Got my Chest Freezer Kegerator DONE!!

[jibmaster145]

Here are some pictures. It fits a 1/2 barrel keg perfect.




Tap handle storage

Tap handle's


Just ordered it's first keg.

[jibmaster145]

more





Tower cooling system

[cubby_swans]

Very nice. Did you make the bud/bud light tap handles, or buy them? If so, I'd love to get some details on that. I have a BUNCH of different AB aluminum bottles. I'd love to turn some of them into tap handles.

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by cubby_swans

Very nice. Did you make the bud/bud light tap handles, or buy them? If so, I'd love to get some details on that. I have a BUNCH of different AB aluminum bottles. I'd love to turn some of them into tap handles.

Yes, I made the tap handles and they were very simple to construct. all you need is:
A drill
3/8-16 tap
Ferrule
3/8-16 treaded stock
5min epoxy

I wanted to leave the cap on the bottle so it would look more finished off. Drill a small hole in the bottom center of the bottle. Then empty out and rinse all the beer out through the hole. Let the bottle dry for a couple days to get all the water out.

Then all you have to do is tap the hole to 3/8-16 cut a piece of threaded stock to about 1 1/2" thread it in and put some epoxy on the threads as you are threading the stud in. Then thread on the ferrule and let the epoxy set.

Here is a picture of the ferrule and 3/8-16 threaded stock before I cut it down.

[monkey710]

Where did you get the ferrules?

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by monkey710

Where did you get the ferrules?

MoreBeer | Silver Ferrule

[cubby_swans]

That's what I thought.... I was wondering if you threaded something in for the ferrule or just epoxied the ferrule on. I guess I'll give this a whack. I don't have any way to cut 3/8-16 stock, but I'm thinking I can probably find some the correct length already at Home Depot. Like I said, I have a bunch of different kinds of the aluminum bottles, so I'll probably buy a handful of the ferrules and try one epoxied directly on to a plain aluminum bottle and see how that goes.

[jub jub]

That is very "slick willy"!

[johnkc]

Nice work. I was thinking of something similar. I have two questions. First, did you modify the freezer's thermostat or install something external? Second, what did you use for your tower cooling blower?

[ozzieball]

What size is the freezer? I'm looking at getting a 7 cu ft freezer from Craigslist, is that similar to your size? Looks great!

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by johnkc

Nice work. I was thinking of something similar. I have two questions. First, did you modify the freezer's thermostat or install something external? Second, what did you use for your tower cooling blower?

Thank you!

I did not modify the freezer's thermostat. I purchased a external thermostat off ebay for $70. It is a Brewer's Edge Digital Beer Temperature Controller II. Here is a link to a current auction.
Temp Control Digital Unit Keg Beer Tap Kegerator Taps - eBay (item 130197620571 end time Feb-18-08 14:57:45 PST)


For your question about the tower cooling blower I got the idea from Duff Beer who used a 12V computer fan mounted inside a box found at RadioShack. Here is a link to his post.
Blower Set Up

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by ozzieball

What size is the freezer? I'm looking at getting a 7 cu ft freezer from Craigslist, is that similar to your size? Looks great!

Thank you!

The freezer I used was also found on Craigslist. I Believe it is also a 7.0cu ft freezer. The model # is MFC07M3FW1 which is a Frigidaire. Here are some measurements I took for you. Quick MS paint skills.


The part that took the longest for me was finding a freezer/small fridge that would fit at least a 1/2 barrel keg. I cant tell you how many freezers and fridges I measured at the local stores.

Hope this helps.

[Lush]

That is totally awesome!!!

I've been postponeing creating a kegerator for almost year now. I was given an old refrigerator and its too old to cool properly. Through this site I was given excellent reasons not to use this fridge because of it's cooling issues.

Now has come the time to do it right and to do it exactly like you did. Probably not as good though. I've been searching for the right size freezer and now I'm looking for yours.

Great pics. Thank you for sharing. I may need you for help when I'm in the motions of creating my kegerator.

Thanks Again!

[jumper]

Great looking fridge, the addition of the wood top was a nice touch. What kind of airflow to you get from the PC fan?

[pandemonium]

let us know how that first keg treats you!!

[woodsman1977]

New to the site and love your freezer conversion. My fridge recently went out and I have been looking for a replacement but after seeing this makes me think about your setup. I really like the tower out the top.

I have a question about the air cooled tower, I read that you have a fan in a radioshack project box. Do you have a hole cut in the box to draw the cold air in and then up through the PCV tube? This seems like the only way to do it but I just want to make sure.

Thanks.

[pandemonium]

i just had a thought looking at the pics again. maybe i am getting old but that looks like a bear to get a 1/2 barrel in there? or i could just be a whiner lol

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by Lush

That is totally awesome!!!

I've been postponeing creating a kegerator for almost year now. I was given an old refrigerator and its too old to cool properly. Through this site I was given excellent reasons not to use this fridge because of it's cooling issues.

Now has come the time to do it right and to do it exactly like you did. Probably not as good though. I've been searching for the right size freezer and now I'm looking for yours.

Great pics. Thank you for sharing. I may need you for help when I'm in the motions of creating my kegerator.

Thanks Again!

Glad I could help. What ever questions you might have I would be more than happy to answer to the best of my ability.

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by jumper

Great looking fridge, the addition of the wood top was a nice touch. What kind of airflow to you get from the PC fan?

Thank you!

Right now I am using a 22cfm computer fan. I originally purchased a 37cfm fan but they ended up sending me the 22cfm one . It still works fine but I would like a little more airflow. Currently I am getting the tower around 38* plus or minus a few degrees.

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by woodsman1977

New to the site and love your freezer conversion. My fridge recently went out and I have been looking for a replacement but after seeing this makes me think about your setup. I really like the tower out the top.

I have a question about the air cooled tower, I read that you have a fan in a radioshack project box. Do you have a hole cut in the box to draw the cold air in and then up through the PCV tube? This seems like the only way to do it but I just want to make sure.

Thanks.

Thank you!

That is exactly how I have the fan set up. For some pictures of the same setup I am using you can refer to post #11 of this thread. The link is titled "Blower Setup."

[jibmaster145]

Originally Posted by pandemonium

i just had a thought looking at the pics again. maybe i am getting old but that looks like a bear to get a 1/2 barrel in there? or i could just be a whiner lol

It can be a little bit of a bear. Helps out when I have extra hands.

[cwhubbard]

How did you rout the power for fan? did you run it through the step?
I am in the process of modifying an old monkey ward 8.4 cf chest. i scored a couple of refrigerator thermostats from the recycle yard. hope to get one dialed in soon.
thanks
Cliff