Cheapest fridge/freezer for a kegerator

Hi,

I'm looking to build a kegerator and am having trouble finding a cheap cooler big enough to hold a keg. Any suggestions gratefully received. Thanks

Nick..

Reply to
Nick
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What kind of keg? 1/4 Barrel, 1/2 Barrel or Corny? And do you want to mount the CO2 cylinder inside or outside? Do you want a serving tower on top or do you want to drill holes & have the tap(s) come out the front of the fridge/freezer?

Kent

Reply to
blah

OK,, I am going to sound like a nutcase, but here goes. Believe it or not,, you can find a fridge/freezer at the end of the driveway on garbage day. I would never have thought it, but a coworker drovve around on garbage day looking for a fridge,, and when he saw something that would meet his need, just knocked on the house door and asked the owner if the fridge worked and if he could take it away. I have seen his aquisition, and it works fine,,,, a side by side,, the fridge side for ale temp,, the freezer side for lagering.

Reply to
Pyreneesmountain

No crap, that's about how I got mine. I advertised in the company newsletter that I would haul away a working refrigerator "for no cost!!!". Two weeks later I had a working beer fridge that has been quietly keeping my beer cold for over twelve years now. The freezer stopped working about seven years ago, but the lower part still stays plenty cold.

Reply to
Lew Bryson

Corny. Serving tower on top, CO2 inside or out..

Reply to
Dan Logcher

Thanks for the responses so far. It's hopefully for a half barrel, I like the idea of a front loading unit top mounted tap but if the cost difference is great I'm flexible. It looks like the extra controller to use a freezer is $50-60. Unit needs to be available in the US.

Thanks again

Nick..

Reply to
Nick

Right now, I'm looking for one big enough for two corney kegs, yet small enough to fit under my bar (no more than 35"). New ones I can find, but I'm not happy with the price. I'm thinking of going for a wine refrigerator.

Phil =====visit the New York City Homebrewers Guild website:

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Reply to
Phil

I looked at those for a second, but didn't like the glass door I saw. Seems less efficient.

Reply to
Dan Logcher

I'm looking to keep my beers around fifty degrees, so those fridges would be fine. Are the doors double glass?

Phil

=====visit the New York City Homebrewers Guild website:

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Reply to
Phil

Not to endlessly promote Ebay but..."Tom Hargrave Sales" has the controller you need for about $54 + shipping.

I'm using a 6.5 CF (I think thats how big it is) freezer that _just_ barely holds 2 corny kegs (I gotta squeeze them in)...I got it for $75 in the newspaper...it hardly takes up any room...I just need a tower & CO2 system & I'm good to go.

Kent

Reply to
blah

I don't know.. I was looking online for a general price range. So far I've seen keg fridges around $600. That seems a bit steep to me. Am I correct?

Reply to
Dan Logcher

That was my take too. There is a place in Canada that sells em on ebay for about $500 but they are clearly modified regular units. I started the thread in the hopes of finding someone who had discovered the seemingly elusive compact refrigerator that could take a 16gal keg. Looks like it would be ~ $200, just need the right unit. I like the yard sale/trash pile idea as suggested previously but the wife is already not keen on the project and that would be the deal breaker......

Reply to
Nick

I'm looking for one to hold two 5 gallon Cornys, and maybe some bottles. I don't like the yard sale, since you never know how long it will last when you get it.. I'd hate to pickup something and have it crap out just after I get my beer in it.

Reply to
Dan Logcher

I'm looking lfor the same thing(to hold two 5 gallon Cornys). I was in Sam's Club a while back. They had a undercounter refrigerator for something like $120 US. The evaporator coil on this particular unit was mounted to the back of the inside compartment (instead of the top), and there was no freezer area. I had planned to go back (with a tape measure) and figure out it I could make it work. I would want to mount a tower on the top, with the CO2 bottle outside.

-Hershel

Reply to
Hershel Roberson

PLEASE let me know if this works, as the price is right and the design it simple.

Reply to
Dan Logcher

Best I've found so far is $199 for a chest freezer from Home Depot and a $50 temp controller from several web sites. The freezer fits a std keg and if you have a small CO2 tank that would fit over the compressor. Might be a pain to lift in a new keg but I figure where there's 15+ gal of beer to be had a helping hand is sure to be close by. I'm going to grab one in time for the w/e. Will post the results.

Nick..

Reply to
Nick

I really don't have the room for another chest freezer.. I'm thinking more of the dorm room fridge size.

Reply to
Dan Logcher

Nick, You appear to be on track looking for an old cheap fridge. What exactly is your problem? Remember you may eventually want to hold several kegs in the same fridge so "bigger is best". Remember also that your dispensing gear, taps & hoses will need careful & regular cleaning to preserve sanitary conditions. Its hard to go past PET bottles stored in an ordinary food fridge if space permits. Rgds, Pete

Reply to
peterlonz

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