Beer Baron Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 My kegerator broke so it was time to get something else to pour beer from. I was looking at a chest freezer last night while at work and I decided on a Hisense 205L chest freezer that I will convert into a keezer. Last night it was $399 and when I got up I went straight to Harvey Norman and went to purchase 1 and to my surprise they were on special for $277. Money is tight and this will be a long build but I will document my journey for those who are interested. The plan is to build a quality collar and mount my 4 existing taps on the collar because my gas bottle is too tall to fit in the keezer as it. The other option is to put the gas outside and mount a 4 tap font on top. Upgrades to my bar (garage) will happen in the next 12 months so hopefully I will get some type of wooden feature wall behind the keezer. Feel free to express opinions and advise Beer Baron 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popo the Reprobate Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 25 minutes ago, Beer Baron said: I will document my journey for those who are interested. Beauty Unfortunately, no advice to give but will follow with interest. I've been thinking of making something similar. I've got all the kegging gear just nowhere to put it. Hopefully a summer project here too. What's your preference: collar or font? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Baron Posted December 24, 2019 Author Share Posted December 24, 2019 2 minutes ago, Popo said: What's your preference: collar or font? I like both so I’m not sure yet. My young bloke might pull the taps if I do the collar but it’s much cheaper. The fonts look better but require more and they need to be cooled. It’s a tough decision but I want to do this right so I don’t mind spending a bit more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickles Jones Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 (edited) You got that Freezer at a good price they have a RRP of $599. Harvey Norman are sold out and I am not surprised . I like the manual temperature control should be easy to combine with an Ink Bird. Edited December 24, 2019 by Pickles Jones 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 One thing I'd do is put it somewhere where the sides aren't hard up against anything, unless that doesn't apply to chest freezers. I know with kegerators and other fridges that it stuffs their chilling capabilities if the sides aren't clear and ventilated. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Baron Posted December 24, 2019 Author Share Posted December 24, 2019 49 minutes ago, Pickles Jones said: You got that Freezer at a good price they have a RRP of $599. Harvey Norman are sold out and I am not surprised . I like the manual temperature control should be easy to combine with an Ink Bird. The Inkbird is hooked up now!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Baron Posted December 24, 2019 Author Share Posted December 24, 2019 51 minutes ago, Otto Von Blotto said: One thing I'd do is put it somewhere where the sides aren't hard up against anything, unless that doesn't apply to chest freezers. I know with kegerators and other fridges that it stuffs their chilling capabilities if the sides aren't clear and ventilated. I will make a bit of space on the sides. When it gets moved I’ll have a bench next to it and that will be my brewing bench Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red devil 44 Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Beer Baron said: My kegerator broke so it was time to get something else to pour beer from. I was looking at a chest freezer last night while at work and I decided on a Hisense 205L chest freezer that I will convert into a keezer. Last night it was $399 and when I got up I went straight to Harvey Norman and went to purchase 1 and to my surprise they were on special for $277. Money is tight and this will be a long build but I will document my journey for those who are interested. The plan is to build a quality collar and mount my 4 existing taps on the collar because my gas bottle is too tall to fit in the keezer as it. The other option is to put the gas outside and mount a 4 tap font on top. Upgrades to my bar (garage) will happen in the next 12 months so hopefully I will get some type of wooden feature wall behind the keezer. Feel free to express opinions and advise Beer Baron Hey BB, I built my 4 tap keezer using a 205L chest freezer, if you go to the Showing Your Current Brew Set Up thread there are some pics of mine and others on there. Happy to assist or answer any questions you may have during your build, cheers and have fun building 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red devil 44 Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 1 hour ago, Otto Von Blotto said: One thing I'd do is put it somewhere where the sides aren't hard up against anything, unless that doesn't apply to chest freezers. I know with kegerators and other fridges that it stuffs their chilling capabilities if the sides aren't clear and ventilated. I built my frame around my air intake on my keezer, works great. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty_G Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Great project to do over the break if you get time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red devil 44 Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Planning to move to a larger home next yr, there’s a few things the new place must have, here’s the blueprint so far 1. Must have the facilities & space for a man cave. 2. Must have space for all my tools. 3. Able to store the keezer. 3. And enough space to build a keezer MK2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 28 minutes ago, Red devil 44 said: I built my frame around my air intake on my keezer, works great. Mine's in a bar but also has room around it and a small fan blowing air behind it and out one side, so the heat created can escape. The side the fan is on has a pretty wide area between the fridge and the cavity wall, the other side is closer but far enough away still. Originally it was hard up against the wall on that narrow side and it just didn't work. I only left it there for a few hours though before I moved it away from the wall about 3-4 inches. Chilled fine after that until it decided it wasn't gonna chill the beer properly anymore a few months ago. Replaced it and all good again. