Beer Forum

edramshaw · #1 (**permalink**) 03-18-2008, 07:24 PM

Any guys out there have experience with hanging T style towers upside down? I like the effect and would like to know of any considerations before installing it. What type of frame work do you use above? Do you use bolts or some other sort of reinforcement? It seems like it would need extra support. Thanks for the advice.

Scott Zuhse · #2 (**permalink**) 03-19-2008, 04:44 PM

Ed,

This can be accomplished as long as you have a sturdy foundation similar to what you have with the bar top. Otherwise you will have a tower that will move everytime a faucet is opened. It is not how you mount the tower that is critical as it is to build a strong support.

However you accomplish this, be certain to acheive the correct elevation for the faucets.

edramshaw · #3 (**permalink**) 03-19-2008, 05:09 PM

Will the standard screws be enough to support the tower or will I need something bigger? It would seem that the screws supplied would be too small to hold that think up there. In addition, the metal around some of those bases seems a bit soft. I know some have the thicker steel around the base with a collar that hangs over, those seem strong enough but the ones with the holes directly in the base may be a bit soft? Thoughts?

edramshaw · #4 (**permalink**) 03-19-2008, 05:16 PM

Will the standard screws be enough to support the tower or will I need something bigger? It would seem that the screws supplied would be too small to hold that think up there. In addition, the metal around some of those bases seems a bit soft. I know some have the thicker steel around the base with a collar that hangs over, those seem strong enough but the ones with the holes directly in the base may be a bit soft? Thoughts? Also, by strong support do you think a piece of hardwood (3/4"-1") would be strong enough to hold it provided it was properly mounted?

Jeff Stanley · #5 (**permalink**) 07-02-2008, 01:38 PM

I've done this with a MM Kool Rite tower (a 4" column, 20" box model) and it works brilliantly, just be sure to attach it to something solid. MM towers come with great very strong stainless steel bolts. I did add two small screws to the top of the tower to prevent it from falling off

DO NOT do this with other glyclol towers. A perlick installer did this a couple years ago at our local Hooters and it's a mess now. Perlick towers will start to come apart in a matter of months (the screws holding the column to the base arent strong enough). Perlick towers also have slight condensation issues, which become very evident when mounted upside down. The condensation will collect in the "top" (bottom when upside down) of the tower and smell bad. In the perlick install that went bad, the bud faucet started leaking the other day. Because of the design of the tower lid, all of the beer ran into the tower. You can't remove the "top" of perlick glycol towers without drilling out rivets, so it's a big mess to clean up over a very small issue.

I would guess that other towers besides perlick would be even worse. Stick to a Kool Rite and you'll be OK.