Kegerator Ideas

[jmiller]

Hello All,
For X-mas I got the equipment neccessary to Keg into 5 gallon Cornelius Kegs. I have 3 of the, CO2, a regulator, etc. The Next requirement... A kegerator.

I had a neat Idea. Take a used wine barrel from a local winery and put a small fridge in it. Just big enough for 2 kegs. Well I found some fridges at Home Depot. Basically wineracks that look like they will fit 2 kegs. Problem. It won't fit in the barrel. Scratch this idea. Can't seem to reasonably get a fridge inside the barrel.

So to please the wife I am trying to come up with something other then a fridge or freezer in the middle of our kitchen, as I don't have a rec room or real basement. She liked the wine barrel as in her words it doesn't look like a college dorm.

Anybody have any ideas or links to sites of things I can do?

Thanks!

-Jim

[O2 Mash]

Hey, great idea with the barrel, too bad it wouldn't work.

If it has to be in the kitchen, you can try to fit the fridge under your counter top and have the tower protrude through the counter top. Other than that, if you are good with woodworking tools, it is possible to fashion a very nice looking cabinet to surround your fridge, and you can make it to match your current decor. Did I just say decor? :D

[danno]

I wouldn't give up on the barrel quite so fast. is your fridge of choice narrow enough, but just doesn't fit due to depth? then consider cutting the back out of it and sliding it over the fridge... you should be able to make it work somehow...

[Lamprey]

That is a great idea. I indicated to my wife the planned location for the chest freezer - she quickly found an antique kitchen thing to go there.:(

Let us know how it works out!

[jmiller]

The problem I see is the Diameter of the barrel is 22 inches. on the lid The small fridges that fit 2 corny's have a diagnol of 29. Cutting and placing the barrel over is an idea I had, however that leaves a big gap :-(

[YamahaXS]

I remember reading some sites about custom biulding refridgerators. Have you considered insulating the barrel and using the guts of a fridge to build your own?

[toneyc]

If you don't mind it being square, take a look at this guy's mash tun:

http://users.rcn.com/thor.dnai/masht24.htm

A little bit of work and it is a fridge cover instead of a mash tun. Something like that might look nice.

:)
Toney.

[jmiller]

I like the Mash Tun...But now that I am thinking more about the barrel. How would you suggest insulating it.

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by jmiller
I like the Mash Tun...But now that I am thinking more about the barrel. How would you suggest insulating it.

I guess you could use some of the same type of material that people use to insulate their mash tuns. something flexible, something that you can cut to fit the inside of the barrel shape, and something that won't be shedding material. I might think that some thick flexible foam material, especially one that has a water vaper seal would work well.

[zoom6zoom]

You could use that "Great Stuff" foam insulation in a spray can, that stuff is great at filling up odd sized spaces.

[danno]

Originally posted by zoom6zoom
You could use that "Great Stuff" foam insulation in a spray can, that stuff is great at filling up odd sized spaces. how does it stand up to heat?

[zoom6zoom]

Well, it's R5 value per inch. It's designed as insulation, so I would expect it should do fairly well - it looks just like the insulation I've seen in other refrigerators; excellent gap filler. I patched some window sills with it, has been exposed to direct sunlight and weather for two years (damn I need to fix that window soon) with minimal degredation.

I have a beer tower with three taps which I just purchased; someone used it as insulation inside the tower and now I've got to chip it all out so I can replace the lines...