vonZwicky's keezer build

[vonZwicky]

Thanks NewBrewB. I just finished looking at your keezer build. I like. Especially the bamboo. I'm not sure I even have a "newsletter," but feel free to stay tuned. I have one or two ideas for projects I want to share here after this build, but I don't want to get too far ahead of myself. Like the coach always says: "One game at a time."

 

[Layne]

Very nice build!
Great design idea, and beautiful material and workmanship.

 

[vonZwicky]

I appreciate it, Layne. Cheers, to a fellow Louisianian!

 

[GlenF]

just one question...when you remove the facade w/ the hinges, will you be taking off the tap handles?

 

[vonZwicky]

I made the port in the facade just big enough to clear the faucets, but yes, I would have to remove any tap handles (which isn't a big deal).

 

[JohnnyO]

Nice design! Good luck with it!!

 

[vonZwicky]

Thanks JohnnyO. I have a 1/4 keg of Abita Imperial Stout in the freezer that I won't tap until I have this keezer functional. It's my motivation for hurrying up and getting this thing finished.

 

[vonZwicky]

Cold weather and a busy work week have conspired to keep me from getting as far with this as I would have liked. But this is where I'm at:

I bought a sheet of 2 foot by 4 foot birch plywood (1/4 inch thick) for about 9 bucks. It has a very smooth surface, which should be ideal for the chalkboard paint.

 

[vonZwicky]

I really handn't wanted to do this, but the weather finally forced me to move the finishing operation inside:

 

[vonZwicky]

Alright, this is after the third coat, and I'm hoping that I can stay up late enough to apply a fourth (and final) coat. I think I can put down the paint brush tomorrow.

 

[vonZwicky]

I was able to cut a few panels for the facade out of the birch, primed, and now have 3 coats of chalkboard paint applied (this stuff dries so much faster than the helmsman):

 

[Rushis]

That cypress is gorgeous! I am so glad you opted for only a few coats of polyurethane. Staining that wood would be a travesty.

Great looking project so far, can't wait to see the end product.

 

[vonZwicky]

That's all I've got today. I'm getting very close!

 

[vonZwicky]

I and the cypress thank you, Rushis. Glad I didn't stain it either. Aside from being extra work, I think it would have taken away from the overall effect.

 

[Rick91981]

That is beautiful.

 

[A4J]

best keezer build ever!

 

[JohnnyO]

Thanks JohnnyO. I have a 1/4 keg of Abita Imperial Stout in the freezer that I won't tap until I have this keezer functional. It's my motivation for hurrying up and getting this thing finished.

Hold the phone! Abita makes an Imperial Stout?!?

 

[vonZwicky]

A few years ago Abita started a line of "Select" beers. They brew a small batch of something new every few months, it's kegged (not bottled) and most of it goes to local bars and restuarants. Almost all of the Selects are one time brews, here today and gone tomorrow. I was lucky enough to get a keg of this latest one, Imperial Stout.

 

[JohnnyO]

Very nice. Enjoy one for me! I won't be back down there until October.

 

[philrose]

:rockin:

I feel like the show us your keezer thread needs a highlight reel, this would be on it. Nice work sir!

 

[vonZwicky]

Thanks guys, but don't congratulate me yet. I've spent about 90% of my time thinking about this build, and the other 10% building it (the main reason it's taking so long). I'm still looking for that "fatal flaw," the thing I didn't anticipate. Until I get it operational for a period of time, I don't know what kind of problems might arise. This is my first keezer build.

 

[vonZwicky]

Alright, I made lots of progress yesterday. I bought a sheet of 1/2 inch foam insulation to line the collar with. Here's some pics:

 

[vonZwicky]

https://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/medium/IMG_1358.jpg

 

[vonZwicky]

I've been worried about the temp controller being prone to collecting condensation since it's flush mounted inside the collar. Hopefully the insulation will protect it:

 

[vonZwicky]

Now some caulk around the edges of all the insulation:

I also applied the foam isulation tape to the bottom side of collar, which will rest on the freezer (that's also getting foam tape around the top rim).

 

[vonZwicky]

I used a 1 inch spade bit to drill through the collar for the faucet shank. Since I only have on faucet right now, I'll put off drilling the other two until I aquire more faucets (and kegs).

 

[vonZwicky]

Let the assembly begin:

 

[vonZwicky]

I decided to hinge both the collar and the freezer lid. The freezer lid for easy access, and the collar for when I need to load heavy kegs, or reach down into the bottom for cleaning (or that last six pack). It's deep in there!

It doesn't seem like the hinges on the lid will hold for long, as they are only screwed into thin metal. That's o.k. I'm already begining to regard the freezer lid as disposible. A nice cypress lid at some point in the future would be so much better!

 

[vonZwicky]

Willy is dying to give this thing it's inaugural pissing.

 

[vonZwicky]

Now to install the facade:

The facade is just hinged at the bottom, so this is just a matter tapping in a couple of hinge pins.