Umm yea …LOL the Box. . But sounds like your not “there yet” so its fine…
“Plan is to go with 4 faucets and 7 gas lines.” Explain>>7 gas lines with 4 or 5 faucets?? Oh i think your serving 4 kegs and carbonating… 3?
2X6 vs 1X10; yes your right the collar ht is something to consider on a design
Still have to attach my freezer lid, maybe… I’m on fence as to attach it or not.
The collar design allows the freezer lid to sit atop the wd collar while utilizing the Lid rubber seal just like if it was resting the the freezer body and its stays put!
I can easily just remove lid and or collar. The collar is fairly light due to the 1x framing but very solid!
OR get the Hinges… either door type or Freezer spring door type…
The hinges are the original. They open wide enough to allow me to add and remove kegs in the back. If this wasn’t the case, I would likely go the no hinge route.
I’ll expand on the gas system. Plan is to have a dual regulator with one going to a 4-way manifold and the other going to the 3-way manifold. This will allow me to serve at different pressure or carbonate at higher pressures. It will also allow me to have a backup keg carbing at serving pressure if I’m not in a hurry. I could go 4 and 4, but I already have a 3
I ordered 6 new Vent-matic faucets last week. I’m going to build a keezer like this with similar plans. I already have the dual reg and a 6 way splitter. I’m going to add another 3 way to carb and serve different pressures. I’m sick of moving things around in the fridge. Haven’t got my freezer yet. I was going 15 cu ft, but I may now go larger for keeping kegs on gas in waiting.
Mine is an 8cf. It’s almost what I consider a unicorn (mythical) freezer that fits 6 ball locks on the floor perfectly. It’s about an inch to shallow and the back kegs need to be offset, so only 5.
It’s a Danby that I scored at a screaming deal ($150). The 7cf is available at most Costcos for about $170. My buddy made the collar to match the radius on the freezer and it’s basically 99% perfect.
As for faucets, I’m leaning towards flow control perlicks. It would be nice if ventmatics offered more spouts to support different serving pressures without messing with the line length, maybe they will someday. I will most likely go with centered on the front. Side mounting just looks funny to me, though I do understand the utility.
I have considered moving the tank to the outside of the freezer and mounting a secondary dual stage regulator to the underside of the lid. Manifolds will mount on the hump side of the collar, but regulators are too tall since I went with 2x6. This would allow me to have 5-5 gallon and 2-2.5 gallon. Regulators also perform better at room temp, not just the high pressure fill level gauge, but also the response of the body supposedly works better as well.
As I mentioned before, I might add some ridged insulation to the inside, but I’m not sure yet. The collar was noticeably colder to the touch after I added the fans. If I do and ridged foam, I will sandwich it between a sheet piece of 1/2" lumber and the collar to allow for easier mounting of the manifolds and any tubing guides. I’ll likely boar the foam out for the faucets so I can use the shortest shanks possible to keep the line and tail out of the way.
Cool thanks, I’m going to add insulation to my collar. I’m going to do the same and sandwich it so that it makes for a mountable medium. I too am going to put my tank on the outside. I’m also going to make a frame from angle and casters to make it easy to move around. I’m definitely steeling your radius color idea. I also agree with your centering of the faucets. The end mounting is out of balance to me. We will see how I like the Vent-matics. Hope Santa brings me a few parts for the project.
I was on fence to regarding the Insulation…I ended up designing it into the collar because I used 1xs
and not 2x’s… I haven’t permanently attached the rigid insulation, right now they are pretty snug and slide right in… Thinking, if I ever need to go thicker “IF” then Ill do 2" or sandwich (2) 1.5" together and increase the R factor rating… But at at certain point the cost to R factor is not worth it
“Diminishing Returns”… Especially since this is just beer… :) I have access to an engineer who does energy calcs… Ill ask him if I feel like bugging him to do a calc… But i have a feeling we already the answer
well anyways…
I’m like still really impressed by your ventilation fan concept…. 8)
Well here is the final KEEZER blueprint’s for anyone that wants to build a strong lightweight collar with replaceable or increase the ridgid insulation (if required)
Ideally hope this helps others as it made my build easy and fast, not overly heavy and not very expensive
So far it holds temps like a champ and works as designed! :).
