Draft Tower or Lid Skirt and Taps?

[jsmurphy]

I've finally gotten my kegging set-up together. Picked up a used chest freezer, got the temp controller, draft system and Corny etc. Kegging my first batch tomorrow and I'll just be using a cobra head to dispense for now.

I can't decide between a Draft Tower, or building a wooden skirt around my freezer lid and drilling holes for 2 or 3 taps, or more. (I have detailed plans for this).

The downside of the tower as I see it is lack of clearance when opening the freezer lid, (the freezer is against a wall).

The downside of the skirt and taps is that the taps are low (about waist level), and protrude out where they could get bumped easily. (I don't have a lot of room in my garage).

Anyway, just curious on what the concensus is here between you guys that have similar set-ups.

Tower or not?

Thanks...

[Bruno_78]

I'm going to try to build my own tower out of wood. I have no idea how this is going to work. (I have NO plans for this)

I think I can do some cool routing along the edges, and maybe even some wood burning design. I don't know, just a thought.

[jsmurphy]

Forgot to add. Do any of you experience more foaming issues with the tower?

[YamahaXS]

I have been rolling this around in my head for a long time. I don't want a skirt because I don't want the taps protruding into my traffic flow. I would totally screw up my feng shei and could possibly lead to spilled beer.

[jsmurphy]

Originally posted by YamahaXS
I have been rolling this around in my head for a long time.

Glad it's not just me.:D

[danno]

I have a collar, it works great. plus, the additional clearance lets me use the shelf above the compressor for 5 gal carboys, so I can lager (primary anyways). and, since everyone will want to see how your cool system works, it's a lot easier to open and show, or change kegs, with no tower.

you could always install a brass rail or those waitress station rails if you're worried about spilling your beer...

[toneyc]

I got my chest freezer with a tower already attached some years ago and ended up taking it off and using cobra taps. Freezer lids are not all that sturdy and the tower tends to wobble a lot (in my experience). I have been considering the skirt idea for a while and I think the idea of a brass rail or something of the sort sounds pretty cool.

:)
Toney.

[jsmurphy]

Thanks for the replies. I'm partial to building a skirt because I like to build things. I may even build an internal cobra tap holder for now. I've got some ideas I want to try.

Basically I'm in no hurry, so I'll experiment around I guess.

Cheers.

[Sven6]

Kegging is the best!

I'm building a keggorator also, but I'm going with the tower... The wife told me that if I could make it look nice and match her dining room furniture (dark cherrywood), it could live in the house... Woo Hoo!

I'm planning on framing it out with birch plywood, staining it dark and boxing the edges for a 'judges paneling' look, then doing a corian or silestone granite-looking countertop... I have to try and 1-up my bud Minor_D's bar, (Jackass does everything better).:p

http://gvtc.com/~jmurdoch/now_showing.htm

http://howlinmad.com/the_pub.htm

(I hope he doesn't kill me for linking his site)

[HogieWan]

[Drooling] that looks nice

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by Sven6
Kegging is the best!

http://gvtc.com/~jmurdoch/now_showing.htm

http://howlinmad.com/the_pub.htm

(I hope he doesn't kill me for linking his site)


That looks great!

how do you open the lid? does it lift off or hinge open?

[fuji6100]

Wow, quite impressive. That's a sleek and professional setup you have there!

[Tweek]

just a thought, if you are short on space you could always run the lines to say the wall or somewhere else, and have the taps there. No one ever said they have to be attached to the fridge itself. Bars and pubs have the lines going some pretty far distances.

[Sven6]

I wish I could take credit for the keggorator in the links, but it belongs to my bud, Minor_Diety, :rolleyes:... His handywork is the inspiration for the design of my keggorator...

Yamaha- The lid hinges up, and the whole thing is on casters so it can be moved around...

[Sven6]

Almost 1 year since I last posted to this thread, Im somewhat of a slacker... :rolleyes: I finally got motivated to start working on the keggorator.

It started as a chest freezer. I framed it out using 2x4s then skinned it in oak plywood, and used oak baseboard molding for the edges. It has casters underneath and rolls easily, its just narrow enough to fit through doorways for semi-portability...

I still need to have the corian countertop cut so I can mount the brass 3-faucet tower I bought. It fits three kegs and the 5lb CO2 bottle sits on the hump over the compressor.

Overall I think its coming together pretty good.

[O2 Mash]

Thought I'd post a picture of my "soon to be" setup. The holes in the bottom are for the six faucets. The name, "Greibrau" is a spin off my last name, and the pheasant is there because pheasant hunting is another passion in my life. The sign is made of Bloodwood from South America, and it is a beautiful reddish color. Can't wait to post more pics when it's finished......

[Sven6]

Cool sign O2 Mash,

I figured I'd also post a pic of the tap handle one of my bro's made for me for christmas since its actually what got me motivated to start working on the keggorator again.

[O2 Mash]

Sven,
Very cool handle. Is that a commercial brand, or is that the name of your beer? I like it.

The friend that made my sign is making me tap handles as well. I'll post them when I get some pictures.

[Sven6]

Its a personal label... Im going to get him to make a couple more once I get the keggorator up & running. Wish I had a wood lathe.

[O2 Mash]

Sven:

If you need anything "custom" for your bar (signs, tap handles, etc...), check out this site. I can probably get you the good guy discount, but this stuff DOES get kind of expensive. www.wellhousewoodworks.com

Can't wait to see your finished project.

[corkybstewart]

I bought a chest freezer a year ago and converted it to a akegerator. I built a tower on mine with 4 taps, but I'm about to scrap it and build a skirt or collar. Having to pull the unit from the wall to open it is a pain in the ass. It's on rollers, but there's always something on the floor that stops one wheel. I never had foaming issues when my taps were in the side of my refrigerator but with this chest freezer the first glass is all foam. The collar just looks like it will be a more efficient design. Also with the collar I can more easily add a tap later if I decide top hook up all 6 cornies. Can't do that with the tower.