastor's conversion (where I originally stole the idea for this) has the entire area in front of the taps hinged to give access to the kegs. A very cool way to do it, but I was looking to make it easier to build (mechanically anyway!).

 

[Jester369]

Ok, so I am finally at capacity with seven taps. I don't have the nitrogen setup for the stout yet, but one step at a time!

 

[John Beere]

most awesome

 

[farmbrewernw]

Very nice Jester

 

[thewurzel]

Very nice indeed.
Would you be interested in building one for me?
Just kidding
A wonderful project and very well executed.

 

[juvinious]

Beautiful, I'm planning on putting my stout tap in the middle. I have to wait till the money situation gets better, but as you said one step at a time.
Thanks to your project and several others, which gave me an idea of what is possible, my keezer exists.

 

[clskinsfan]

I scored a free 30 year old 19 CF chest freezer today and want to convert it to a monster fermentation chamber. Can you go into detail about how you changed the thermostat to run at temps above freezing? I wamt to avoid spending 50 bucks on an external thermostat if at all possible. I guess i am wondering if the internal thermostat can be rigged somehow?

 

[Jester369]

Can you go into detail about how you changed the thermostat to run at temps above freezing?

Sorry - I went the easy route and bought a digital controller. Can't help you on a thermostat mod.

 

[mnadamn]

I also went the dig control route, I wouldnt try to change the thermostat because accuracy would be hard to get. Also it tepends on what you are fermenting. If you are going for ales, then the amount of change needed from stock in my opinion would be too great to modefy. If something goes wrong in the modefication, you need to buy a dig controller anyway. IMHO you are better off shelling out the money for the controller. That way if you decide you want to make the fermentation chamber a keezer or even turn it back into a freezer, you can.

 

[conpewter]

I went for a Ranco on my fermenter freezer.

Also if you build a keezer make sure you post pics, Jester did and they are great pictures, even has some with extra decoration that is very distracting from the beautiful keezer.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Very beutiful end result Jester. Not to mention reading through this thread and being curious about all the "other thread" posts and what got me to pony up for membership. I had no idea what this forum could truly be!! Starting on my keezer now and am going more your route as apposed to the handles on the collar cause it needs to be incorporated into a bar build downstairs. When you mentioned the Tnuts for mounting the top to the lid, any way you could post pics? I'm new to building and don't know all the various hard ware options available. I googled Tnuts and, well, lets just syas there a lot of options.

 

[conpewter]

I hope you had google safe-search on...

I imagine building a keezer into a bar is a bit difficult since it opens from the top (Unless like Jester you make the keezer top a bar itself)

I especially like the lighting on Jester's keezer, really sets it off I think.

 

[drunkatuw]

Very beutiful end result Jester. Not to mention reading through this thread and being curious about all the "other thread" posts and what got me to pony up for membership. I had no idea what this forum could truly be!! Starting on my keezer now and am going more your route as apposed to the handles on the collar cause it needs to be incorporated into a bar build downstairs. When you mentioned the Tnuts for mounting the top to the lid, any way you could post pics? I'm new to building and don't know all the various hard ware options available. I googled Tnuts and, well, lets just syas there a lot of options.

When you search, definitely use "t-nuts", here's what they look like:

You can get them at any hardware store.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Thats what I saw that I figured was used but saw a bunch of other options as well. Thanks. I got approval from SWMBO to just do the standard Keezer with taps out the collar. Going to do this because I'm itching to have beer on tap. I'll eventually turn it into something better but I just wanna draw my beer from a keg NOW.

 

[HarvInSTL]

I imagine building a keezer into a bar is a bit difficult since it opens from the top

Take a look at this home brewers bar that he built.

Picasa Web Albums - Jamie - Bar Pics

 

[Guinness71]

Take a look at this home brewers bar that he built.

Upping the bar a bit..

Very nice - he did a great job..

 

[Chriso]

Agreed! Holy crap those antique crates really made for a nice effect! I love the epoxy finish, and his behind-bar storage is awesome! I'm really quite jealous.

 

[Jester369]

Take a look at this home brewers bar that he built.

Picasa Web Albums - Jamie - Bar Pics

Someday... someday... When I move, I want a place with a full basement (I have NO basement now) and it will have a built in bar. Probably retire the Keezer - maybe put it on eBay! :cross:

 

[IrregularPulse]

That is a sweet setup. Exactly what I'm wanting to do. And the perfect solution to adding the chest freezer in that I've been looking for. My only concern is, does everyone think it is OK to have the freezer completely surrounded like that? Looks completely closed off, no air circulation.

 

[Jester369]

My only concern is, does everyone think it is OK to have the freezer completely surrounded like that? Looks completely closed off, no air circulation.

Even with the freezer built in like that, you could add ducts and a fan similar to the Keezer.

 

[SHvanBommel]

how big was this CF?

 

[SHvanBommel]

If its off topic... (sorry) when buying a PID for a CF do you need an SSR?

 

[slnies]

I would say, yes. PIDs do not normally handle a lot of amps, unless you want to pay the big bucks. S.

 

[Jester369]

how big was this CF?

13 cf

123456

 

[SHvanBommel]

Thanks! Jester, this is beautiful, may need to stop by and see how it works on one of the trips this winter... :-D

 

[cobolstinks]

Awesome keezer, I will join the jester fan club and attempt this at some point. What type of boards did you use for the coffin, the boards surronding the marble, and the bottom cabinet? Pine, Oak, ply?