Why are drip trays so expensive???

[bracconiere]

mine is removable and that's a good point you need to keep the bottom cleaned out or gnats will invade, if it turns to sticky glue it's really hard to clean

Exactly why i upgraded to this one i have now, last one was just some sheet metal i folded into shape duct taped to the door. Had **** growing like the bottom of a cave in it, AND NATS! figured 30 wasn't too much for something i can just take off every week and wash....

 

[fighteroffoo03]

They do, it's the curvature of the ridges that helps prevent splashing.

Mind, you need to find a way to mount the drip tray. You really can't drill holes in the keezer's skin, there are condensor tubes everywhere.

evaporator tubes.

 

[IslandLizard]

evaporator tubes.

I was referring to the condenser tubes along the outside skin, the ones that are hot and need to shed their surplus heat to the environment.

Evaporator tubes are on the inside.

 

[BostonianBrewer]

I for one blame the NWO for this drip tray injustice

 

[treacheroustexan]

I bought a clearance smoker box at Walmart for a few bucks and put a few magnets on the back of it. Bam.

 

[bracconiere]

I bought a clearance smoker box at Walmart for a few bucks and put a few magnets on the back of it. Bam.

i see you also practice 'safe pouring'! lol

 

[Iowa Brewer]

I bought a clearance smoker box at Walmart for a few bucks and put a few magnets on the back of it. Bam.

Well played, treacheroustexan!

 

[IslandLizard]

i see you also practice 'safe pouring'! lol

OMG, that's so funny. You only get it when you see the picture.

 

[ultrashock]

Any ideas for DYI drip trays?

 

[brew703]

I picked up a drip tray from Ebay last year. 16" for around $35 shipped. Would be big enough for 3 taps.
This one. https://www.ebay.com/itm/16-Hanging...h=item33f4e0c8ae:g:OgoAAOSwu~5bqrWf:rk:2:pf:0
I used rare earth magnets to mount to the front of my keezer. Works great.

 

[mongoose33]

Any ideas for DYI drip trays?

Depends on how utilitarian you wish to get; a piece of aluminum gutter with a "leaf preventer" on top would work. Pretty cheap.

Or any type of wire grate that was long enough and narrow enough to fit in, say, a drywall mud pan such as something like these.

**********

I usually put a folded piece of paper towel on my drip tray just for the drips so I don't have to clean it out as often. If I have friends over, I'll take it off and expose the drip tray, but it keeps it suprisingly clean as just the few drops get soaked into the paper towel quite readily.

 

[divrack]

They are damn expensive. I'm going to see if I can't find some highschool shop teachers that can't get their child labour to start cranking them out for me to sell online. Can't be any harder than a mug rack.

 

[Bassman2003]

Personally, I prefer the approach of a towel or the little cups posted on page one. Normal drip trays are designed for bars. I find on the homebrew scale we often have the fridge in areas where you are not going to hose anything down. The square design makes it difficult to clean imho.

I just made a wood shelf with trim sticking up 1/2" and lay a hand towel in there. Easy to clean as the towel just goes in the washer for cleaning.

 

[garrad21]

I made one using a rubber bar mat, some 1/2" plywood, a short piece of furring, angle brackets, and old license plates. Total cost was maybe $15

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

I have the Stainless one that just sits on the countertop and wraps around the tower. It really was stupid expensive for what it is. On the bright side it still looks like new years later so I guess its money well spent

 

[ZuzBrews]

I made one out of some scrap lumber and some black mesh gutter guard. I have a piece of paper towel in the bottom of the tray.

 

[Town9]

Depends on how utilitarian you wish to get; a piece of aluminum gutter with a "leaf preventer" on top would work. Pretty cheap.

Or any type of wire grate that was long enough and narrow enough to fit in, say, a drywall mud pan such as something like these.

**********

I usually put a folded piece of paper towel on my drip tray just for the drips so I don't have to clean it out as often. If I have friends over, I'll take it off and expose the drip tray, but it keeps it suprisingly clean as just the few drops get soaked into the paper towel quite readily.