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red devil 44 Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 I was pretty wary of ventilation on my build, haven’t had any trouble so far ( touches wood ) and it’s been running since March this yr. But yeah can’t stress enough you need decent ventilation or you’ll just burn the compressor out. I picked a 2nd hand Fisher & Paykel, so that if I have to replace it at some stage it’s a fairly popular easy brand to buy new or 2nd hand, rather than some dodgy brand name that I’ve never heard of made in the Faroe Islands or somewhere 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark D Pirate Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Personally i'd go with a taller collar and have taps mounted in collar , main reason being that it near eliminates the need for a chilled font ( pump or fan ) . Biggest downsides is a fairly low serving height for taller people and kidlets may be able to reach taps . i built up a 4 tap top font keezer for a friend with young kids , used a false floor over a 40 mm PVC pipe glycol loop for chilling with a cheap bunnings pond pump to chill font , takes 3 mins to get font properly cold . Good luck with your build Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben 10 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 SPREAD THE TAPS OUT. I didn't. Mine looks good but is annoying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben 10 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 And I vote for collar and gas outside. I have 2 bottles and do the swap n go. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Baron Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 22 minutes ago, Ben 10 said: SPREAD THE TAPS OUT. I didn't. Mine looks good but is annoying. Why do some have them close and to one side?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben 10 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 57 minutes ago, Beer Baron said: Why do some have them close and to one side?? so they can be annoyed 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red devil 44 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Build a timber collar, & have your gas cylinder outside. I have a kegerator with extended fonts, have a fan up the font, extended beer lines, still get 3/4 glass of foam. Built a keezer, Timber collar, taps into the collar, foaming problem solved. Kegerator vs Keezer, Keezer by a country mile, just my opinion Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 Could be a beer line length issue. I have the kegerator with the font on top and don't get much excessive foaming other than when the kegs are nearly empty for some reason. It is set at zero though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red devil 44 Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 13 minutes ago, Otto Von Blotto said: Could be a beer line length issue. I have the kegerator with the font on top and don't get much excessive foaming other than when the kegs are nearly empty for some reason. It is set at zero though. I’ve tried 3m long, 2.5m & 2m, have the same problem every time, temp at 2 degrees Should I lower the temp to 0 maybe ? I think the ones in my keezer are 2m long, work great. I did an experiment, gassed up a keg, poured from my Kegerator, foam. Transferred the same keg to my keezer, no foam, poured great, that’s where I’m left scratching my head ? I know other guys with Kegerators that don’t have any issues, but mine has been a pain in the a##e since I got it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Baron Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 I’m going with a timber collar and 4 centred taps with the gas outside 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beer Baron Posted December 28, 2019 Author Share Posted December 28, 2019 I think I will do a collar like this. Excuse the crappy google search pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otto Von Blotto Posted December 28, 2019 Share Posted December 28, 2019 10 hours ago, Red devil 44 said: I’ve tried 3m long, 2.5m & 2m, have the same problem every time, temp at 2 degrees Should I lower the temp to 0 maybe ? I think the ones in my keezer are 2m long, work great. I did an experiment, gassed up a keg, poured from my Kegerator, foam. Transferred the same keg to my keezer, no foam, poured great, that’s where I’m left scratching my head ? I know other guys with Kegerators that don’t have any issues, but mine has been a pain in the a##e since I got it Maybe an issue with the taps? Could be some roughness inside causing turbulence. Maybe the font fan isn't working very well. I cut the conduit on mine and it just pokes in the bottom of the font, blowing cold air up into it. I remember reading or hearing some instructions at some point to stick it as far up as possible but that doesn't really work. You could try lowering the kegerator to zero and see if it makes any difference. The colder the beer is the harder it is for the gas to come out of solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red devil 44 Posted December 29, 2019 Share Posted December 29, 2019 8 hours ago, Otto Von Blotto said: Maybe an issue with the taps? Could be some roughness inside causing turbulence. Maybe the font fan isn't working very well. I cut the conduit on mine and it just pokes in the bottom of the font, blowing cold air up into it. I remember reading or hearing some instructions at some point to stick it as far up as possible but that doesn't really work. You could try lowering the kegerator to zero and see if it makes any difference. The colder the beer is the harder it is for the gas to come out of solution. Yeah my conduit is up as far up as it goes, I’ll take your advice and pull the conduit back so it’s down the bottom of the font, and drop the temp to Zero. Ive tried swapping taps over, didn’t make any difference, I think it’s a temperature issue but I’ll just keep changing & eliminating things until I find the problem. I will hook the keg up after lunch and pull a schooner, take a pic & let you know how it turned out, cheers for the help mate 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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