BeerBorg

It's actually my anniversary gift, though.

Last Friday was my anniversary, and I told my wife I'd prefer cash for my gift (we've been married 32 years, so we don't really require all the mushy romantic stuff; she still hasn't told me what she'd like for her gift).

So she gave me a hunnert-fitty bucks. Nice. I added some tip money to it over the week and yesterday I asked her to deposit the $210 in our checking account. In the meantime, I've been scoping out chest freezers online and settled for an Igloo 5.2 cu ft from Best Buy.

I just ordered it, and set up delivery for Saturday, which is nice, because I have off that Saturday, so I'll be home to take care of it personally.

So once that's in, I have to co-ordinate with my brother Ed to modify it with a collar. And then I think the only other items I need are a tap and a Johnson Control. I'm gonna order the thermostat today, though. Still only one corny keg, but that's better than nothing. One step at a time.

Yeah Baby!

Just something else, can't remember if you had said anything or not (my age doesn't help).
Are you going to hinge the collar? It makes it easier to get full kegs into it. I ordered a set of replacement hinges for mine, some where around 25$. I think it was called Reliance Controls? Not at home so I'll double check when I get to my computer. Just something to think about.

I'm going to re-attach the hinges to the collar, yeah, so it'll swing up, allow full access, and not disturb the front-mounted faucets. I'm using this video as a model:

http://billybrew.com/kegerator-collar

And I'm relying on Ed to recognize and trouble-shoot problems, as well as maybe incorporate any improvements he thinks of on the fly. I trust Ed completely when it comes to stuff like this, and he's going to benefit from a job well done, since I'm always willing to share my homebrew with him, so if he can get my homebrew on tap....

Another neat thing is, according to homebrewtalk.com, this will accommodate 3 corny kegs, with a collar. I'm really only interested in having two taps, but if I can pre-carb a third, I won't have any lag time between batches.

And/or, I can make a lager and cold-condition it in the keg. Again, I'll have to have Ed check out homebrewtalk's spec sheet, but that's the reason I chose this particular model.

Great news Dave. Send pics when done.
And, you guys get up way too early on a Sunday!

Thanks for posting Dave, and happy anniversary. I was looking at similar freezers in Home Depot yesterday the Amana 5.3 cf was $199 and the GE 7.0 cf $229. I was thinking if the smaller unit was put on some sort of cart how it could easily be transported, either to the backyard or someone's house. The build looks pretty easy once all the hardware has been taken home and it will make for a fun DIY project too. I'm sure you'll enjoy the convenience of having the keezer, please keep us updated on the build.

Yes, Vince, I'm looking forward to having draft beer.

If you go to homebrewtalk.com, it's pretty easy to find the forum for kegging. And the thread with the keezer specs is a sticky, so it's easy to find, too, which made my job really easy.

Depending on how many corny kegs you want to use, and/or how many taps you intend to have functioning, it's surprising how well the smaller chest freezers work. I don't really see myself using more than two taps at any time, but having the ability to charge and/or lager a third keg appeals to me very much.

Keep in mind that after transporting any freezer or refrigerator, it's important to leave it unplugged for about 24 hours to let the compressor liquids settle. In addition, it should be transported upright. If it has to lay down, then it's important that the compressor tubes be on the up side where they come out of the compressor, so the oil doesn't come up the return and discharge lines. Propping up the top of the unit if it's laying on its side is also recommended.

So, moving a unit for a party, unless it's upright the whole time and just rolled to a different location at the home, isn't recommended, unless you can let it sit overnight before plugging it in.

I learned this when transporting dorm fridges...

That's good advice, although I'm not going to plug it in until the conversion build is done, and I don't know when that's going to be. But it would be idiotic to plug it in and get it cold for no good reason.

Also, it's going to be a tight enough squeeze getting it through the ManCave door, so I'm not likely to take it anywhere once it's installed.

FedoraDave wrote:That's good advice, although I'm not going to plug it in until the conversion build is done, and I don't know when that's going to be. But it would be idiotic to plug it in and get it cold for no good reason.

Also, it's going to be a tight enough squeeze getting it through the ManCave door, so I'm not likely to take it anywhere once it's installed.

You don't have to wait - just put a picnic tap on the keg and start using it! You can always add a collar (or a tower, which is what I did) later!

russki wrote:

FedoraDave wrote:That's good advice, although I'm not going to plug it in until the conversion build is done, and I don't know when that's going to be. But it would be idiotic to plug it in and get it cold for no good reason.

Also, it's going to be a tight enough squeeze getting it through the ManCave door, so I'm not likely to take it anywhere once it's installed.

You don't have to wait - just put a picnic tap on the keg and start using it! You can always add a collar (or a tower, which is what I did) later!

+1! Fire it up Dave!

I understand what you're saying, but I've waited this long, I'd prefer to go the whole nine yards before tapping my first keg. That's just the way I roll.

Okay, it's coming together, and I really want to have things fall into place in the most ideal way.

Here's the sitch:

I ordered a Johnson Control from Northern Brewer, and it's supposed to arrive by end-of-day Friday.

I ordered the freezer from Best Buy, and set up delivery for Saturday. Haven't got confirmation yet, but that might not happen until some time Friday.

I'm going to the LHBS Saturday for ingredients, and I'll pick up a Perlick faucet, which should be the final item to get one keg going. Oh, and a drip tray.

I'm bottling a fiver on Saturday, and brewing another fiver on Sunday. Three weeks in the fermenter, as is my usual.

So.... I need to co-ordinate things with my brother, Ed, to get the collar made and installed, and the system set up, and then I'll be able to have PakTiki Pale Ale on tap by mid-July!

Of course, I still have to get another keg, and a CO2 splitter, and another tap. Maybe even a third keg, because it might fit, and then I can either lager in the keg, or else have no lag time when one of the kegs runs dry.

Johnson Controller delivered today.

Freezer scheduled for delivery tomorrow between 2:30 and 4:30.

Going to LHBS tomorrow morning, and will pick up faucet and drip tray and ask if there's anything else I need for a single keg (I've been keeping a list of my purchases, so I know exactly what I have; they can tell me what else I need).

The actual build shouldn't take more than a day, although I'll be staining the collar, and will then have to hook everything up. Even so, there's no reason I shouldn't have my next fiver (being brewed on Sunday) ready to tap before July closes out!

FedoraDave wrote:Johnson Controller delivered today.

Freezer scheduled for delivery tomorrow between 2:30 and 4:30.

Going to LHBS tomorrow morning, and will pick up faucet and drip tray and ask if there's anything else I need for a single keg (I've been keeping a list of my purchases, so I know exactly what I have; they can tell me what else I need).

The actual build shouldn't take more than a day, although I'll be staining the collar, and will then have to hook everything up. Even so, there's no reason I shouldn't have my next fiver (being brewed on Sunday) ready to tap before July closes out!

Just curious, what color stain are you going to use? When we decided on the color we used in our cabinets we also decided on a water based stain. Easier clean up with way less fire hazard in both clean up and storage of left over stain. Costs a little more, but pays off in not needing lacquer thinner to clean with.