View attachment 593443

I just used the SS mudpan listed here and built a wood holder for it. I left the mud pan loose in the frame so I can take it out and rinse it easily. Works great for me and I think it looks adequate....especially for $14 and some scrap wood/paint.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

http://www.homebrewfinds.com/2018/1...-stainless-steel-drip-tray-14-99-save-25.html

 

[ultrashock]

I've made one from old professional coffee machine drip tray. It's got it absolutely free and I think it good for the purpose.

 

[Bassman2003]

Looking good! Great adaptation.

 

[p1v0]

I used a plastic planter box, I think it was about $10.00 Attached to Kegerator with 3M picture hangers(12lb with Velcro)

 

[jason613]

To mount it I used L-brackets with these magnets: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071JHFL89/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

The tray can't hold a glass but it at least prevents drips from hitting floor.

I used these magnets, the hooks and hook connector fit the mounting holes perfectly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZ2JZON/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005677QZE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

With 3 magnets holding this to the keezer i can put a full pint glass on, no fears of it falling

 

[mongoose33]

I used these magnets, the hooks and hook connector fit the mounting holes perfectly.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01MZ2JZON/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005677QZE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

With 3 magnets holding this to the keezer i can put a full pint glass on, no fears of it falling

Do you have a pic showing this you could post for us? I'm having a hard time visualizing how this would work, and it may be a more elegant solution for my drip tray than what I'm using.

 

[Greytop]

I routered on ogee edge on a 1x4, stained/lacquered it and mounted it to the face of the keezer with JBWeld epoxy.

Then I used 1/2 in. screws to hold the trays. The trays slip on and off for cleaning. I've had four full pints under the taps without any problems. If you do this, be sure to scuff up the face of the keezer where the board mounts so the epoxy will bond.

 

[papz]

As a partial explanation as to why they cost what they do...
Years ago i used to work at a sheet metal plant. Steel would arrive in 4x8 sheets (i think) that first had to be but into rectangles on the `shear` machine (each part had it's own specific size it had to be, and of course from a specific guage thickness of steel)
Then those parts would go to a break press (it makes bends in metal) sometimes you could use the same *die (expensive part to make the bend) for 2 bends if they were the same angle bend for the opposite side of the peice assuming it is the same dimentions. I'd say that the drip trays have 2 dies for this. After this is done the edges would have to go to the weld shop to be welded together and the slag grinded off. THEN assuming it is a tray with holes in it, those holes need to be drilled. (this could be bypassed if the company has a plasma/water/lazer cutter- this would also bypass the shear part as well but some companies just dont have these machines) After all of that, the parts would go to plating for chrome/brass/ w/e finishing if they are not SS. A different machine/die would be used for the slotted ones. Now do this x2 if it takes 2 seperate parts. Setting up dies takes a bit of skill and time and companies DO need to pay wages and want to see a profit....let alone shipping from company x to reseller y to you.....
Long story short.... it costs alot because it is supporting a LOT of workers/jobs.

 

[Bobby_M]

The real reason is that its a niche market product that you cant easily make youself.

 

[jason613]

Do you have a pic showing this you could post for us? I'm having a hard time visualizing how this would work, and it may be a more elegant solution for my drip tray than what I'm using.

Here we go

 

[mongoose33]

Here we goView attachment 604206View attachment 604207

Does the hook unscrew from the magnet and then back through the holes? If that's what's going on, that's great!

 

[jason613]

Does the hook unscrew from the magnet and then back through the holes? If that's what's going on, that's great!

No it doesn't, just feeds thru. Also, normally I have all 3 of the magnets on...but needed one for something temporary

 

[hubkapp]

Stainless is expensive but if you use your imagination, you can source materials from other places.
Check your local scrap yard, or look for a restaurant that has closed and is selling off. Sometimes plumbing and heating contractors have useful items laying around