My Latest Build Project ( NO FJ or Motorcycle content )

[Firehawk068]

I finally started my latest addition to "AL's Bar and Grill"
Unfortunately, I don't see it being feasable to transport to the next Rally.........

This is what I got so far.

[Mark Olson]

Alan , how deep are you into costs ?

Ya know you can get one ready to go for 350.00 .

I built one for my son-in-law for christmas and ended up using a well freezer instead with a ref t-stat .. works great and holds two pony kegs .

ended up at 250.00 including freezer .

[Firehawk068]

Right now I'm into it about $175 with everything I have.
I have a tower that was given to me, along with 2 other keg taps.
I still need to buy some hoses, and a few fittings.

It is going to be eventually set up to run 5-gallon kegs ( 3 of them ). 2 on CO2, and 1 on Nitro 

[Mark Olson]

Free parts are good 

every garage should have a kegerator .. Good luck on your project.

[andyoutandabout]

I feel a thunder of a thirst coming on

[Firehawk068]

Got to spend a little more time on the project after work today.

(This was done previously about a month ago)
Since the shelves are the actual cooling coils, I  (very carefully) bent the tubes to move them flat against the side walls, and secured them with cushion-clamps.



After this step, I verified still good function of the freezer.
Even at the very lowest thermostat setting, it still goes way below freezing.
Temp controller for the compressor is mandatory.

Fast-Forward to today..............................

Most of the work today was to finish building the Tower Cooler fan.
I had done a bunch of research on tower coolers, different designs, and advantages of them. I tried to decide if I even needed one or not.
So I figured if I could build one for around $20, I was gonna go for it.
I sourced most of the parts from Amazon, with a couple pieces from Home Depot. Most of the wire and clamps I already have in the garage.
I ended up spending just under $23 total to build it.

Wired it all in a sealed project-box. It has it's own fuse, and a manual on/off switch. It will be controlled by a separate temp-controller (they are cheap on Ebay or Amazon)







Cut the hole for the output tube, and used a cheap trap-adapter with a couple O-rings from my extensive collection.



I used a bead of silicone during assembly also, and sealed around the electrical connection.



An old monitor power cable from my box of un-used computer stuff. (I just knew I'd find a use for that one day!)



Finished Product.........(almost)........I snapped a picture, then realized I had put the lid on backwards.



Unscrew the 6 screws, and flip the lid around. All is well.
It takes cold air from the bottom, and blows it up the tube into the tower.



Had to snip a few of the wires that are welded to the cooling tubes, to fit the tower-cooler tube and the beer lines up into the tower.



A little measuring and cutting of some PVC tubing, a couple of elbows, and mockup is complete.



I used some cushion-clamps, some brass pipe nipples as stand-offs, and screws to secure it to the inside of the freezer. (all of this I found in the garage)
It is rock-solid. With the tower in place, and the door closed you can't even hear it running.





The tower is very thinly insulated, nowhere near as insulated as the freezer itself. This will keep it nice and chilled. 



Next was mounting the tower.
It came with a thin rubber gasket, but I wanted to make it absolutely air-tight.
I used a piece of pipe insulation, and cut a strip out of it. (also found in the garage. I never throw anything away. It's a curse )
It has a strip of self-adhesive, so I just stuck it to the gasket.



4 self-tapping screws, and it's on!



Next a little pipe-tape on the drain tube for the drip-tray.



I ended up having to carefully bend one of the cooling tubes out of the way, and slightly modifying the light diffuser to get it bolted on.





I originally was on the fence about running the faucets out the side, or out the front of the door, or using a tower.
I really wanted to keep all the storage shelves in the door for storing chilled pint-glasses, or other various bottles/cans of beer.
I also was concerned about faucets and a drip-tray hanging off the side of it in case I needed to move it upstairs for a yard-party or some gathering.
Then one of my good friends gave me his spare tower, so the decision was made at that point.

Strategically located the slot for the compressor temp controller.
most of the wiring will be hidden inside the door.





This is as far as I got today.



The rest of the build is slightly on hold.
I'm waiting for my other, smaller project-box to arrive in the mail from Amazon.
It will be mounted where the original thermostat is now. The compressor, and the tower-cooler fan will plug into it.
I also spoke to one of my friends recently that said he could help me with the faucets when I am ready for them. (now if I could only remember which friend that was? )

Anyway, Cheers everyone! 

[Capn Ron]

Outstanding Alan!!

Don't even worry about the build vs. buy decision...You're doing it right...doing it your way...you'll know it inside and out...and the pride in having built it yourself it priceless!  While you're sitting in the hot tub with friends enjoying a fresh beer from the tap, the conversation will either go, "Yeah, I just bought it...around $350"  OR, "I built that myself with some ingenuity and some parts donated from friends...let me tell you about THAT guy!"  A WAY richer experience in my opinion!

