Cutting an old fridge/freezer for fermentation room

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Permalink Reply by Smiffy on February 12, 2012 at 7:44pm

I would say not. It looks like one I have, an F&P Kelvinator. There are no separate cooling coils or plates in the freezer and the whole of the inside gets covered in ice when it is run, so my conclusion is that the cooling tubes are attached to the other side of all the surfaces including the bottom. If you are prepared to risk scrapping it, you could cut away the plastic roof of the fridge and pull away the insulation, then you will be able to see if I'm right. I have got a conical in mine, just, see picture here:

http://www.forum.realbeer.co.nz/forum/topics/1500433:Topic:9843?xg_...

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Permalink Reply by Smiffy on May 8, 2012 at 2:37pm

I've done a bit of an exploratory dissection of the ceiling of my fridge. Plastic, insulation, then the floor of the freezer, with cooling tube attached.

So cutting out the division would destroy the refrigeration circuit.

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Permalink Reply by Ralph on May 8, 2012 at 4:25pm

Interesting. I found a big enough fridge rather than buy an old fridge freezer... solved my problem...

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Permalink Reply by Ralph on February 12, 2012 at 8:05pm

Yeh I have been contemplating doing something similar as I have a tall fermentation vessel that I want to fit in an old fridge. I am currently looking for a whole fridge that is tall enough that wont sell for too much on Trademe, but I have wondered about buying a fridge/freezer and cutting out the part between the fridge and the freezer...

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Permalink Reply by Hamish Jones on May 8, 2012 at 10:21pm

Just done the same myself, got given a reasonably good fridge, ripped out the thermostat and wired in a temperature controller, lagering a fermenter at the moment at a mint 12 degress, just get something on trademe wth a buggered thermostat then get on ebay and pick up a temp controller like they guys are selling on trade me for about $20 delivered and bobs your uncle

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Permalink Reply by Andre Jaworski on May 9, 2012 at 6:06am

I did the exact same thing only to find I cut through the freezers gas pipes which run between the fridge and freezer. Luckily for me the reason we  got the fridge was the freezer was not working and there was no gas in it. The fridge still runs fine as it runs on a different circuit. I would say beware if your freezer circuit is still gassed.

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Permalink Reply by Chad Keven on May 10, 2012 at 12:28pm

its funny ive thought of doing this aswell, im fermenting in a 50l keg with a doctored plastic screw lid (works well) but im forced to use a blow off tube as an airlock wont fit, this works fine; i was thinking of cutting out the floor of the freezer also but more for efficiancy  as it takes hours to get the temp down

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Permalink Reply by Liam Callaghan on May 9, 2012 at 8:05am

Same as the above, better to use a simple fridge or freezer rather than a fridge freezer.  I believe Smiffy has it right.

I have a big scope fridge which ou can pick up cheap, just have to be patient.  Well worth it as they hold a dozen corny kegs or half dozen hams.  Even better it can hold 150 salami :p

I also run a chest freezer.  No wiring or anything needed on the chest frezer just plug into the temp controller.  Mine holds 2 fermentors, 4 if I make a small collar around it and make a couple of timber stands.  You can tap the collar as well so you dont damage the unit if you want/need to sell it later.  Collar is just a 300mm high plywood and insulation extension around the top of the freezer that the lid sits on.  Plenty of examples if you google.

Chest freezer is a bit harder on your back lifting in and out so better with a stand inside.  Doubles as a great work surface in the workshop though which is a great bonus.

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Permalink Reply by Chad Keven on May 11, 2012 at 12:32pm

does any body know if a chest freezer works stood up on its end?

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Permalink Reply by Smiffy on May 11, 2012 at 1:35pm

It may work for a few minutes or hours, then the compressor would fail due to lack of lubrication. Refrigeration systems rely on gravity to collect lubricant in the right places, which is why, if you lay down a fridge or freezer for transport you should leave it upright for several hours before plugging it in.

The internal mountings of the compressor are also designed to work one way up.

If you have a chest freezer and enough floor space, just replace the lid with an insulated box to make it into a cabinet rather than a chest.

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Permalink Reply by Chad Keven on May 11, 2012 at 3:25pm

duurr! man i'm stupid,

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Permalink Reply by Brent Marquis on May 11, 2012 at 2:51pm

Just stick a wooden collar on it like this:

http://beerginner.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/20111229-060643.jpg

The lids unbolt and then bolt onto the wood.
took me 10 minutes to screw together and 5 minutes to fit.

just be damn careful unbolting the lid. put a heavy nail though the holes in the hinges so they don't snap your fingers, etc....

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