Wanting to Make a Fermentation Chamber

[SeeRoe]

I'm looking to build a fermentation chamber. Ideally, as easy as possible.

I'm trying to learn everything I can about it and then go ahead and build it during the holiday.

From what I'm seeing I can just buy a random mini fridge off craiglist, remove the door, and build a box around it. How much insulation should be around it?

And then plug the fridge into this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011296704/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

That's all? It seems too easy... What size mini fridge do I need? Ideally I'd like the capability to ferment two buckets (5 gallon batches), so maybe cooling a 3-3.5 foot area with a single fridge?

All your thoughts are appreciated. Or links to other threads that you may have found useful. I'll continue reading....

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

I'm looking to build a fermentation chamber. Ideally, as easy as possible.

I'm trying to learn everything I can about it and then go ahead and build it during the holiday.

From what I'm seeing I can just buy a random mini fridge off craiglist, remove the door, and build a box around it. How much insulation should be around it?

And then plug the fridge into this: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011296704/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

That's all? It seems too easy... What size mini fridge do I need? Ideally I'd like the capability to ferment two buckets (5 gallon batches), so maybe cooling a 3-3.5 foot area with a single fridge?

All your thoughts are appreciated. Or links to other threads that you may have found useful. I'll continue reading....

A mini fridge i would think would struggle to cool a space that big. Dealing with insulation and crap that IMO wont work worth a damn at holding the cold doesnt seem like its worth the effort.

Your best bet is a stand up frost free freezer(the kind that dont chill via the shelves). Second best is probably a small chest freezer, a small 5CuFt one should fit 2 buckets or carboys i'd think but you'd want to measure it yourself. Only downside to that is not everyone is capable of bending over and picking up a carboy or bucket out of a chest freezer if you have a bad back or something. 3rd best is a regular top/bottom fridge although you may not be able to fit two fermenters in that. But you do have a nice extra freezer to use for hops or other things that need to stay frozen.

 

[Bellybuster]

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of threads from folks who have done exactly what you suggest. It's very doable and yes, very easy. A mini fridge is more than capable of cooling two buckets.

Found by googling "fermentation chamber build"
http://brewbit.com/blog/55870904567/mini-fridge-fermentation-chamber-build-with

And another
Chamber build

 

[SeeRoe]

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of threads from folks who have done exactly what you suggest. It's very doable and yes, very easy. A mini fridge is more than capable of cooling two buckets.

Found by googling "fermentation chamber build"
http://brewbit.com/blog/55870904567/mini-fridge-fermentation-chamber-build-with

And another
Chamber build

Thank you for your reply. Although, as in this thread... I came across many "first style" type designs that many said it would work and many not. I was just looking for more updated information on the topic and if one design if better than the other.

 

[Bellybuster]

My chamber is similar but I used a small a/c unit, works a charm.

 

[ThomasPaine]

A chest freezer from Craig's list with a diy collar will be your best bet if you can lift the heavy buckets or carboys. You will someday move into kegging and be glad you have a duel purpose freezer. Plus costs are pretty much the same.

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

If your just looking for wood working DIY thats one thing, but there is no way that BrewBit build is cheaper than just buying a 8 CuFt chest freezer unless you already have the mini fridge and plywood, let alone a circular saw to cut it all up

There's probably $100 in wood there alone not counting the insulation, mini fridge, or man hours putting it all together. Maybe its different there but I have no problem finding 7-9Cuft freezers for $150 on CList. And with black friday coming up you can probably get a new one for cheap too.

If you do end up building one though make sure to document it!

 

[GQT]

If your just looking for wood working DIY thats one thing, but there is no way that BrewBit build is cheaper than just buying a 8 CuFt chest freezer unless you already have the mini fridge and plywood, let alone a circular saw to cut it all up

Good point.
I'm also looking for ways to make a chamber and weighing the price of parts+time+mess against just buying a new chest. Still undecided though. If I go for DIY I would surely use much crappier wood, or maybe just aluminium L-bars to keep sheets of foam in place. The wood I see in pictures here is good for high class furniture and probably costs as much.

 

[SeeRoe]

A chest freezer from Craig's list with a diy collar will be your best bet if you can lift the heavy buckets or carboys. You will someday move into kegging and be glad you have a duel purpose freezer. Plus costs are pretty much the same.

I've never bottled a single batch actually, been kegging since I started. DIY'd a 2 tap kegerator from an almost brand mini fridge on CL ($35).

Was just looking for ideas. The problem I'm running into is space... I suppose it'll have to wait a couple years until that is no longer an issue.