If there was EVER a time to use this emoji...it's now!   

[Firehawk068]

Alan , how deep are you into costs ?

Ya know you can get one ready to go for 350.00 .

I built one for my son-in-law for christmas and ended up using a well freezer instead with a ref t-stat .. works great and holds two pony kegs .

ended up at 250.00 including freezer .

I honestly looked at the ones for $350.00 when I first was thinking I wanted one.
They are too small to fit my needs, and I'd be stuck with only one tap. (I like variety in my liquid refreshment.  )
Looking at the ones that have a capacity comparable to what I'm building, they start around $900-$1000.
I might have $300-$350 in mine when it's all set up the way I want.
Then you guys will all have to stop by and help me break it in! 

[copper]

I bought one from Costco years ago. I believe it is a Sanyo or something like that. It fits a half barrel keg (15.5 Gal) I have it turned about 3/4 of the way up and it has a layer of frost in the beer when you poor it will freeze the head. If you turn the system all the way to its coldest point it will freeze the entire keg.

[Mark Olson]

Alan , how deep are you into costs ?

Ya know you can get one ready to go for 350.00 .

I built one for my son-in-law for christmas and ended up using a well freezer instead with a ref t-stat .. works great and holds two pony kegs .

ended up at 250.00 including freezer .

I honestly looked at the ones for $350.00 when I first was thinking I wanted one.
They are too small to fit my needs, and I'd be stuck with only one tap. (I like variety in my liquid refreshment.  )
Looking at the ones that have a capacity comparable to what I'm building, they start around $900-$1000.
I might have $300-$350 in mine when it's all set up the way I want.
Then you guys will all have to stop by and help me break it in! 

That one you have built is way bitchin , yes it is always better to build it yourself ..amazon is a great source for parts..
The one I built for my son in law is a double tower as he brews his own ..
The simple ones to make are the mini fridge ..but you have blown that away..congrats.

[Firehawk068]

oops, double-post 

[Firehawk068]

I was able to spend a little more time on my "Project" this week.

I removed the (seemingly-100) screws that hold the inner door and magnetic sealing strip to the outer door.



I marked, then cut the slot for my second temp controller, using my Dremel.











Sourced some clear 1/2" hose and a hose nipple from Home Depot. I am also re-purposing an empty orange-juice bottle to use as my catch-tank for the drip-tray drain tube.





Cut a small blank out of the aluminum front panel that I kept, from our old dishwasher that we replaced.
I used it to cover the pocket left behind by the original thermostat.



Drain system complete.
Tank is tucked away in the bottom.



Next was starting on the wiring.

I clipped the Blue and Black wires for the compressor, that used to run to the original thermostat.



Finally got my other small project-box in the mail, and some plug sockets from a leftover bag of them I have in the garage.
I decided to mount it in the bottom, to maximize the interior keg space.





All of the wiring will run inside through this hole, and be sealed up with some silicone.



Cut out the holes for the plug sockets. Snapped them in place, then used my hot-glue gun to permanently secure them.







For wiring, I am using a bunch of color-coded wire that I acquired from work for free. 
We strip patrol-cars all the time, and send them to auction. The massive wire harnesses for all the electronics, lights, and radios are simply pulled out and discarded in the dumpster.
A couple months ago I asked my supervisor if I could have one of the harnesses that were being thrown away. She simply said "I don't care what you do with it, just make it disappear", so I did.
It contains a huge amount of wire! (this gets expensive if you are buying it new) I'll use a bunch of it for lights and stuff on my Jeep.
I'm using some of it for this project.









I used some "Goo-Gone" to get all the old tape residue off of the door.
I also have access to a label-maker, so I made some custom labels for the temp controllers.



This is as far as I got this week.
I ordered my faucets, and tower elbow shanks, so I'm waiting on those.
I'll finish up the wiring this weekend, as the weather is supposed to be too crappy to ride. (we got more snow yesterday and last night. more rain/snow mix in the forecast)

[Capn Ron]

Alan...you do GREAT work!   

I might only be saying that so I can get some beer when you're done...  Wait, did I say that out loud?   

[Firehawk068]

Alan...you do GREAT work!   

I might only be saying that so I can get some beer when you're done...  Wait, did I say that out loud?   

Sometimes I have pretty good "Cable-management" skills. 

You'll have to come out and help me break this puppy in!
Bring the Samurai, or the FJ.................or Both!

[ribbert]

I was able to spend a little more time on my "Project" this week.......

Alan, I just love ingenuity like this, great job. I particularly like your use of what's lying around and recycling other bits, the more the better. A far more satisfying end result.

You deserve every cold beer you pull out of it.

Noel