DIY - Lager Fridge

[FensterBos]

Can anyone point me in the direction of an economical diy project for a lager fridge? Or am I better off just buying a freakin' refrigerator?

 

[BoundForBeer]

Can anyone point me in the direction of an economical diy project for a lager fridge? Or am I better off just buying a freakin' refrigerator?

Depends on how much you want to lager at once. Some min fridges will fit a carboy. Then you make yourself a ebay temp control and your set.

 

[FensterBos]

I wouldn't mind being able to fit at least two 7.5 gallon Ale Pails, side-by-side, in the fermentation chamber. Since a bucket is about 12" diameter by 18" tall, I would look to build something in the 18" x 36" x 24" range. I'm not married to those dimensions, but it is just a starting point.

 

[dfess1]

i am kind of doing the same thing. I'm picking up a chest freezer off of craigslist. I then purchased a temp controller and a CO2 manifold. Basically making a "keezer" without the faucets. I already have a kegerator, and who wants to go out to the garage to get the beer?

 

[SevenFields]

Depends on how much you want to lager at once. Some min fridges will fit a carboy. Then you make yourself a ebay temp control and your set.

What would I search for on Ebay for the temp controller?
Do you have to rewire anything or does the fridge just plug into in?

 

[BoundForBeer]

What would I search for on Ebay for the temp controller?
Do you have to rewire anything or does the fridge just plug into in?

Here is a whole LONG thread about it
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/ebay-aquarium-temp-controller-build-163849/

Just search ebay for aquarium temp controller and some should pop up. The fridge plugs into it so you dont need to rewire the thermostat.

 

[BoundForBeer]

also its going to be kind of hard to build onto a mini fridge and keep the whole thing at lager temps. They aren't made to cool that big of a space.. I could be wrong on that. If you want to do 2 at a time best bet might be a chest freezer.

 

[FensterBos]

I've looked into the fridges on Craigslist and they are a lot more than I want to spend to lager home brew.
I've seen people make fermentation chambers, and I could probably just make one without instructions, except I would at least need a parts list to point me in the right direction.

 

[BoundForBeer]

I've looked into the fridges on Craigslist and they are a lot more than I want to spend to lager home brew.
I've seen people make fermentation chambers, and I could probably just make one without instructions, except I would at least need a parts list to point me in the right direction.

Yes you could easily make a fermentation chamber out of a mini fridge.. BUT you wont be able to lager in it if thats your goal. There are TONS of threads about making fermentation chambers

 

[Flomaster]

I see free fridges on CL at least once a month in my podunk town if not more often. heck thats how I scored my vintage Westinghouse TEAL Fridge.

-=Jason=-

 

[SHOOK]

ive got a small 5.X cubic foot Chest freezer that i added a 12" collar to. It fits 2 x 6.5 gal carboys no problem. and will get down to the temp i need if im gunna lager.

picked it up for $45 on Craigslist.

see similar items/prices on CL a few times a month.


and +1 for the Ebay Temp controller

 

[BiotinX]

DO NOT use an "apartment refrigerator". Those 3/4 size refrigerators with the separate freezer compartment on top. I got a working one for free and thought I would convert it to a temp controlled chamber. The coolant lines are taped and glued between the exterior metal siding and the interior insulating foam. It's been a huge pain in the butt to take apart. I hope I can get it apart with the whole mechanism still working, but if I can't I'll take it to the recycle center It was worth the learning experience because it was free, but I wouldn't do it again!

 

[Jwin]

Got a old fridge for $20 on CL
Added a $30 inkbird controller
Done