chick trying to build a kegerator

[JenMarie]

Sooo before anyone gets mad at me for asking...I have looked for literally months on how to build a kegerator, from this site and others. Most of my questions have been answered, but I have a few specific ones. I bought a Sanyo 4912 and am prepared to hack into it to put a tap through the door. I really wanted to use a tower, but the whole process of building something to cool it seems like too much for me to undertake. Ok so now for the actual questions:

I read on here that when going through the door, leave the faucet shank long so it protrudes into the fridge. How much should be protruding into the actual cold part of the fridge?

Also, I have seen a lot of step by step instructions for the Sanyo with the tower setup, but haven't been able to find anything detailed on going through the door. Basically, I need to know what tools I will need for this, cause Im a girl and I don't really own any tools. Also, if anyone knows of any easy to understand instructions floating around out there, point me in that direction.

Thanks!

[clcoyle]

Hi, Jen, and welcome!

Take a look here: http://community.livejournal.com/homebrewing/413981.html

It talks about going the tower route, but some good info to get your mind working.

IMHO, the length of shank inside or outside isn't of much importance, except for space issues. The shanks I used are pretty much self-positioning - the faucet end butts up against the outside surface, and the rest gets pulled inside when tightening the shank nut. I'd get the shortest shank that'll get you through the door and let you hook up. Anything longer is just going to take up precious room inside the fridge.


Here's another link that might be of use:
http://www.realbeer.com/discussions/showthread.php?s=&threadid=15161&highlight=kegerator

There are lots of other bits and pieces of info and advice out there; you've probably read a lot of it. One of the others will chime in here in a little while and make sure I didn't give you any bad info.

Happy tapping!

[Beerisgood3]

I agree. The shortest shank that will work is fine, but i wouldn't say that a longer shank ivades "precious" space. I figure the shorter the better though for one main reason:
The beer in shank and the top part of the line will be warmer, so you'll have foam from that part for your first pour.

Overall, i really don't think shank length matters one bit. One or 2 extra inches isn't going to make significantly more foam, and likewise it wont get in the way of anything. Just make sure you don't get one that is too short to fit through.

[De Hooter]

Ok, as to the shank issue, I'm not sure since the metal shank is a better conductor than the hose so the beer in the shank that is sitting in the cold box ought to be at least as cold as the beer in the hose. Though, it is possible that the shank could end up bleeding heat into your cold box.... I'll have to test once I put the collar on my kegerator.


Tools:

(Assuming you are just putting in one tap)

1: Drill, electric
Drill bits capable of penetratin the door (made for drilling metal, soft steel should be good enough (target material not bit material)

1: wrench for tightening shank nut. (I like the Craftsman strap wrenches, they are useful little multi-taskers.)



The drill you may be able to rent or borrow. Look at tool rental places as well as Lowes or Home depot, they sometimes will lend out tools. Failing that, you can always use your feminine wiles, or the offer of beer...

The bits you may have to puchase, the strap wrench I would suggest that you purchase. It has 1001 uses. Besudes a set of 2 is less than $20.

[JenMarie]

Thanks a lot! Electric drill and a wrench...I can handle that. Although yesterday I was sitting there looking at the fridge thinking how much better it would look with a tower....luckily there are detailed instructions out there on how to do that...I just don't want to get myself into something I can't finish.

What do you think...is the tower set up worth it? Is it a pain to bend down to get the beer from a door mount faucet? My problem is that my husband and pretty much every male I know are in Iraq. I would like to have this finished for when they get home in less than a month...maybe Ill look more into the tower set up and see if I think its doable. Thanks for all the responses!

[MichaelM]

First of all tell your husband we said thanks for the job he is doing!! Second he is a lucky man there are plenty of us beergeeks that would damn near kill(ok some of us prolly would kill ) to have a wife thats willing to get her hands dirty building something like that for us :) I mean come on something hand built is ALWAYS better then something someone went out and just purchased.

I like through the door better then towers anyways. ( this is just my personal opinion as I dont even own a kegerator ) Because its a hell of alot less of a pain keeping the taps cold and beerlines cold to keep any foaming issues at bay(especially when money is a concern) and honestly I dont think through door taps look any worse then a tower and me personally I actually dig the look. Some nice taps a nice little drip tray and you have a nice compact kegerator.

[BrewDog]

What Michael said ^^^^.

Thanks to you, your husband, and all the guys in his AO.

Feet and knees together....

[JenMarie]

Ok Im going to go with the through the door tap...now I just need to think of a way to keep the dog from licking it!

Thanks for the help...when I actually start building it, I may need more :)

Thanks for the nice words to my husband...military posts are almost always in the middle of nowhere. The last town we lived in had a law against draft beer, where we live now there are no bars and the restaurants usually have little more than Bud on tap. In our case, a kegerator is a long over due necessity!!!

[Bard]

If you plan on sitting this on the floor then you definitely need to add the tower. Not only to keep the dog from helping himself, but to be able to comfortably pour a beer. Unless you and your buddies are all midgets :D

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by Bard
If you plan on sitting this on the floor then you definitely need to add the tower. Not only to keep the dog from helping himself, but to be able to comfortably pour a beer. Unless you and your buddies are all midgets :D

you could build a stand for it as well - or just stick a couple cinder blocks under it - instant riser for less than a buck!