Chest Freezer Collar

[bbshoptnr]

I am a new member here. I just bought a 7.0 CF Freezer from Sam's Club and I need to build a collar. I bought Everything I need to dispense beer from a picnic faucet inside the freezer but now I can't close the lid. The Freezer will hold 2 1/4 kegs side by side on the deep side. I just bought a keg of Bell's Two Hearted Ale and had my first one tonight!!!!

Anyway, I am a computer technician by trade and have never worked with wood before. So does anyone have any in depth directions on how to build a collar for a freezer? I will probably want to install 3 faucets incase I go next time for 3 corny kegs rather than the 1/4 keg. Any help for a first timer would be appreciated. Thanks again.

Ben Miller
Moore,SC

[wild]

Take a look at what Brewdaog did here:
http://www.west-point.org/users/usma1986/42894/kegerator.htm

Good luck,
Wild

[gallowd7]

I just did this at my new house (sorry had to say that). First do a search on freezer conversion, there are several more links.

I just eraser a nice write-up about how I altered the mounting on mine, but it's overkill. The online versions will do you well.

Just make sure you get some good silicone caulk and lay a nice bead around everything.

Cheers,
PS: don't forget the thermostat

[BrewDog]

Ben-

FWIW, I'm a computer geek too.

For my collar, I simply added weather stripping on the bottom of the 2x4's, and the 1x6's are tight enough against the sides that everything is very snug.

When I raised the hinges on the back, there were 2 rows of screws per hinge. The top row was screwed directly into the back of the 2x4. I had to drill new pilot holes for the bottom row screws into the back of the freezer. That took all of 3 minutes.

Good luck and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have.

[danno]

I have a quick and dirty collar for you, take a 2x4 the width of the chest freezer (width, length, whichever. the long side...) take another 2x4 and cut it to the depth of your chest freezer. now draw a straight line from corner to corner of your shorter board, then cut it in half. take each of the two pieces and screw them onto the ends of the long piece, and voilá, you have a wedge collar. drill some holes for your shanks, and you're done...

the attached pic shows 1x6 construction, you can do it out of whatever material you like. my latest chest freezer (no pics, unfortunately) is made from 2x4's, which I then painted white. mine sit in my garage, so there's not a lot of need for fancy construction...

[hooky]

I just picked up a nice 15 ft3 on the cheap. I like the wedge collar idea. I think I may go that route to avoid messing with the hinges. Great idea, thanks.

[corkybstewart]

I used 2X4's on the back of mine, 1 X 4's on the front and sides faced with oak 1 X 4's. My hinges actually help anchor the collar, the top screws are in the collar, the bottom ones in the freezer. I used a thick bead of Liquid Nails to attach the collar to the freezer and that sucker's on there forever.
With the collar, I can pile bottles and cans of beer on top of the kegs. Also in a pinch I can put trays of food in there for parties. Another way of justifying the kegerator to the wife.

[cul8rv8]

arise from the dead.... :)

I'm looking at doing a collar for mine, and was thinking about something. The shape of my freezer, it has a "step," if you will, on one side. It limits the number of corny kegs I can fit, But a carboy will sit nicely on there. The problem is, the freezer height is too short to allow it to fit, even without an airlock. Without any measurements right now (still at work), I don't know if 2x4's will be tall enough to allow it to fit. Is a taller board, such as a 2x6, a bad idea? My thinking is the more wood, the worse the insulating factor, so the higher the cost of electricity. If a 2x4 is the best idea, no big deal. I have another fridge that I currently use for additional space and can ferment in there as well, but just don't have as good temp control there.

[beerking]

arise from the dead.... :)

I'm looking at doing a collar for mine, and was thinking about something. The shape of my freezer, it has a "step," if you will, on one side. It limits the number of corny kegs I can fit, But a carboy will sit nicely on there. The problem is, the freezer height is too short to allow it to fit, even without an airlock. Without any measurements right now (still at work), I don't know if 2x4's will be tall enough to allow it to fit. Is a taller board, such as a 2x6, a bad idea? My thinking is the more wood, the worse the insulating factor, so the higher the cost of electricity. If a 2x4 is the best idea, no big deal. I have another fridge that I currently use for additional space and can ferment in there as well, but just don't have as good temp control there.

I doubt the 2X4 is high enough.
I just use 2 freezers. One is ~7 cu ft, and fits 2 carboys (plus bottles). I keep that one at ~53F for lager fermentation. The other is bigger, ~15 cu ft, and that is my lagering freezer. I can fit 8 cornies in there, and I keep it at 34F. Even my ales get the lagering treatment once fermentation is complete.

[BrewDog]

Nothing wrong with a taller board. Go for it!

[HarkJohnny]

for mine i used 2x4's for the frame and mounted 2x8's to the front and sides. I left about half inch of the 2x8 exposed on the top and the rest allows it to hang over the frame of the chest freezer. from here I used some construction grade glue to stick it to the freezer, then caulked all around the inside for insulation. remounted the top to the back of the 2x4 frame. works great!

I will try to put up some pics. this is the only one i have online of the tap handle my old man made for my Bday... http://twitpic.com/1026r